Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] New farm from old

market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Market Farming

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost AT gilanet.com>
  • To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] New farm from old
  • Date: Fri, 07 May 2004 00:58:49 -0600


There are relevant resources online you can use on my site at
http://herbfarmer.net . If you can't find what you're looking for there, let
me know offlist and I'll find it for you. Anything.

paul tradingpost AT gilanet.com

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 5/7/2004 at 2:30 AM Jeff Snyder wrote:

>Hello from a lurker and infrequent poster in west-central Michigan (zone
>4-5).
>
>I have enjoyed and benefited from most of the discussions read on this
>list.
>And now I have need of some collective input from this group, if you have
>the time and inclination. I live on a 60 acre farm, originally purchased by
>my Grandfather in the early 30's, farmed continually by him, my Dad and I
>until selling the last of the beef cattle a few months before Dad died in
>2000. It has been used to raise some of the finest and most well-known
>registered, polled Herefords in three counties, along with their feed and a
>few cash crops, mostly corn and excess hay. Originally a full 120 acres,
>some of the less tillable acres have been sold over the years for my
>parent's expenses. Land prices, for small residential parcels (2-4 acres)
>are very seductive in this area, and have provided my mother with the new
>vehicle and other home and farm maintenance funds she's needed since my
>dad's passing. She is extremely reluctant to sell any of it, but dad
>specifically set aside certain parcels for this.
>
>My name is on the deed of 40 acres (what we call the home farm), now being
>leased to a local, large crop farm (beans, potatoes, corn, wheat and rye)
>that takes very good care of the soil, with minimal tillage and returning
>as
>much organic matter to the soil as possible with their methods. I have
>first
>option to add the other 20 acres later, before my siblings gain possession
>of it with the right to sell. My home is also on this original 40, and my
>mother lives next door (close to the grandkids). At present I have a 1/2
>acre garden, have gardened successfully for many years with very limited
>inorganic inputs and shared excess bounty with friends and retirement
>centers. I am breaking up 1 1/2 acres for organic, or at least naturally
>grown, production of vegetables and eventually some fruits. I will have
>irrigation available (1" water line with branches and frost-proof valves at
>various locations around both plots). The new plot has sustained only
>cattle
>and pasture for over ten years, so I'm turning under some substantial sod.
>Sadly this farm now produces no manure of its own, and the reserves have
>been depleted since the last cows were sold, but I am able to obtain enough
>from two neighbors (one's a cousin) in the spring. The addition of new
>livestock in the future is not out of the question, as I have a pond for
>water during the warmer months, and enough land for pasture and feed crops,
>if I can spare the time from vegetable farming to put it up.
>
>I have had the Cooperative Extension Agent walk the farm with me and make
>some recommendations, and have begun reforesting an old seven-acre hayfield
>too hilly to plow. My intention is to grow a wide variety of vegetables
>(salad greens and garden staples for starters), some fruits (strawberries,
>blueberries, pears, seedless grapes) and perhaps some kind of livestock,
>though "once a cattleman always a cattleman" rings true for me. Yes I know
>first-hand how labor intensive feeding them can be. I'd also like to grow
>transplants for local gardeners, and have a large annual supply of native
>black walnuts to market. This soil produces amazing asparagus, cabbage,
>carrots, sweet corn, tomatoes and winter squash. Other crops need a little
>more nurturing, but perform well. I've only mulched with bales of hay
>(plentifully available) and they've worked well.
>Still have a couple hundred loose bales in the barn. This year I split the
>garden into tilled and standing rye areas ( for next years seed). The new
>plot is intended for rotational cropping with interim cover crops. Still
>working on the initial layout.
>
>There is a small farmers market in my hometown of Greenville (not certain
>if
>it's "Producers only") with three or four vendors, one or two in Grand
>Rapids (pop. 250,000, about 30 minutes away) and a few more in medium to
>large cities within a two-hour drive. Less than a mile east of my farm is a
>large orchard (with U-Pick, bakery, cider mill, maze and other attractions)
>that is very active in promotional and tourism marketing. He resells some
>produce and products (honey, jams & jellies, gifts)(no pears), some of
>which
