Market Garden - First Year Results

[ecard]

I wanted to share my first year results on my "farming" project. I planted about 1.5 acres this year:
1 Acre of sweet corn
.5 Acres of Vegetables
Egg Plant
Roma Tomatoes
Beefsteak Tomatoes
Celebrity Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes
Green Peppers
Muskmelons
Watermelons
Cucumbers
Zuchini

I grossed a profit of around $370 selling mostly at farmers markets. I have not calculated the net but it looks to be around $100 - not including time.

Successes - Sweet Corn- sold every ear I picked, Tomatoes - especially Cherry, Zuchini, Muskmelons, Green Peppers.

Failures - Sweet Corn Planting - about 2/3 of the crop had ears not worth selling, egg plant - died when it hit the ground, waste - I did not have enough marketing outlets to absorb the volume of produce, Seeded watermelons - go with seedless next year, time - had a new baby and weeds consumed garden.

I have strategies for next year and hopefully they work. I don't see how anyone could live off this, glad it is just a hobby.

Eric

http://www.indianasweetcorn.com

 

[TerryinMD]

Eric,

Our Market Garden covers about 5000 sq ft under tillage. From that we have harvested:
10 bushels of blue, yukon gold, red, and russet potatoes
15 bushels of white, red, granex, and spainish onions
10 lbs of shallots
150 leeks
4 - 50' rows of Basil (close to 50 lbs of havested leaves so far) Still have two months before the first frost.
10 bushels of pickling cucumbers
25' row of sweet potatoes (havesting soon 1-2 bushels)
1 - 50' row of Kale (close to 20 lbs so far)
1 - 50' row of Collards (same as Kale)
1 - 50' row of Swiss chard (10 lbs)
6 - ruhbarb plants (50 lbs)
30' row of Asparagus (20 lbs - low yield this year)
1 - 50' row of beets (10 bushels)
1 - 25' row of green beans (25lbs or so)
1 - 50' row Birds Eye shelling beans (4 bushels)
1 - 10' row Cilantro (experiment for this year)

We also have red raspberries and strawberries. Strawberries probably somewhere near 40 quarts for the season. Raspberries just coming in.

My wife makes Pesto, jams, jellies, and fresh pickles which are sold at the Farmers Market. Last year, our net was nealy $9000 for a 8 month market season. This year I suspect over $10k. Our costs are about $2,500 in seeds, plants, and stuff. By the time you figure in other depreciation, automobile costs, taxes and other deductables (Thank goodness), we profited by about $2500 last year.

This year we bought the JD 4100 with implements. I'm hoping for a net loss this year!!!! Should work out tax wise.....

If done properly with itensive planting, a good living can be had. We are fortunate in the fact that we live in an area where the farmers markets are near populations of professional people, i.e. make good money with high level of disposable income. Another factor is that we are close to Harpers Ferry, Antitem Battlefield, and other attractions which help in attracting people.

Good luck.

Oops forgot something... My my also bakes and sells some awesome cookies. People just can't resist....



<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by TerryinMD on 08/23/01 12:35 PM (server time).</FONT></P>