Spin Farming

larry@stinescorner · Dec 9, 2018

I look into a lot of stuff,,because tv stinks,,and I have time,,,,lol... Recently been looking at Spin farming,,,Small Plot Intense farming. I m not interested in doing it,,but do really like gardening. If I was younger,,I Think I would try it . My observation of the area we live in here in NJ ,I think some of the ideas would be profitable as a sideline.
I have been reading about it.Its not a new concept,,but it is very interesting to me.
It may work,if you have a market and buyers in your area.
This year,,with my little garden,I watched carefully what friends and neighbors like.
They like tomatoes,,but when ours are ripe,many have their own,,or other friends have them.That is certainly the same with zucchini and such,,and some vegetables,they have no idea what they even are.
But,,,heres something I really noticed,,,,,everyone likes fresh cut lettuce.
When I Tell neighbors and friends to help themselves to beans,cherry tomatoes,squash etc,,no one does.
When I Say lettuce is ready,,many come with bags and scissors to get some,,and thank me,,and rave about it.

I feel ,if I was younger,,and really concentrated on it,I Could raise a lot of lettuce.I also believe I Could market it in our area here in central NJ...Especially since the scares of romaine lettuce from the store this year..///thats my 02 cents thought for the day.///Any opinions will be gracefully accepted!!

Traditional Farmer · Dec 9, 2018

Wife and I have been raising lettuce and some other similar crops in 'raised beds' mostly old stock tanks that leak I buy at auctions for next to nothing.Amazing how much can be grown in a very small area,plus no big area to work up,no soil compaction,plant no matter how wet it is etc.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 9, 2018

Larry,
I like gardening too. I like playing in the dirt. Many call me a dirty old man. I always put out a large garden that produces more than I can eat and I give it away. Next year I'm down sizing. Getting a little tired of growing food for others. I'm done with welfare garding. I raise all my garden plants form seeds. Next year instead of giving away my extra food, I'm giving away my extra plants. If the people I give my food to don't want the plants, they can go hungry.

larry@stinescorner · Dec 9, 2018

Another thing I observed over the years.,at least in the area anyway,,,the loose leaf type lettuce hasnt got hit by many pests,,I didnt need any chemicals to grow a good crop.I grew blackseeded simpsom,,simson elite,,red sails,,cos romaine,, bibb,,all did well.I never had real good luck with iceberg,,but it did make small tasty fluffy heads that were tasty.The raised beds do well,,without the raised bed,,too much water brings on a mold type problem,,and snails too.

larry@stinescorner · Dec 9, 2018

I cant say the same,,,people bring us trays of cooked food,,baked goods,,and all kinds of gifts to thank us.Just like I have harvested so many great friends on this site,,the garden has brought me a harvest of friends too.You reap what you sow.

Geo-TH,In · Dec 9, 2018

Larry,
You are blessed with friends that bring you food and do things for you.
My friends expect me to bring me things from the garden and I get nothing in return. Guess I'm sow the wrong seeds.

I also have friends that expect me to do things for them and nothing in return.

So is it me or do I just have the wrong friends?

larry@stinescorner · Dec 9, 2018

Wrong friends!

Ray IN · Dec 9, 2018

Yes you can create a lot of value in a small space with produce. I retired at 56 and we grow about 15 acres of produce. I am amazed at how much one can sell by the side of the road once people know what you have and that it is fresh and good. We struggle top have enough tomatoes for the demand. Another thing that sells good is big sweet onions. Still haven't figured out how to grow and pick enough strawberries--we don't dare advertise strawberries in the paper because we would be overrun with orders. Even things like bunches of green onions go really well, and I don't really have time to fool with them. Green beans are gold early in the season--usually can't grow or pick enough. Easiest money in produce is probably the tame thornless blackberries at $5-$6 per quart. Sweetcorn is the only thing that takes lots of space--about 10--12 acres.

It is a nice sideline and we make extra income, but the bottom line is that it is so much work and has so many potential problems, that I would never recommend trying to make a living at it! That is probably why most places charge more than we do.

dahlin · Dec 9, 2018

I think it might be you George Larry gives because he likes to do that not because he is trying to look good or wants something in return just my thought. Randy

Leroy · Dec 9, 2018

Around here every town has a farmers market where you can take all your extra items from the garden to sell, even crafts. There are 2 produce auctions that I know of that the groceries go to to buy produce for to sell in their stores. And there are a lot of small farms doing nothing except produce. One friend of mine sells from home but also at the auction of what he is on the board of directors. He uses hoop houses to raise his tomatoes and they extend his season. That is in Northen Indiana. And no tractor power either, just horse power. Think he has about 10 horsepower.

bmack95hd · Dec 9, 2018

Saw an article in Mother Earth on this same topic, forget what they called the technique. We have 2 gardens each year, one in AZ and one in CO. Usually one does better than the other and we end up with a surplus. We give some away and donate to the local Soup Kitchen. They are always happy when I stop by. We are down sizing to one garden as we are selling our AZ property. So it looks like the CO garden will get all of our attention.

kcm.MN · Dec 9, 2018

Larry, I want to sincerely thank you for starting this thread.

