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  • From: Krystle <learning AT selfmadefarmer.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Why do it II
  • Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:05:53 -0700

When I visited Eliot Coleman a few years ago, he was grossing $150k from 1.5 acres. He was also quick to note that after all the staff got paid and some of the costs were accounted for, all that was left over was $20k. Also keep in mind that there are some things he doesn't have to pay for from the farm income that most of us would, such as his land, which was practically given to him by the Nearings, or his house, which is probably funded by income from other sources (e.g. royalties) and that of his wife, and all the associated utilities (probably part of the house bill). Likewise, equipment may have been purchased through other income sources, so it's quite possible that if you looked at true costs, he might be operating at a loss.

When I look at the previously mentioned publication, Grower to Grower, or other case studies like Bear Creek Farms (http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/wholesale_cut_flowers) and Groundwork Organic Farm (http://www.newfarm.org/features/2005/0105/groundwork/index.shtml), the pattern for profit seems to be scale and wholesale (i.e. selling in bulk to a middleman). A CSA can also be an income stabilizer, but only if it's a large CSA (100 members) because otherwise the income doesn't seem to cover the additional cost of management (organizing shares, marketing, sorting, sending staff to pick-up sites, etc.). Those are just my own observations after reading about and working on a variety of farms, with the question being how a farmer can earn a full-time income from a farm. It definitely seems do-able, if you play your cards right.

Krystle
Salem, OR
http://www.selfmadefarmer.com

On Fri, Apr 25, 2008 at 9:36 AM, Sharon and Steve <shopkins AT tdstelme.net> wrote:
Among the past three years' returns, all based on prices received through a
local farmers' market: $1.99 per row foot for green beans in 2005; $3.65 per
row foot for edamame last year; $5.67 for blueberries last year, the first
fruiting year; $11.83 for tomatoes in 2005, $26.67 in 2006 and $25.52 last
year; $9.21 and $12.65 for strawberries in 2006 and last year, respectively;
and last year $13.27 for summer raspberries and $15.36 for fall raspberries.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Smells like PBS pricing to me.



How about a detail of feet, amount harvested, price, and amount sold.

Then the details of labor, trellises, and other inputs.

MAsteveINE


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