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Subject: Market Farming
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- From: Marcie Rosenzweig <fullcircle AT jps.net>
- To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
- Subject: [Market-farming] Re: Market Farm Forms
- Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2004 09:27:49 -0800
Title: Re: Market Farm Forms
Hi Folks,
Adriana, thank you for recommending Market Farm Forms. Allan is
correct that the forms are not linked and that can be an
inconvenience. These forms were developed while I was farming
for use on my own farm and while I learned and grew each succeeding
version of Excel. However, for the past year and a half, I have
explained that to everyone inquiring about Market Farm Forms that this
is the case.
When I started being asked by Extension to speak at workshops on
computerizing farm recordkeeping, participants began asking for a copy
of the forms. I gave several spreadsheets away for free but
found I was spending a great deal of time answering questions since
there was no text to tell folks how to use them. The greatest
number of questions I got at those workshops were 1) whether
computerizing records was really necessary 2) whether to buy a Mac or
PC, and 3) what to plant for farmers' markets and, 4) how much to
plant for CSAs.
I was convinced by Bill Kaye-Blake, my then apprentice and now
family (he, Jenny and the kids are now living in New Zealand) to write
the book to support the set of forms and make them available for
purchase. I did that in 1999. Back then the Forms were on
floppies and folks had to request them by software and operating
system. Now all of those things are on a single, cross-platform
CD.
Here is a list of the forms on the CD:
As people have become more saavy and the use of computers more
wide-spread, those questions have shifted to when the forms will be
linked/macro-based and otherwise automated. The answer is - sometime
next year. No one pays you to develop these things when you work
for yourself, so development happens in the spaces around income
producing work. At $45 plus $5 shipping (CA residents pay sales
tax) Market Farm Forms is designed to be affordable to even the
smallest growers. I've continued to resist calls to raise the
price but the next version will need to cover some costs of
re-tooling.
I'm grateful to others who are trying to do similar things for
this community. Thinking through the flow of information on a
market farm, deciding what needs to be tracked and getting the math
right is no small task as those of you who have tried it know. When I
published Market Farm Forms, no one was even taking Market Farmers
seriously.
Sincerely.
Marcie A. Rosenzweig
--
Marcie A. Rosenzweig
Full Circle
Full Circle
3377 Early Times Ln
Auburn, CA 95603-7900
Auburn, CA 95603-7900
(530) 885-9201
ask about our books:
Market Farm Forms-
Spreadsheet Templates
for Planning and Tracking
Information on Diversified Market Farms
AND
The New Farmers' Market:
Farm-fresh Ideas for Producers, Managers, and
Communities
-
[Market-farming] Re: Market Farm Forms,
Marcie Rosenzweig, 01/08/2004
- RE: [Market-farming] Re: Market Farm Forms, sals, 01/08/2004
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