We had hoped to start our (big) garden this past season, but like usual, life had other ideas in mind. Gonna make it a reality next Spring. Not sure how it will turn out, but have to try!

With the short seasons up here, there's no sense trying to do ANYTHING without at least grow tunnels, so that's what I have in mind. However, rather than the intense farming that you mentioned, I want to allow extra space, as our ground is low ground and often gets very wet. Need that space for light and lots of air flow.

Looking to plant tomatoes to start. No farmer's markets in this area means people either have to grow their own, or fight their way to the very small market in Thief River Falls for the short time it is open each year. It's fairly new. One tried opening up in Roseau, but was more of a craft fair than anything else. It folded after the first year. We're looking to get permission to sell from a certain few spots, right out of the enclosed trailer. Had hoped to start with watermelon, but going tomatoes at first. Need the extra $$ that they would potentially have. And everything will be heirloom.

Had tried a little bit of leaf lettuce in our garden this year, but this was a bad year for most everything except cukes and taters, and they got set out late. Might try some lettuces again next year. I mean, what's better with fresh maters than fresh lettuce, right??

Sure do appreciate everyone's input here today. Thank you.

Spook · Dec 9, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:33:45 12/09/18) Yes you can create a lot of value in a small space with produce. I retired at 56 and we grow about 15 acres of produce. I am amazed at how much one can sell by the side of the road once people know what you have and that it is fresh and good. We struggle top have enough tomatoes for the demand. Another thing that sells good is big sweet onions. Still haven't figured out how to grow and pick enough strawberries--we don't dare advertise strawberries in the paper because we would be overrun with orders. Even things like bunches of green onions go really well, and I don't really have time to fool with them. Green beans are gold early in the season--usually can't grow or pick enough. Easiest money in produce is probably the tame thornless blackberries at $5-$6 per quart. Sweetcorn is the only thing that takes lots of space--about 10--12 acres.

It is a nice sideline and we make extra income, but the bottom line is that it is so much work and has so many potential problems, that I would never recommend trying to make a living at it! That is probably why most places charge more than we do.

Ray, I like your ideas. I see marketing as a big issue for my location, mid Michigan. Where are you located?

JD Seller · Dec 9, 2018

Larry two things come to mind. The biggest is making enough profit to make it a viable income source. Then you have to have a large population base to sell to.

Lets break that down some more. I think you worked for a university. Looks at what you where making annually the last year you worked. Then look at the benefit cost you received on top of that. A major one is your retirement. That has a HUGE value that no one self employed gets. Truthfully few in the entire private sector get a very good retirement these days. Our generation is getting retirement benefits that none before or after will ever get. So how much produce would you need to sell/grow to be just profitable??? Then how much to even make a percentage of your needed income???

Now the marketing. People with your outlook are the product of growing up in a rural life style. This is usually far away from large population centers. So that makes the real market for the fresh grown produce limited in most cases. Then add in the seasonal growing patterns and you have a tough business model to make work. People want produce year round not just a month in the summer.

I am not saying that growing produce will not make money. I am saying that the percentage of people that can do it successfully are in the very very small minority of people that try it.

GEO-TH, In · Dec 9, 2018

No, think you are wrong and Larry is right. My friend would bring me his best sweet corn and I did many things for him. HE recently passed away. Others want my food from garden. Want me to do backhoe work for FREE. I remove SNOW from 7 neighbors drives, and never a simple THANKS.

I do things for the wrong people.

larry@stinescorner · Dec 9, 2018

I agree 100 per cent I was thinking more like a sideline

Traditional Farmer · Dec 9, 2018

You need to come to the East coast there are lots of growers and a huge amount of customers for farm direct vegetables and meat.Some have regular customers and some sell at the many
farmers markets.Plus there is a huge pool of very financially well off people that don't mind parting with money if they get what they want.Urban folks who never lived on a farm make up a large portion of the consumers wanting to buy direct BTW.A place called Graves Mt Lodge in my area makes a good living catering to the well off folks around DC to different events they put on thru the year.Federal Gov't folks have lots of your tax money to spend(LOL)

paul · Dec 9, 2018

I would think this is a perfect type of venture as Traditional Farmer talks about, this is how that sort of thing works.

If a person has a very local population, and some people skills, and willing to use your free time for gardening and selling, would work out great.

Still a lot of work and a lot of risk on crops growing, people buying, coming out somewhat profitable, but if it fits it would be a nice venture.

Paul

Traditional Farmer · Dec 9, 2018

Some of the growers have a group of regular customers that they supply with a box or basket of whatever is in season that week.Customers usually pay some up front money and the growers know how much to grow plus have a steady market for the year.Northern Virginia and DC is a very strong market for that sort of thing.Also firewood cutters get what I call a fortune to deliver firewood in that area of course they have to take it into apartments sometimes and stack it.Buyers will also want certain type wood,cut a certain way etc but will pay for the services.
On a Saturday morning this time of year pickups and 1 ton trucks headed to DC loaded with firewood on US 29.I have some really nice holly trees on my farm usually loaded with red berries,have several guys that buy some Holly to carry up with them when they deliver firewood.A lot of opportunity if a person wants to hustle.

paul · Dec 9, 2018

Yea, the CSA marketing I think it is.

