If you want to make a living farming, then you likely want to start a proper small farm and look at running it as an enterprise. If you are retired or have other income and just want to farm on the side, for fun, then you want a hobby farm. Homesteaders usually set a goal of living self-sufficiently.
Local and state law may vary when it comes to the requirements for establishing a small farm business. But the basics are the same: you will probably need to register your name, procure a license, get an employer identification number, and carry product liability insurance.
The farmers' market can be a great place for you to sell your produce. Farmers' markets usually run weekly. Some run only from spring through fall, but more and more move indoors for winter. Sometimes they reduce the frequency from weekly to monthly during the winter months.
By approaching restaurants directly, you can develop a relationship with a chef or chefs and learn what products they want on a regular or occasional basis for their menus. More and more, chefs value locally sourced, uber-fresh ingredients grown with care and sustainably.
If you have products that can be shipped, you can directly sell them online and fulfil orders from the farm.
These farms grow fruits, vegetables, or grain. Most large-scale industrial farms are monoculture farms, meaning they grow only one type of crop at a time. Smaller farms tend to be more diversified.
Also called aquaculture, fish farming is booming. It involves raising large quantities of fish in large tanks. Well-managed fish farms are sustainable, clean, and can produce high-quality fish.
This type of farm is not meant to provide income, but would ideally produce all needed food, year-round. This is becoming increasingly popular among people who wish to live “off the grid.”
Our goal is to be the most trusted resource for rural property professionals and the clients they serve. We emphasise skills that are relevant to real-life situations.
Pick one or two projects that you can start in the next month or so. For example, if you live in the suburbs, you might want to get a few laying hens to keep for eggs.
Read more
Have you ever considered raising fish in your backyard? If not, this article might change your mind. The reason I say that is as homesteaders our goal is to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Read more
That said, goat shelter doesn't need to be elaborate. A hoop house can provide enough shelter for goats. And during the grazing season, trees or windbreaks, a three-sided shed, or a pole barn with just a roof may be enough for your goats. Just keeping them out of drafts is enough.
Read more