Short-term (First 1-2 years) 1). Market Garden - start small with < 1 acre - minimal tillage farming to increase soil health and benefit from mycorrhizal fungi - Korean natural farming techniques to create fertility and ecological pesticides on-site - Design systems that balance permaculture ideologies with commercially viable farming - Utilize season extension - Modular infrastructure such as shipping containers for post-harvest, tool storage, refrigeration, etc. - Initial market stream would be farmer's markets, and potentially farm gate sales in the right context. Striving to build a strong network of satisfied customers for direct-to-consumer sales via CSA/ farm gate. Supplementary market streams could be wholesale accounts with local grocery retailers and restaurants. - Crop plan consists a diverse mix of vegetables with a focus on hi-rotation crops such as greens, and baby roots to maximize use of small space. - Adapt to market demands and be flexible with plans (example: if customers want plant starts then increase nursery capacity). - In following seasons expand market garden and hire help to meet market demand. Begin cultivating long season and storage crops to offer a more complete farm menu. 2). Pasture-raised layer hens - Rotational grazing of layer flocks using modular "chicken tractors". - Scale to meet market demand. - Produce fertility for market gardens by composting winter bedding. - Build topsoil via intelligently managed grazing systems. - Flexible and adaptable to market demands. If customers are more interested meat birds than eggs, a well thought out switch could be initiated. Long-term (2-3rd year with a commitment for decades of farming the land) 3). Agroforestry - Integrated perennial and livestock system that involves meandering rows of fruit, berry, nut, and/or herbal crops. With grazing lanes for rotating small livestock on pasture between each row. - Berry crops come online 2-3 years - Fruit trees 5-8 years - Nut trees 20+ (generational investment) - The ultimate polyculture farming system that is highly productive and lower maintenance. - 5-20 acres ideally See business plan for more details! * I am also considering options to set up a modular home such as a yurt on land to homestead while earning an income off-site. This could be a stepping stone towards starting a farm business. My main overarching goal is to access land to begin farming in some capacity.
Preference would be pasture that can be converted into a market garden with a good mow, occultation, and some serious sheet mulching. Could use a walk behind tractor from the KLAS tool library if that seemed like the most effective route to break land. Less than ideal conditions will still be considered as I know there is no perfect land.