Anyone have a roadside veggie stand????

[JDeerekid]

I just wanted to share a project that I have done this year for some supplemental income to pay for tractor.

This year I grew around 3 acres of sweet corn that turned out excellent with all the rain we have gotten this year. Along with that I made my garden way bigger that it used to be and grew many different veggies.
I was just going to put a small table out with a jar for money, but after looking at some others that have done this all the veggies end up not looking so good if you dont sell them with in a couple days. So I said it needed shade. I had all the materials sitting around from tearing down a lean-to last year for a neighbor. Only thing I had to pay for was paint and screws. Took me a weekend to build by myself. It is 4' x 8' and I thought it was going to be to big but it is actually a little small when I get everything on it.
I have had it up for about 2 weeks and have made several hundred dollars so far which I was not expecting because I am located on a deadend road and only have a sign at the begining to attract people.

Some things that I have grown are sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, squash, onions, and swiss shard. I tried cucumbers but all plants died as did all my neighbors cucumber plants died also. Not sure why.

Well anyway just wonder if anyone else has built road side stands and how well they are doing this year. I know many people are growing there own gardens and I think this is going to be the norm in the coming years.

Also want to thank Tony123 and everyone that has help on his thread (Building a Hobby Farm). Reading his thread gave me the ambition and help to go out and do this.

[bones1]

Looking good. I'd like to try that sometime. Good luck.

[Tororider]

I have been thinking about doing that next year. How have you fared with the deer? Is the corn your best seller? Oh yeah, Congrats!

[JDeerekid]

Originally Posted by Tororider

I have been thinking about doing that next year. How have you fared with the deer? Is the corn your best seller? Oh yeah, Congrats!

I have thought about doing it for a couple years just never got around to it. The deere have not been a problem. They seem to like the field corn around here better that the sweet corn. The raccoons on the other hand have just started to get into the corn. They maybe take out 10 or so ears a night. Some night this week a buddy with a few dogs is coming up to see if we can find them and get rid of them. Corn is the best seller, then tomatoes, then squash. Oh yea cucumbers would be second best if anyone had any.

[randy41]

i would love to do that but my road is not suitable so i take my stuff to the farmers market.
good job jdeerekid. what is p-town?

[Egon]

That is a nice looking stand. Congradulations. Sounds like it is doing well.

Our town garden is so small it barely provides us with a few tomatoes, peas etc. There are some times when I can give away a few tomatoes.

The Farm would be idea for a market garden but at 45 kilometers away it is too far.

It is my understanding that a number of people in the local area have started renting garden plots this year.

Our area has many unattended roadside stands as well as some large market garden operations with actual stores for the produce.

[tony123]

JDeereKid, I'm glad I was of some motivation to you! My thread must make things look more substantial than they really are . I'm just a guy playing around with his tractor that has a few veggies. You've now taken it big time though!

The stand looks great!

tony

[JDeerekid]

Originally Posted by randy41

i would love to do that but my road is not suitable so i take my stuff to the farmers market.
good job jdeerekid. what is p-town?

Some of my stuff has gone to the local farmers market as my grandfather has the time to take it up and sell it for me.

p-town is a nick name for the place I live which is Pulaski. It is actually a village and the town of Richland. We have called it that since little school.

[JDeerekid]

Originally Posted by Egon

That is a nice looking stand. Congradulations. Sounds like it is doing well.

Our town garden is so small it barely provides us with a few tomatoes, peas etc. There are some times when I can give away a few tomatoes.

The Farm would be idea for a market garden but at 45 kilometers away it is too far.

It is my understanding that a number of people in the local area have started renting garden plots this year.

Our area has many unattended roadside stands as well as some large market garden operations with actual stores for the produce.

I know of a farmer about a 1/2 hour south of me that was talking about renting garden plots on a parcel of land that he doesnt really use for a set price per season. I dont know if he ever did anything though, but I thought it was a good idea. He was close enough to the city were some dont have room for gardens or live in apartments and would like to grow there own food or have a hobby garden.

We also have a number of roadside stands this year ecspecially. I have seen many more people putting in gardens this year. Most because they cant afford to go to the grocery store. Some grow gardens to know where their food comes from(this is my reason). And more people are realizing that food from a grocery store usually travels many many miles which take alot of fuel to transport and helps raise fuel prices(this is also another reason I grow my own food).

Originally Posted by tony123

JDeereKid, I'm glad I was of some motivation to you! My thread must make things look more substantial than they really are . I'm just a guy playing around with his tractor that has a few veggies. You've now taken it big time though!

The stand looks great!

tony

Your thread did motivate and push me a into doing a little more than I thought I was going to do and it helps people out there to see with a little extra effort you can produce your own food. There is nothing like walking out to your garden and picking yourself something fresh and saying to yourself I grew that.
I have not gotten into the chickens as my neighbor has done that. He said he was going to start out small and within 6 months he has over 100 chickens. Half which are his layers and half which are going into the freezer. He has also bought a few ducks which recently layed eggs and now has over 20 of them.

I am also a guy just playing around on his tractor that has grown a few more veggies than some.

If you can't have fun and enjoy doing it why do it at all.