>are locally grown, within a ten mile radius. The owner is extremely
>community-minded. While I could sell surplus produce to him, I prefer to
>market it myself freshly picked. While he is active in late August through
>December, his customers come primarily for the U-pick and family
>activities.
>I believe his orchard will also draw some customers to my farm as well
>(they
>must drive by my road to get there), and he will advertise my location and
>available products. In fact we have shared equipment over the years, mostly
>his 3-point 6' tiller and my 70 hp Allis Chalmer tractor (the older ones
>hold up better than the newer Agco's), and have a good working
>relationship.
>
>My farm is on a well maintained, paved road one mile off a main highway,
>less than five miles from my hometown of nearly 20,000, and I have a good
>reputation as a respected farmer in this area. I have most of the original
>haying equipment (the rake is no more), the previously mentioned Allis with
>loader, a Farmall M that refuses to give up (brought to the farm brand new
>in 1953), with its mid-mounted 4-row cultivator, a 4-bottom plow, 10' disc,
>10' drag (spring-tooth), 10' chisel plow, 4-row corn planter and ancient
>McCormick grain drill on steel wheels (still works like new). Also have a 5
>hp rear-tine walk-behind garden tiller, various hand tools and a Chevy
>pickup truck. Additional equipment may be necessary, as is a greenhouse,
>for
>my purposes. This group has given me a good list to start with, including
>irrigation, hoop- and greenhouses, potato diggers (we used to have an old
>one-row chain digger) and other necessities. However I am undecided about
>the perils of starting out as a CSA. In this climate and without greenhouse
>or hoophouse I'm limited to 12-16 weeks production this year, none of which
>would be fruit (until next year). I can count on a minimum of ten families
>from my church to purchase shares, and about half of my wife's thirty piano
>students. If grown intensively I believe I can supply that many with two
>acres. I'm just uncertain about setting it up, how much to charge, whether
>to offer u-pick or not and at what rate. I'm also without startup capital,
>having been laid off from my previous employer since August of 2003. That's
>really my motivation to start out as a CSA. I also have two other small
>farm
>growers who have livestock and no clue how to market them in this way. Too
>many years of taking them to the market auction and taking what they got
>(been there, done that).
>
>I'm sort of in a position, poised on the brink, to organize three or more
>small farms into one locally grown market. No reason why someone stopping
>to
>buy my sweet corn, peppers, onions and tomatoes can't also pick up some
>organically grown beef or chicken to grill them with. I'm excited about
>this
>whole "vision" for my community, providing excellent food for local people,
>the school system (I've read some success stories), and two local food
>co-ops (one has a pick up location just down the street).
>
>I am a CAD draftsman by trade, an electrician and builder by re-training
>and
>experience, but a farmer by heredity and spirit. Being here all day, while
>unemployed, I have renewed my connection to this land, sweat and bled on it
>while prepping it for this season, and basically proven to myself and
>family
>that this is what I was meant to do. I am fully convinced of the values of
>sustainable agriculture, local marketing and giving, and community
>participation at varying levels. And yet something keeps getting in my way
>of starting. The land is ready, prospective customers are ready, even my
>family is ready. I probably even have enough information to get started. I
>know it sounds like I'm over endowed with blessings, and I don't disagree.
>Maybe it's the lack of a paying job that's holding me back. Certainly the
>lack of money for seeds and fuel (and household bills) is a contributing
>factor. While I have all of this information available in my head (I have a
>great memory), and some of the plans already envisioned and active, and a
>seemingly ample market, I need a more concrete plan of implementing all of
>this. That's where I can use your help. Please help me figure out how to
>organize this into reality. You all come from such diverse locations and
>experience that I couldn't just send this to any one of you.
>
>Whew! Thanks for listening. I appreciate every attempt on my behalf, and
>apologize for the lengthy introduction. Thanks.
>
>Jeff Snyder
>(no official farm name yet)
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.676 / Virus Database: 438 - Release Date: 5/3/04
>
>_______________________________________________
>Market-farming mailing list
>Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
>http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
>
>Get the list FAQ at: http://www.marketfarming.net/mflistfaq.htm







Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page