Market Farming

[Brett Olson <brett AT rtcinfo.org>]

Hi Lynn,

We have been gathering stories of successful farmers and others in rural America for a few years and archived them on www.renewingthecountryside.org  You may find someone there that can share their model for success. Best wishes and take care, Brett

             brett olson

             creative director

             renewing the countryside

             782 hague ave

             st. paul, mn 55104

             651.293.1172

             www.renewingthecountryside.org

On Mar 26, 2008, at 7:28 AM, Lynn Wigglesworth wrote:

From: "Glen Eco Farm" :

One problem is producing a small >volume and not being very mechanized.

In larger businesses (including farms) >there are more investment costs

and one >person cannot begin as owner/operator; >unless the owner such as

a parent allows >a son to gradually gain ownership.

I think the start-up cost of farming is the biggest problem. My ex and I

bought a small farm, then we divorced and I re-financed the mortgage and

bought out his half of the farm...my expenses are now sky-high and my

income is low. Some elements of my farm (beef sales, for example) are

working, but not well enough to earn even a meager living. Right now child

support and hand-outs from my mother are keeping the farm (barely)

solvent. I do direct sales through a farmstand; if I have to get an

off-farm job, there won't be the time or energy to farm or sell what I

produce.

I keep thinking it's time to give up, but farming gets in your blood; it's

like an addiction. Like the original poster wrote, I don't understand why

it doesn't work, but the same people who spend lots money on junk food

(this is NOT a health-conscious area) won't pay $1.50/dozen for free range

eggs (I lost a LOT of egg customers last year when I raised my price to

$1.50/dz...at that price I only make pennies/doz).

I'd love to see an example of a profitable small farm that I could

emulate....are there people who can make a living farming/market

gardening? The numbers just don't crunch for me.

Lynn Wigglesworth

Peasant Farmer

Tioga County, PA

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