stravis
Gold Member
My wife and I have entertained it for several years. We've dreamed about doing....well something with our land on the side. What, well we haven't decided. We've talked about it more and more as of late. It's not to make a living, as we both have good jobs now, but more because we love the land. We love working with the animals we have. We love working the land, love tractor work, love labor. We love everything about this place.
Here's the problem. I know tractors and machinery at an intermediate level. We know horses well, we have several. We know very little about farming and know nothing of which direction to head in.
This is where you all come in. We'd like to get your opinions of what type of operation to start. I'll begin with telling you all what parameters we're working around and I'd like to get your ideas.
Where to start? I'm a construction Project Manager. My wife owns a bookkeeping service and operates from home. We're not looking for something to replace our current occupations, at least not right away if ever. We also are not looking for a "hobby" that costs a ton and there is no return. Ideally this operation would yield some "extra" money for us. How much? I'm not too concerned with it, as long as we make more than we spend and enjoy it. I'd like to take on a new challenge and see how well we can do it. I have evenings and weekends. My wife can do a lot during the week as well. I also have about 5 weeks paid vacation each year that I'm willing to use for this. We are NOT afraid of work.
What we have:
The property: We have 110 acres in middle Georgia. Of the 110, about 27 is open and of that about 17 or 18 is workable. The remainder is wooded. I'm not above clearing some of the land if necessary, but wouldn't want to do that right off. I'd rather start with what we've got and expand if necessary. The land is relatively flat. We've got natural streams through the timber and a pond on one end of the property. We have two wells spaced about 1000' apart. Right now, about 4 acres is fenced where we keep our three horses. We have a 30'x30' shop with a concrete floor, electrical and plumbing.
The equipment: I have a 2009 John Deere 5101E with a 553 loader as well as a 1974 Ford 3000. I have minimal implements and I know that no matter which direction we go, I'll have to spend some money in this department. My implement list is as follows, a 5' Fred Cain agricutter, a JD 25A flail mower, a 6' wide disc harrow, a 5' King Kutter box blade and a middle buster. I also have a hay spear for the loader. That's about all I can think of.
Our desires: We're really a blank canvas. There are a few parameters though. Whatever we do, we'd prefer it to be organic. Not necessarily certified organic, but more on principle. We'd like to do what we do with the least negative impact as possible. Some may be required, but if I can work around it, I will. Even if it means less yield. We're open to both farming as well as ranching, however my wife becomes quickly attached to critters. So cattle is likely out as she would struggle with selling them to the beef market. Other animals that would be sold for other than consumption will work, though. The obvious other parameter is cost. I'm aware this will cost money to start up, and I'm not above going to my farm credit folks (who I already have a relationship with) and getting a start up loan, but I'm not looking to spend $100,000 either. We'd like to not have all our eggs in one basket. In other words, we'd like to do a combination of things that work together.
That's really it. Other than those things, we're a blank canvas.
I intend to get a coop agent to come meet with me and get their direction also. What direction would you recommend? What would it take to get started?
Please feel free to ask any questions that might help. If it would be useful, I can post a Google image of the property with the workable fields, wells, fencing, etc. labeled.
Here's the problem. I know tractors and machinery at an intermediate level. We know horses well, we have several. We know very little about farming and know nothing of which direction to head in.
This is where you all come in. We'd like to get your opinions of what type of operation to start. I'll begin with telling you all what parameters we're working around and I'd like to get your ideas.
Where to start? I'm a construction Project Manager. My wife owns a bookkeeping service and operates from home. We're not looking for something to replace our current occupations, at least not right away if ever. We also are not looking for a "hobby" that costs a ton and there is no return. Ideally this operation would yield some "extra" money for us. How much? I'm not too concerned with it, as long as we make more than we spend and enjoy it. I'd like to take on a new challenge and see how well we can do it. I have evenings and weekends. My wife can do a lot during the week as well. I also have about 5 weeks paid vacation each year that I'm willing to use for this. We are NOT afraid of work.
What we have:
The property: We have 110 acres in middle Georgia. Of the 110, about 27 is open and of that about 17 or 18 is workable. The remainder is wooded. I'm not above clearing some of the land if necessary, but wouldn't want to do that right off. I'd rather start with what we've got and expand if necessary. The land is relatively flat. We've got natural streams through the timber and a pond on one end of the property. We have two wells spaced about 1000' apart. Right now, about 4 acres is fenced where we keep our three horses. We have a 30'x30' shop with a concrete floor, electrical and plumbing.
The equipment: I have a 2009 John Deere 5101E with a 553 loader as well as a 1974 Ford 3000. I have minimal implements and I know that no matter which direction we go, I'll have to spend some money in this department. My implement list is as follows, a 5' Fred Cain agricutter, a JD 25A flail mower, a 6' wide disc harrow, a 5' King Kutter box blade and a middle buster. I also have a hay spear for the loader. That's about all I can think of.
Our desires: We're really a blank canvas. There are a few parameters though. Whatever we do, we'd prefer it to be organic. Not necessarily certified organic, but more on principle. We'd like to do what we do with the least negative impact as possible. Some may be required, but if I can work around it, I will. Even if it means less yield. We're open to both farming as well as ranching, however my wife becomes quickly attached to critters. So cattle is likely out as she would struggle with selling them to the beef market. Other animals that would be sold for other than consumption will work, though. The obvious other parameter is cost. I'm aware this will cost money to start up, and I'm not above going to my farm credit folks (who I already have a relationship with) and getting a start up loan, but I'm not looking to spend $100,000 either. We'd like to not have all our eggs in one basket. In other words, we'd like to do a combination of things that work together.
That's really it. Other than those things, we're a blank canvas.
I intend to get a coop agent to come meet with me and get their direction also. What direction would you recommend? What would it take to get started?
Please feel free to ask any questions that might help. If it would be useful, I can post a Google image of the property with the workable fields, wells, fencing, etc. labeled.
