General farming (3 years+) - 15 years of farming as a self-employed adult
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - working through one; at first edit stage
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - I have the basic tools and a private startup loan in the works
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes
Project
Farm Name
working on it still. Expect that the location will be included somehow
Farm Project Description
This is a market (garden) farm
Products will be marketed in a variety of ways. Using the adage "the wider the market the narrower the range of product; the narrower the market the wider the product range" I intend to find a market and adapt my products accordingly. Farmers markets and direct to consumers will be my first focus however the options of a farm stand, selling to grocers, wholesalers or restaurants are also on the table.
The product list begins with standard garden vegetables, common variations, vegetables from other countries.
Other possible products:
microgreens (sprouted seeds used for salads or juicing)
salad greens
mushrooms
fruits and berries
poultry (eggs and meat)
vermiculture (primarily for soil enrichment)
larger animals are possible but they would most likely be short term by products of bringing land into production.
All would be raised using the least amount of manufactured ingredients. All of those ingredients would have to fit in the organic description.
Methods of farming will aim to produce the most nutritionally excellent product using the least amount of unwanted byproducts. Ideally one crop's waste will be the next product's raw materials
Preferred Arrangement
Lease -
Duration of the desired agreement
5 years to start (may include a one season reassessment rider). lease renewals ongoing for 10-15 years
Ideal date to obtain land by
Jan 31, 2020
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
1-10 acres
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - trees are great provided there is open sunshine where it's needed
Cultivable Area (acres)
1 to 5
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - A five acres of pasture or hay land that can be converted to garden or more intensive farming would be ideal. First year would cultivate 1 acre and cut the remaining for grass mulch clippings to develop improved soil then work up more grass as this becomes feasible. In a perfect fit with good people hired as a team I can see some expansion to other sites
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Taking over an existing market garden with all amenities has some definite advantages. So does starting out doing things as I'd prefer them done. Deer fencing in place already is a good start, wildly overgrown land would have to have a lot of other things going for it.
Open to landowner residing on property
Yes - A good functional relationship is required with the land owner. Once expectations and privacy boundaries are decided proximity is not an issue
Need farm buildings
Yes - For vegetables I need a cold room and washing station. A propagation greenhouse makes things much easier, production greenhouses make winter production a possibility. I have built these structures or ones like them; can adapt existing buildings or build simple startup structures that can be replaced with more permanent buildings with permissions when feasibility makes sense For microgreens a version of a propagation greenhouse or heated garage.
Need fenced land
Yes - deer fencing is necessary
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - can rent the machines that I don't have
Need established water source and infrastructure
Stored rainwater has been enough for me using grass mulching. An above ground swimming pool or pond may be enough with good soil
Need on-site housing
Yes - A place for an RV or tiny home or a rented suite is great, living nearby is necessary
Production type
Vegetable - standard garden veggies, common variations, veggies popular in other parts of the world
Livestock - poultry, if that makes sense in the situation
Orchard/Fruit - fruits or berries
Other - Bees, microgreens, mushrooms or vermiculture are options to explore
