Market Gardening

[humbug]

My dream has always been to have a small farm. A farm that produces and abundance of fruits and vegetables to sell. The 40 acres I own I purchased when I was 16 with that purpose in mind. Life happened... I got married and moved away...and then got divorced. I managed to buy my ex-husband out on the 40 acres so still own it. I still dream of developing it and putting a small farm on it.
I have dragged my feet because the nagging question in the back of my mind has been...If people can make a living doing this in Nevada why don't you see any of these here? We have big commercial farms that produce potatoes, mint, and various other crops. The state is covered with ranches that produce cattle and hay. There are many abandoned orchards that still produce fruit. But there are very few small family market garden farms. In fact in northern Nevada I could only find two. The town I live closest too, with a population of 10,000 doesn't even have a farmers market. I continually hear complaints from people about the poor quality of produce that we get in our supermarkets.
I have posed the question to people in other states who make a living doing this. The general consensus is that the state of Nevada is a rich state and there are easier ways to make money here. We have a low unemployment rate where I live, and honestly I believe if you are not working it is because you don't want to. There are many places begging for workers to come to work.
Which brings me around to the belief that there is plenty of money to buy fresh produce. My current job will support the development of my farm without borrowing any money if I make it a five year project. What do you think...I figure the worst that can happen is that I end up broke with an overabundance of fruits and vegetables...which means I won't starve.

[Southern_Gent]

Sounds like a nice idea to me, indeed, one that I wouldn't mind doing myself. Before you begin, I would suggest a couple of things. First, write out a business plan on your business. This will help you determine the logistics of the operation, as well as expected revenues and expenses. If you don't know how to write a business plan, you can go to www.sba.gov for instructions.

Next, it would also be a good idea to contact your local Ag Extension office. They can suggest how to set up your own fruitstand, or perhaps assist in organizing other local farmers who are interested in forming a farmers market.

Enjoy, and best of luck to you.

[ryanmercer]

Need a young husband to help out? Ha.

No, but I think you could clean up, just make sure you have any and all necessary licensing and permits... you wouldn't think you would need anything to sell your produce, but the way the government is... I'd do as Southern said and make some phone calls

[MadTripper]

I have dragged my feet because the nagging question in the back of my mind has been...If people can make a living doing this in Nevada why don't you see any of these here?

Could be that most people seem to be afraid of work that involves labor. I think you have a good idea. The way "all natural" and "organic" products sell these days, I'm sure you could have a thriving business in short order. You realize the amount of work that will be involved and aren't afraid of that so jump with both feet.

Tripper

[fredfl]

Many local stores will buy locally grown products contact them before you start and see if there is a market in your area.

[annabella1]

I would contact local restaurants and ask what produce they have the most problems getting and offer to grow that for them. Then you will have a guaranteed customer. Specialty foods like mixed baby greens, can be grown in secession plantings so you would be harvesting fresh. I thought if I ever had a farm market I would guarantee the fresh produce to be fresh by drying or canning anything over 48 hours old.

[humbug]

Thanks for the input guys. I will up there this weekend to look at some springs up on the mountain. Water is a big issue in the state that I live in. I want to see if the springs are still running after our hot dry summer. I also want to look at the feasability of piping down the mountain about a mile. If all does not look real promising I will have to drill a well. That will run about $42 a foot here.

[Terri]

Humbug, somebody once said that if a person could make $1000 in beekeeping, he could make $5000 doing something else. I suspect the same is true in market gardening. With jobs so easy to get, people are taking the jobs that will pay them more.

But, this is what you want. Go for it!

[fredfl]

I used to grow about 40-50% of my own vegetables and found that it took a considerable amount of time just to do that while working a full time job. I used to make all my own compost start my own seedlings etc. along with a small orchard and some fruits. I would think it would require some kind of mechanization to go to the next level unless you have multiple hands. I know of a few folks in New England who have membership farms but I doubt it is a very big financial success.

[annabella1]

You might make more in producing plants for people to transplant into their gardens.

[ryanmercer]

How are things going? Keep us posted!

[humbug]

I haven't posted on this in awhile...but have been working on it.
I met with a water rights surveyer. I learned a lot from him about the way water rights in Nevada work. So I am now faced with a dilemma...
I can get 40 acres of water rights, the basin where my land is located has water rights available. However in Nevada it is a "use it or lose it". I will have a set amount of time...usually five years.. to get the 40 acres in production. Sometime the state will grant you an extention on the time...but it is on a case per case basis. I know that there is no way I can take care of 40 acres on my own. I can get less water rights.. but what if I want to expand..later on?? I am still working on this still. The water rights survey will cost me $5000.00 plus. Then I have to file paperwork with the state. It then is posted in the local paper..there will be a hearing to see if anyone objects to my "appropriating" water rights and then the state..if there is not valid objections will issue my water rights. Lots of hoops to jump through but I think it wil be worth it in the end. I am getting the survey done this spring...probably in April.
I have located some used orchard fencing that I am negotiating on. There used to be a small commercial apple orchard about 60 miles from where I live. The old guy who owned it passed away about 15 years ago and his family never persued taking over his orchard. They just let the trees die..if you can believe it. The place sold and the new owners are tearing everything out and putting in alfalfa fields. They are tearing the fencing out and I am trying to get them to sell it to me. They don't know yet what they are going to do with it. The deer will probably not be too much of a problem on the 40 acres because they don't run on that range but the elk are plentiful and destructive.
I am getting my feet wet here locally with a small market garden so I can learn the ins and outs of selling. My current house sits on a 1/2 acre and I am going to tear the back lawn out to give me more garden space.

[humbug]

I have bought a hive of bees from the local bee keeper to be delivered in the spring (note to self , call him this week). I plan to include honey as one of my products I plan to sell. By buying them locally I also get the help from the experienced bee keeper here. He makes his living selling honey.
I have been working through the book "Building a Sustainable Business". It is a guide for developing a business plan for farms and rural businesses. This has taken up a lot of time. There is so much research. However I have learned a lot.
So my plan for this year is
Finish up business plan..
Get survey done..
Get water to property...
Get it at least partially fenced...
Develop marketing skills through selling produce from garden here..
and learn about beekeeping.
I know that there is no way I can get the trees in until the spring of 2009.
Ohhh...and clone myself so I can be in two places at once. ;D ;D ;D

[humbug]

Oh Ryan..Young husband??? Apprentice maybe ;D ;D ::)

[gardenfay]

humbug:
Well I wish you all the luck - it sounds like a good plan.
Several have mentioned local groceries, restaurants, etc. as clients.
I agree;and have a few other ideas. Think about what you most want to grow; things you have grown successfully in the past are definite possibilities. And try to go for things that are either expensive in the local market or you don't see good examples of those items in the local market.
You don't want to spend all summer growing zucchini if everybody in town does; While the only person growing strawberries is getting top dollar and can't meet the local demand.
Speaking of strawberries though. you would have to be prepared to freeze those and try to sell them that way because their shelf life is so short.
I agree with stuff that local restaurants and maybe a natural food store says they have trouble getting.
i know I haven't said it really well; but making a correct assessment of the local market and its needs is so important. And then deciding what you can feasibly do.
Hope it goes great.