Healthy soil and sustainable growing

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To Save Family Farms from Corporate Buyout, Retiring Farmers Connect with a New Generation

In the next 20 years, many American family farmers are likely to retire—putting enormous amounts of land on the market. Here's how they're connecting with young farmers to make sure the family farm survives.

http://www.yesmagazine.org/planet/to-save-family-farms-from-corporate-buyout-retiring-farmers-connect-with-a-new-generation

"78 percent of beginning farmers polled by the National Young Farmers Coalition list lack of capital as the biggest challenge they face when trying to start up their own farm."

ME: -- I think they're well intentioned but that just won't cut it. It doesn't go to the root of the problem which is financial. My own market work in retirement shows a more realistic way of making food production pay the bills, but there are many feasible variations.

First, don't try to buy a farm. Get near good population markets, learn to grow higher value bramble, fruits & vegetables sustainably on a very small scale, and find an acre or less you can afford. Maybe longterm lease even, or home on an acre (as yours truly). Find crops that make more money for your labor & expense. Start with annuals so no long delay in cash returns. STUDY. Research your products & methods and don't stop improving.  Sell direct at growers markets to get the whole customer dollar, no middlemen, no wholesale competing with Big Ag Distributors.

Use permanent beds & aisles (John Jeavons et al) to reduce costs of inputs, compost, water, machinery, etc. & grow far more in far less space. Build your own season extension, greenhouse, cold frames etc. Adapt to your climate! For many areas year round mulch is mandatory for moisture. With organic nitrogen like alfalfa meal or blood meal, organic mulch should break down into rich compost, left in place on beds without tilling. Save work & cost. Ditch the cost of chemical inputs & fertilizers; they kill the soil life that can reward you with fantastic growth & flavor, & disease resistance. I know that first hand from many repeat customers who keep trying to grow their own chemically and failing at it. You'll be highly appreciated and thanked by many.

You may not succeed but at least you'll have a fighting chance. Oh yes, and be a lot younger than I am...