Courtesy of John S, Blue Ribbon Eggs, Franklin, NC The single most important thing you said was, “We really need to start bringing in an income as work around here is slim pickins.” If you need income don’t spend capital. What you need is some reasonably good ground, a strong tiller,...
Courtesy of Curtis S., Green City Acres, Kelowna, BC If you’re farming around a half-acre, you can expect to spend upwards of $800 on seed. I have close to 100 beds in constant salad green production, and just to give you an idea how much seed I go through for that:...
Courtesy of Wally S., Wally’s Urban Market Garden, Saskatoon, SK Talk to some vendors at your local farmers market or the market manager. Even if local farmers markets are not open yet for the season in your area, there should be some contact information. You might also want to think...
Courtesy of John S. , Blue Ribbon Eggs, Franklin NC A good place to check in on legal issues is your state’s dept of Agriculture. They will have info on marketing and possible legal issues that may affect you. Food safety is an increasingly important issue as it affects your...
Courtesy of Wally S., Wally’s Urban Market Garden, Â Saskatoon, SK If you are just starting out your first year, you need to know about the customers who come to the farmers markets you are going to be selling at. What kind of income do they have? For first year crops...
Courtesy of James K., Virtually Green, San Francisco, CAÂ Over the years I’ve helped a number of neighborhood gardeners and farmers get variances to zoning or laws. Zoning laws are a mixed blessing. While they prohibit your residential neighbor from doing auto wrecking or a hog farm in her front...
Courtesy of James K., Virtually Green, San Francisco, CA Is there one or more people in your area who might back up your offerings of your CSA box? In other words, who are farmer friends who’d be willing to sell at or near cost to you the veggies you need...
Courtesy of Bingo B., Boise ID I’ve found that while starting your own transplants is fun, the money for starting up such an operation will be about the same as buying your starts. If you plan on doing it year-over- year then the investment will pay off, and you know...
Courtesy of SPIN farmer Charles A., Chicagoland, IL My wife and I have 1 acre of vegetables and 1 acre of fruit trees. We’re focusing on setting things up so we don’t have to spend so much time weeding/watering (plants close together & drip irrigation), have babysitters lined up for the...
Courtesy of James K., Virtually Green, San Francisco, CA If your SPIN business is short of capital for start-up you might consider finding a partner who does have money. A partner can help you keep going when you encounter difficulties, can help with the farm work when you’re sick or...
