New to the site

My name is Scott and I’m kinda new to the site (got a Ford 941 and an IH 140) and I just wanted to say hello. I’m in the process of trying to get a small U-Pick operation started in central Georgia and I look for any information I can find to help get off the ground. I read thru several pages of posts and have found some useful info but most seem to be more toward larger scale operations.
I’ve got 10 acres total which includes my home and yard. I had the property clear cut and the stumps pulled over the past couple of years and finally finished this summer. I have about 6 acres for some type of production. I started by planting the front of the property in long term plants like blueberries and blackberries which have been in for 2 years. The back of the property will be mostly for vegetables. After clearing the stumps I’ve turned to soil at least once just to break it up and allow some moisture to seep in deeper. The soil is typical red clay and it gets hard as a brick when dry so I’ve been hauling in manure compost to spread and cut in.
I’ve been buying used equipment as I can find it and I think I have enough to get started next year. I have no idea what the response from local consumers will be but at a minimum I’ll feed myself (I hope). I have no expectations of making lots of $$ from this but as I near retirement I would like to make enough to support the operation from year to year and the only way to find out is to get started.

Thanks for looking,

Scott

Scott it sounds like you have a good start and a good plan. You may want to think about putting out a few rows of purple and green asparagus. I myself put out the purple. It gives bigger stalks and you don't see it in stores anywhere. It's kind of like brown eggs. LOL! Good luck on your endeavor.

If its your dream go for it, and never look back. I
had a disk plow like yours, never used it. Got a 3
point tiller never looked back. We try to no-till as
much as we can. Semmes like it has really improved
our yellow clay soil.

The disc plow a Dearborn? Cool. I would check out the local co-operative extension, local produce markets - and just hang around with other farmers doing the same thing. At the moment, I am having decent luck with hardy Asian vegetables, most money is when you sell starter sets from a greenhouse... but up here, that means heat.. and that costs $$$$.... to make money it takes money yea yea... but seriously, 'u pick' better be something that needs to go home and get prepped and cooked... otherwise a family of moochers will fill their gut and weight an empty box on the way out. We know half the greens here go in a glass jar to sprout roots if at all possible. People are cheap. Hey good luck and keep the questions coming

I went to a bluegrass concert in a barn museum a few weeks back and between shows I was reading the displays. First one the farmer says : This is great I don't need labor anymore all I do is sit on the side of the field and collect the money. A month later he says " These people are eating six baskets while they pick and paying for one at the end of the day. Just something I saw in a farm museum.

There seems to be a common thread warning about letting people into the garden and I'm listening. This is a concern I have but until I have something to sell its a moot point. I've spoke with several blueberry farmers and they charge a fee per person to enter the field to cover stuffing the gut before the basket. Don't want to pay, then go away. The plow is a Dearborn that I swapped for and I like how it works. I also have a 2-16 IH bottom plow that I use but the trip foot on one isn't holding properly and I haven't taken the time to fix it. As for the asparagus I'm planning on putting in about 2500 plants and was going to try the purple variety. I just have to figure out where to put it! Lots of possibilities, lots of potential problems that you can plan for but you can't fix'em until they show up.

Thanks for the replies,

Scott

My wife and I have grown blueberries for almost 3 decades, both a we-pick and a U-pick operation. Have a nice road-side site. I"d recommend a few things;
1st - go to your county extension agent if you have them in Ga. and get their advice.
2nd - You MUST get soil testing done, and do what they say.
3rd - Are you sure you have enough cold freezing temps in a Ga. winter for the fruit buds to fully develop?
Beyond that, it"s wonderful. It might take a few years to get customers, to get them to know where you are. Haul lots of oak mulch if you can, oak is the best. Some customers like to stroll and pick, and eat their way across the field. You have to be strict. Little kids have to be controlled. But by andlarge, no problems.

(quoted from post at 10:31:41 11/18/13) My wife and I have grown blueberries for almost 3 decades, both a we-pick and a U-pick operation. Have a nice road-side site. I"d recommend a few things;
1st - go to your county extension agent if you have them in Ga. and get their advice.
2nd - You MUST get soil testing done, and do what they say.
3rd - Are you sure you have enough cold freezing temps in a Ga. winter for the fruit buds to fully develop?
Beyond that, it"s wonderful. It might take a few years to get customers, to get them to know where you are. Haul lots of oak mulch if you can, oak is the best. Some customers like to stroll and pick, and eat their way across the field. You have to be strict. Little kids have to be controlled. But by andlarge, no problems.

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Excellent advise! Thank you. I did go to the local extension agent and he was of little use. This area is big on dairy farms which was his area of expertise. I went to the local USDA office and they give the names of a few local producers who I visited. I got a soil test done as soon as I cleared the property and applied lime as recommended. This area of Georgia gets enough chill hours to produce fruit on most plants. Raspberries are questionable so I'll start with 10-15 plants and see how they do. I'm guessing that a sign stating that unruly children will be captured and sold won't do?

Thanks,

Scott

Them sign should say that unruly children will be
give Mt. Dew and chocolate.

(quoted from post at 08:30:28 11/18/13) Them sign should say that unruly children will be
give Mt. Dew and chocolate.

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Sign should read

[b:b73c018171]Unattended or unruly children with be fed Mt Dew and Chocolate and be given a puppy/kitten [/b:b73c018171]

Check out local farmers markets too.

Rick

Hello Scott.
I was under the impression bluberries prefer a slightly acidic soil.

(quoted from post at 04:35:21 11/19/13) Hello Scott.
I was under the impression bluberries prefer a slightly acidic soil.

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They do. I took samples from 5 different areas and applied lime as necessary for the planned use. I needed to bring the ph up in all areas according to the tests.

Scott