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["Lynn Wigglesworth" <lynnw AT chilitech.net>]

Bev; Some good ideas! We have a local garden center that starts seeds for
plants to sell; they have 3 or 4 Master Gardeners on staff and by early
spring have a whole greenhouse full of healthy little plants. They sell
cell
packs fairly cheaply, so I can't compete with them. They actually start
some interesting varieties, including heirlooms, and I bought some plants
from them this year to
'fill in the corners' of the garden. I used to sell herb plants at my
farmstand until I found out that I need a liscense and inpection for that.
It's only $35, but I didn't sell that much worth of herb plants. Geez; you
need a liscense to breathe anymore.

Tanning hides...I've tried curing lamb skins and wasn't very good at it. I
don't think I'd tackle something a big as a cow. I was going to have them
done professionally and sell them, but all the local tanneries have
closed. My winter project is still learning to spin the wool from the
sheep. The last couple of winters have had their share of buziness and
emergencies, so I never even got my wheel out. At the rate I'm going, I'll
never make a living at THAT.

I DID manage to dry, hang, and cut holes in
some birdhouse gourds, ready to paint. And also made some fall baskets
with mini pumpkins and gourds...they actually sold pretty well: I buy
baskets from Good Will all year at about $.50/each, add pretty fall
ribbon, dried or artificial flowers, and pumpkins/gourds and sell them for
$5 (They didn't sell at all at $10). This year I'm growing Queen Anne
Pocket Melons for decorating...melons that have a strong fragrance (they
aren't for eating, though). I also have a contract with a local school to
provide them with gourds for their art classes. It's kind of sad that I
get more for the 'artsy' stuff than for food, since my goal is to promote
local food.

Lynn Wigglesworth
Cowbridge Farm

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bevanron" <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>
To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 28, 2006 1:19 AM
Subject: Re: [Homestead] Selling was: Harpie visit


> Lynn,
> While I was in the shower, I had a thought....
> I know you probably (almost certainly) have considered this, but I am
> going to post it anyway just in case someone else might benefit...
> Would it be possible to use your gardening skills to sell the heirloom
> plants instead of the heirloom vegetables?  I recall that you have a
> greenhouse heated by wood....If you could raise tomato plants cheaply,
> you could sell the plants to your local feed store or farm supply and
> undercut national plant providers like Bonnie's.  You get the local farm
> store to advertise for you in a "support your local farm and farm store"
> theme....perhaps adding in a "avoid pesticides and hormones...grow your
> own" message.  I know your growing season is short, so having the
> transplants ready at the right time to sell for gardeners to get an
> early jump would be the key.  I haven't done the math on this idea, but
> I bet you have<g>.  Seeds are cheap, and if you can get the plants to
> size in the wood heated greenhouse, you might be able to make a profit.
>   I know some people don't mess with seeds at all-their whole garden
> comes from transplants, and with society's impatience and want for
> things right now, you might be successful.  You could even pot some
> vegetables up in hanging baskets(like upside down tomatoes) or other
> containers to give apartment dwellers ideas on how they might be able to
> grow their own.  I picture little herb gardens ready for the
> windowsill-annual herbs like basil, of course, so people have to buy
> more. :)  Even if you had to use grow lights, I'd bet you could make a
> small profit anyway.
>
>
> Also, have you thought about learning to tan hides and making leather
> goods from your cattle?  I know, it would take a while to learn, but
> you're creative and I'm sure you could come up with something that would
> be simple to make and easy to sell to those tourists who drive by
> Cowbridge... :)  You could tan and work leather in the winter and sell
> the stuff during the summer tourism months...
>
> Bev
> -- 
> erthnsky AT bellsouth.net BevanRon of EarthNSky Farm NW Georgia USDA Zone 7
> 34.498N 85.076W
>
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