Market Farming

["Russell Bryant" <bovagard AT msn.com>]

You think like a farmer. You need passion for farming price your stuff as if itt is you or the other guy. My wife just read Gottcha Capatilism The banks rental card copanies phone co all rip us off legally and get away wit it We are selling eggs for three dollars /doz and people pay it. goo food is worth moer.

Russ

----- Original Message -----

From: Lynn Wigglesworth

To: Market Farming

Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 7:28 AM

Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Why do it

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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