Land Usage Ideas

[ShantyBranch]

(aka: Farming for Profit, or is there such a concept??)
Seems like most people discourge you from trying it. But in this area, Tennessee Valley, the cotton farmers do pretty darn well. I don't know enough to say, it could be because of Federal backing or good crop insurance ??
But my quest is to get some input on a crop or project that I can make better use of some my land and make money, or maybe just not lose a lot, but most of all have fun doing it.
Some ideas I have tossed around are boxwoods, pine trees, special grasses, etc.
I don't live close enough to the land to be able to have live pets (WalMart term). Something long term, 5-10 yrs, is fine. I would just like to put my new JD to use and enjoy watching something grow, and to reap a benefit from that would be okay too.

 

[TerryinMD]

ShantyBranch,

We have 3 acres. Out of the 3, we have devoted an area of 95'x285' for a market garden. If we wished, we could sell at probably three or four sales centers, but we chose only to sell at one. We grow potatoes, onions, basil, tomatoes, leeks, collards, kale, sweet pototoes, pickling cucumbers and various other fresh herbs. We have tried other vegatables and found out that they weren't as profitable as these.

Caveats - We sell in a town that has a high population of professional people (higher income, discreet tastes). We have targeted certain crops that we can grow easily, market well, and provide a good profit. We sell four varieties of onions, four varieties of potatoes, fresh basil and also my wife makes pesto from the basil. We also purchase fruits and augment our vegatables from other local growers. The fruits are sold fresh and my wife makes jellies and jams. She will typical can 7 to 10 cases in a day when the fruit is in season.

I guess what I'm trying to pass along is that you need to research: what grows best in your area, what kind of market you have, and last experiment. We have found that the experimentation is the most pleasant aspect. My wife has repeat customers who will only buy certain vegatables and jams from her. The customers appreciate the appearance and quality of our produce and products and are willing to pay a premium price for it. It has taken us 5-6 years to get were we are now and we still are learning and adjusting.

Try it and have fun. Oh yes, there will be frustrations and failures. It is a part of working with good ol' mother nature.

Terry

 

[ShantyBranch]

That sounds like a lot of fun ! Would love to try that.
But I would guess to make that work I would have to live on the property. And unfortunately I live about 45 mins away.
A real bummer.
So to fit my situation I am looking for something that doesn't require day to day attention. Even if it is a long term type "crop" i.e., trees, shrubs. Just something to keep the dirt under my nails and make use of the new tractor !
thanks and best o' luck

 

[DFB]

Todd,

I do alot along the same lines as TerryinMD has described (market gardening) and have been able to do it this year even with some major long distance traveling involved. My wifes stepdad grows several acres of both butternut and acorn squash on land several miles away from the main garden. The same with sweet corn and winter rye. Up to 15mi from the house. With a little planning and Ma Natures co-operation it can be done. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Having an old camper out at the land helps too! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif


If I had more space for both planting and storage I'd grow a keeper crop to bulk harvest, something like winter squash or cabbage. A large crop of pumpkins too. Around here even the local walmart buys pumpkins in bulk for resale. I don't know if you would be interested in something like that or if it would even work for you where you are located.

As for other stuff, planting and harvesting something like strawberries seems to me to be too labor intensive and too short a season. Picking beans or peas is labor intensive too but planting them is simple enough.

It would seem something like Christmas trees could be a profitable long term venture if you had a cut your own operation or sold them yourself. There are several places like that around back in the western MA, southern VT eastern NY state area.

A couple of seasons ago there was a co-op effort to grow wintersquash around here. Kinda worked like this.
You committed to plant and harvest, and the co-op had buyers to market the crop to (in our case regionally). They even hired workers to peel,weigh and bag the final product. There's money in pre-processing other things too, such as cabbage (a yuppie market ya know). Maybe there's something along those lines like that you could get into. Beware there is downside to everything, one year the co-op stored the crop in old unheated warehouse and alot of it froze and was lost. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif

Good luck, I'm sure you'll think of something to keep that JD4500 busy. Around here there's always money in hay too!

DFB

 

[ERNIEB]

I would check with the county extension agent. They should be able to recommend something that will suit your needs. To make a living off farming these days is a tough nut to crack, but I know several people who do it as a sideline.

Ernie

 

[ShantyBranch]

Thanks for all of the great ideas!
I am going to also check with county extension office.
ernieb - I don't think I could hack full time farm, I was just looking for another hobby. My neighbors are in the fat cattle business, several thousand head, and year round crops to boot. Very rewarding but tough life! They go from "can to can't, all the time.
I have gotten to accustom to living an easier life.
As my grandfather once said about a "hunting" dog,beagle, my brother got attached to as a pet - "that dog is ruin't"