Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[dhondt <dhondt@eircom.net>]

I can see both points of view. I agree that your recipe for success is 
sound Paul.
But we still have price wars here between super market chains that keep 
vegetable and fruit prices too low to compete against. That does not 
bother me much for our own produced vegetables are the best for health. 
And we have a lot of them. Any surplus is bartered or just given away or 
used as food for our animals. But if something happens to the food 
supply (as sooner or later will happen) and shops show empty shelves we 
will still eat well and then we may think of selling surpluses. There is 
no chance we could make profits of thousands here right now.
Farmers markets are not free here. A seller is expected to fork over $ 
10-20 at the start of the day. I see small farmers there that often 
don't break even.
John

On 04/01/16 18:04, herb farmer wrote:
> What nobody told me about small farming: I can’t make a living
> http://www.salon.com/2016/01/01/what_nobody_told_me_about_small_farming_i_cant_make_a_living_2/ 
>
>
> I can't send this without rebuttal. Their methods are a prescription 
> for failure. I've explained this over the years on this list. Now at 
> 72, I grew on less than 1/4 acre for nearby farmers markets for 10 
> years, & made thousands in profit each year after the first, working 
> only part time all by myself. A younger man or woman could do much 
> better with a little more startup capital & energy. Don't go into debt 
> for land or machinery; it'll eat you alive. Keep it very small by 
> growing Biointensive like Jeavons in permanent beds, so you can do it 
> all by hand without outside labor. No costly tillers or tractors 
> needed. Sell retail only at upscale markets or farmstand. Grow 
> superior strains of commonly known varieties that sell best. Avoid 
> cheap crops that waste precious space. Study revenue per square foot 
> like Eliot Coleman. Let losers grow watermelons. Use free compost in 
> beds & use it also for mulch as needed. Keep bought amendments to a 
> minimum. Reuse supplies & materials. Plow some first profits back into 
> improvements like DIY season extension for year round selling. 
> Cut-and-come-again greens grow & sell like hotcakes in the cold. 
> Finally, if you're not selling well then raise your prices.
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