Lotta work, have to worry about a fickle market and bad weather but that is any farming isn?t it.

Paul

Traditional Farmer · Dec 9, 2018

Yea I guess there aren't many farmers that want to get out of the air conditioned/heated cabs and actually do some hands on labor these days,but around me there are a good number
of young guys and gals that are willing to do just that,plus the Mennonites still don't mind doing hands on work if there is money to be made doing it.

paul · Dec 9, 2018

I don?t think that is really a fair comment. Really pretty negative.

I?m trying to have a nice conversation with you, and right away, you gotta rip on people.

Finding and keeping a market for such an operation might be easy in some areas, but it?s about impossible in others.

If you live out here in the northern corn belt, you might live 20 miles from a small town, and 70 miles from a shopping mall size town.

Everyone in between likes to do their own gardening, you aint selling snow to an Eskimo?

If you drive 70 miles one way, and have to develop a clientele list one basket at a time, that?s a whole lot of time and expense for a single sale a month. And up here in the cold of Minnesota your garden seaso is mighty short, what do you do for income the other 8 months a year?

It?s a neat thing, where you can find your nitche.

Doesn?t fit in well all over.

Or, we can just call people names and be mean.

Whatever. I tried.

Paul

Traditional Farmer · Dec 9, 2018

Think I just pointed out the obvious.You can always seem to find ways to belittle what people are doing what works for them because they aren't into 'real' farming of only growing soybeans and corn and of course collecting Gov't (taxpayer) money.At least the people I've pointed out are doing it all on their own Dime,used to be that was a trait to be admired and living off the gov't dole was looked down on.Strange since most I hear from the so called real farmers these days is how tough things are and how they can barely scrap by.Is that true or not? Maybe I have it wrong and you fellows are rolling in the dough$$?

JD Seller · Dec 9, 2018

Traditional Farmer: Enlighten all us blighted farmers how the great "Traditional Farmer" is doing things the perfect way with zero help from anyone or any body!!!!!!! Common tell us all about your great enterprise!!!!!

Well from a fellow that's AC and heat did not work today when doing my day of rest chores, I guess I am lazy. Only took three hours this morning feeding and another three this evening. Then for fun we loaded seven pot loads of cattle out this afternoon too. Also I have not taken a single DIME of government money in over 30 years. Look me up in water keepers site and see if my name is listed there!!!!!

Yes sir I am going to plant an acre or two of garden, the organic way, and make a living selling it to city people that do not live within a 1000 miles of me. One heck of a business PLAN!!!!

Bonnan · Dec 9, 2018

Larry that model is working more and more here in Western Pa. Several large and I mean large operations function on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. All the smaller towns want a "Farmer Market"; there is competition between towns for them.
The Amish and small vegetable farms ship into the populated areas. They seem to grow different crops from Spring to Fall. More sheep and goat farms too.What I don't know is how they pay for benefits/retirement?

Traditional Farmer · Dec 9, 2018

Must be plenty of farmers that are taking plenty of money directly and indirectly from things like crop insurance because the Farm Bill has Billions earmarked for farmers.So where is it going? I'm just pointing out there are other ways to do things and make money farming that I see going on.I hear all the time the whining and crying of farmers that claim they can't make any money
but never want to try anything different makes no sense to me.And if you don't want to do what you're doing think its too tough have an auction and try something else.I do plenty of hard dirty jobs farming.But so what? I choose to do it and don't want anyone to feel sorry for me I'm free to quit any time and you are too I assume.

Eldon (WA) · Dec 9, 2018

(quoted from post at 07:33:45 12/09/18) Yes you can create a lot of value in a small space with produce. I retired at 56 and we grow about 15 acres of produce. I am amazed at how much one can sell by the side of the road once people know what you have and that it is fresh and good. We struggle top have enough tomatoes for the demand. Another thing that sells good is big sweet onions. Still haven't figured out how to grow and pick enough strawberries--we don't dare advertise strawberries in the paper because we would be overrun with orders. Even things like bunches of green onions go really well, and I don't really have time to fool with them. Green beans are gold early in the season--usually can't grow or pick enough. Easiest money in produce is probably the tame thornless blackberries at $5-$6 per quart. Sweetcorn is the only thing that takes lots of space--about 10--12 acres.

It is a nice sideline and we make extra income, but the bottom line is that it is so much work and has so many potential problems, that I would never recommend trying to make a living at it! That is probably why most places charge more than we do.

Yeah we did that for a number of years and made good money.....but it is much easier to ride a tractor and make $85 an hour than bust your butt weeding and harvesting....

paul · Dec 9, 2018

What bizarre comments. Nothing to do with anything.

Well, I tried. Same old hate every thread. Guess Taylor Swift wrote her song about you.

Paul

JMS/.MN · Dec 9, 2018

=1. You make a lot of legitimate points, as usual. Too bad they"re not well taken, despite their authenticity and real world value.

Spin Farming

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads