Shocking Truth Behind Small Farm Failures: The Top 5 Reasons (Don't Miss Out!)
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Failing in small farming can be disheartening, but it's essential to understand the reasons behind it. In this video, Curtis Stone delves into the top 5 reasons behind small farm failures. Learn from the experiences of others and gain valuable insights to avoid common pitfalls. Don't miss out on this informative analysis that can help you navigate the challenges and lead your farming journey towards success and prosperity!
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About Curtis Stone:
Curtis is one of the world’s most highly sought-after small farming educators. His book, The Urban Farmer, offers a new way to think about farming𑁋 one where quality of life and profitability coexist. Today, Curtis spends most of his time building his 40-acre off-grid homestead in British Columbia. He leverages his relationships with other experts to bring diverse content into the homes of gardeners and aspiring small farmers from around the world. Learn more at FromTheField.TV.
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Thank you for this video. I needed advice on how to start off properly. I recently grew cucumbers and they sold sufficiently and I only put in 100 dollars to start with. Made 728 dollars.
This is a great start
That’s amazing!!!!!!! 🥺
Curtis me and my boyfriend are living proof that you are truly an inspiration we've been farming for at least a year now failing miserable in the beginning until we stop and start to study what crops are profitable and made adjustments into planting more greens and cut again crops. You made us pay attention to soil preparation and more organic ways to fertilize are crops now we are making lots more money and paying out less, it's only the two of us because as u said people think they are more than they are worth want to be paid and they want to do the minimum. we are all the way in Barbados and even thou it has been a challenge we are still winning.
Tamara Dottin keep it up, Tamara. That’s awesome to read.
You cant be making a lot of money after just a year of farming. Be real
Hi, sunshine ...... I commented on this page when I came across yours and everything you just said in your comment is amazing and amazing. Sunshine I want us to be friends, this is my Gmail ... davidalberttc12@gmail.com
you can text me okay.! Sorry for the comment about public affairs. Please Gmail is just for sunshine lol text SMS to me on this Gmail if it's okay with you? I hope to hear from you soon
Do u get your boyfriend to creampie the plants?
He has skills as a gardener... Fails as a human you would want around your children...
Great video! Not to give it away, but for those with the ADHD...
1) Treat your farm like a business
2) Don't spread yourself to thin
3) Use the proper equipment
4) Don't waste time on low profit margin activities
5) Leave your ideology in your back pocket
LA Prepper As a person with ADHD thank you lol
What? I have ADHD it just want answers now or don't bore me,
@@backwoodsbillycreeks2174 i feel that
Tx for the précis. Jesus, he does go on a bit! Curtis: rehearse.
@@dicksnyder6753 then watch another video. Content creators struggle, and if people keep short-cutting, a lot of their income (already almost nothing) gets even worse. But if you're into just free stuff... can't change your mind :)
Here's my list -
1. Debt - You gotta spend money to make money, but you gotta know what to spend the money on. If you're starting out, DO NOT drop $5k on a new walk-behind tractor or a green house. Those things can come later. Right now, borrow as much equipment as you can. Borrow Grandpa's tiller, rent land from someone, get second-hand tools off CL and garage sales. Keep your expenses to the barest minimum until you know what to spend your money on. When you do have money to spend, buy the best quality equipment you can afford. A good hoe will cost 10 times what a junk one will cost, but be worth 100 times the bad one when using it.
2. Experience - So you want to start a small farm and sell at local market. You don't have a clue on where to start, let alone how to do it. Start working for another small farmer. Take the seasonal job. Learn through doing work at his place before you jump into doing it on your own. Lotsa guys will help you get started by employing you for a couple of years. Find out what sells well, what might sell well, and how to make a sale. Get experience and make a plan.
1. Debt - Businesses fail when they have too much debt and their debtors get sick of carrying them. Having a maxed out credit card or five, a mortgage, an FSA microloan to repay, and a car payment coming due is the fastest way to make something that you would otherwise enjoy into a seriously unhappy time. Did I already go over this one....? Oh well, it's important.
3. No follow-through - You have to be able to complete a task. You're definitely not going to make money with a half-built greenhouse and a broken down tiller. Start a project and complete that project before moving on to the next one. CSA customers are going to get pretty cranky if they never see something in their boxes because you can't complete a job.
4. Pride - You know you're struggling, but you won't ask for help. You know your buddy is doing a good job, but you can't get his advice because you think you'll lose face. As you've heard so many times in the past- There's no such thing as a stupid question, only stupid answers. Ask for help when you need it, but don't ask too often or people will stop taking your calls.
1. Debt - Oh did I already say this one? Yeah, it's very important. You start out with a pile of debt, you'll always struggle, especially if the items you purchased don't help you to succeed. The lender doesn't care if the items didn't work out, they're gonna want their money back
5. Books - I see this SOOOOOO many times, people who read a book and think they have it figured out. I deal in walk-behind tractors on top of farming full-time. Until Jean Martin wrote his book, I NEVER sold a power harrow. I now have had many calls from people over the past couple years who want a power harrow. It's a great tool, BUT it's $1800! You DON'T need to be dropping that kind of money on a single attachment that is only really good at seedbed prep until you can pay cash for it from the profits from the past year. I tell everyone this, but I know I'm not convincing them. Probably because I didn't write a book and put it in there....
Did I mention debt?
Absolutely nothing wrong with a walk-behind tractor. They're a great machine. I'm saying try to borrow one for the first couple years. Failing that, buy a good used one. If you must buy new, only buy the tiller, and buy other attachments as you can afford them. I see people buy a new one with all the options and five attachments, going $10,000-12,000 in debt to do it. The debt is the problem, not the machine.
Great info, thanks! I'm in the situation of starting a small market garden (1 hectare). What tools would you recommend as a must/great benefit? Thus far, a seeder is a definite it seems? What else?
You should do a video. This guy loves to hear himself talk. I live in a small farming community and it's all about the money, GMOs, and chemicals from start to finish. And not one of them is poor, actually they are pretty damn rich.
The borrower is always slave to the lender. Debt binds the ankles and restrains the wrists.
The large print giveth, but beware, the fine print taketh away.
farmerboybill kkkkkkkk
Curtis, spent 35 years growing wholesale bedding plants. Now grow for donation to the fire department. The last year in business, my wife seeded 45,000 seeds in plug trays. She used one of the seeders I developed. Farming has been good to us. Love your idea of helping young people farm.
I'm always impressed by your pragmatic business advice and your ability to deliver it clearly and concisely. At the same time, you display passion and a strong moral compass. Keep up the good work.
Bill Cantrell I think it is quality... but I would have rather had him summarize or quickly list the 5 things then go in depth. I lost interest 3/4 of the way through.
Very well said. Nailed it!
I find it kinda odd personally when he says that the "Incumbent Ag" is dying particularly because I'm a young farmer that has inherited a traditional farm, and I find small/urban farmers as sort of a novelty. Btw nice last name, I'm a NC Cantrell btw
Curtis! Without this content and other content you put out, the world wouldn't be the same!!! You have inspired me! You will inspire change long term to billions of people that WILL help make a healthier planet FOR ALL LIFE!!!😀😀😀 THANK YOU DEEPLY FOR ALL OF YOUR WORK AND TIME!!😀
I'm a hobby gardener, but professionally I work as a photographer. A little over 10 years ago I started a studio with some friends. The #1 mistake in this video's list was exactly the same reason why we failed. We were excited to have our own studio and do all this awesome work, but none of us had any idea how to run a business. By year 2 we were struggling, and we hung on for 4 more years before we threw in the towel. That was probably one of the most valuable lessons I've had in my working life. And it applies to any kind of business, but is especially dangerous when you're in a business of something that you love because you're blinded by your passion. It makes you believe that things will just magically work themselves out (they won't) or it makes you cling onto something until it's past time to let go.
You do a great job, Curtis. I'm a golf course superintendent who'll be retiring soon. I've always grown things, be it cuttings of shrubbery, and now, fine turf. Looking forward to my next career in working with the soil, especially organic farming!
This year is my first year farming, and I am learning a lot from different Farmers on TH-cam and my neighbors that are farmers. I'm enjoying talking-to and learning from everyone.
Hi, sunshine ...... I commented on this page when I came across yours and everything you just said in your comment is amazing and amazing. Sunshine I want us to be friends, this is my Gmail ... davidalberttc12@gmail.com
you can text me okay.! Sorry for the comment about public affairs. Please Gmail is just for sunshine lol text SMS to me on this Gmail if it's okay with you? I hope to hear from you soon
Curtis, I want to expand on your second to last reason which deals with time. Farming is a profession and many that get into farming for the first time need to realize that just like any profession it takes several years to get it all right. Giant steps are not the way to go. The element of understanding time is the issue that seems to be missed by most authors and new farmers. Expect at least 3 - 5 years to get things sorted included the farmers growing ands selling skills. Infrastructure takes time to build as well and the flow of work is not something that can be written on a piece of paper or derived on a scheduling software, it must be experienced. This takes time.at least 5 years.
Good point, but it depends on the type of farming you're getting into. Small market gardens can be up and running and profitable in one years time. I've seen it done hundreds of times over, all over the world. Certainly other types of farming take longer. This is why I have put most of my efforts into teaching market gardeners. It's the fasted, cheapest and easiest way to get into farming and get cash flow. With a blanket of cash flow coming from the farm, other enterprises can be stacked in with time.
I like your connection between business and farming. You would do a better job of teaching business 2.01 than some of the teachers I had. Experience is a great teacher.
Hi Curtis, Im from the Philippines. Your input is really remarkable. Im into farming now and we are promoting the concept of looking at the farm as a business. We are an agricultural country and we really have to push for farmers to start looking at the spreadsheet.
Very good tips. I will be starting extremely small, just growing for my family, then move to my neighbors, and then start thinking about the farmers market. I've said to myself that my "retirement" was to have a small farm. I need to start it now so I can be at the level I want when I reach that age. Thank you for making these videos. I've changed some of my thinking because of them.
I absolutely Can't believe the goodness in people. You somehow runs a successful farm AND make the time to put HOURS of insanely helpful videos online FOR FREE. Thank you so much!
Curtis you are awesome and a big help! I read your book and I am real close to starting my own farm in the netherlands. a dairy farmer offered me land and we are almost ready to start!
Big thanks and keep up the good work!
Buy "The Urban Farmer" book, and stick with it. Curtis is giving you his experiences in one single book. Got it!! So GET IT!!!!
Great top 5 and I mostly agree with their importance. My problem (as a farmer) is that small sustainable farms are great for specialty foods for restaurant but 95% of folks get their food from stores. We all can't eat lettuce, microgeens and tomatoes 24/7. We all can't afford expensive eggs or sky-high peppers.
I've heard for decades that a revolution in land use is coming but frankly, I see zero evidence. There are a few more gardens and churches and schools are growing crops but the reality is that farming will ALWAYS be rare because it is tremendously hard and few are willing to expend the time, planning or energy.
Thank you for your time and information
You're an inspiration Curtis, thanks for all the great info!
Quitting my job and moving out to New Mexico in July to attempt bringing back my grandfathers ranch. 40 acres and it's all paid for, just need to start planting.
Lawrence Chavez i cant even comprehend how nice that would be
Yes, and land taxes could take it away from you, so do NOT overspend...the gov't truly owns ALL THE LAND - no pay taxes - no own land! Simple.
@@MargaretWalkerCellist well you are a positive person
@@MargaretWalkerCellist land tax in new Mexico on agriculture land is very low, 500 a year with a house and barns for that size of property, everyone knows you have to pay tax or the government will take it, which in New Mexico it would take 3 to 5 years of not paying
Why refrigeration when you can just harvest and deliver? You can have your customers in place never needing refrigeration. We started with getting a list together of committed people.
Because that's not efficient.
Thank you!
You caught me from 5 to one!
Your advice is going to be an excellent starting point begining this 2023!
I'm so glad I found your videos. I've been wanting to start a small farm for a while and your videos always bring up points I haven't even thought about. Every video I watch I feel even more prepared to succeed.
Thank you Curtis! I'm starting a CSA this year and your book and YT channel have been invaluable.
This is such a valuable video. I get overwhelmed sometimes and I've been hoping it wouldn't be the reason I get burnt out too quickly. So many values tied to why I do this. Just gonna try to keep it a little simple. Got it
Thank you. My husband and I are getting ready to start a small farm in Hawaii. I used to have an urban farm in Colorado and can't wait to get in the garden again. I appreciate your realistic approach.
Love your advice. I am mushrooming farmer and this I take your advice. I am adding greenhouse for the vegetable with your 5 best crops. Thank you.
Right on Curtis! What you say in the first few moments of this video needs spread far and wide.
This guy knows what's he's talking about!! Walk in coolers and a seeder is what I need. Thanks Curtis
I'm lol at myself because of the boot strap approach to just growing my own food stuffs . I am seriously grateful for all of your vids and after just this day , finishing off a 60 x 12 south facing green house , planning out the 100 x 12 foot one to begin tomorrow ... and as odd as it seems , people are stopping by to ask about what crops i will be growing ... all in or nothing , I bought the land and building , went 100 % off grid with solar and wind power , and now focusing on seed purchases and soil acquisitions ... thank you so very much for all of your efforts to make the vids , and yes I will share experiences of what I am planning on growing and of course the results . I found an abandoned building with room for green houses and a shop , for a fair price and left the city to be a half hour from Calgary ... you are right about the cash needed ... and I may be able to help you with a gen set using alternative fuels ... clean and quiet ....but constant energy from almost nothing to run it for days on end ... once again ... thanks for the push...
You have hands down the best videos with the best content in this market segment. Thanks for all that you share.
You have helped this small farmer! I am one who has planted seed by hand for the last 50 years. Now I'm ready to step up and grow some good healthy food !!!!
Very nice...Thanks. I was struggling with the equipment piece and know now I just need to pull the plug and order it now before it's too late.
All excellent points. Many apply to businesses in general. In the small grower space I see stubbornness to change or refusing to give up a failing ideas to be another big reason.
I just want to thank you for sharing your videos and resources with all of us on TH-cam and around the world I never thought of even becoming a farmer until I saw your videos I never saw how it could be possible I used to think that I would love to plant things in other people's yards and get people to use their yards for Gardens but I never understood how her could figure out why it would just come across my mind sometimes but I'm glad to see that you do it and that you figured it out I also want to thank you that your way of thinking I believe is really saving our asses all over this world because you're making it simple to understand for everybody and because of it people have started doing it and now that all these big corporations are going to fall thank God that some people still have an idea of what to do I really think you're going to save the entire world over these kind of ideas
Thank you for being a clear speaker. You don't speak too quickly, you don't have a lot of "uhh" filler words, and you have a great vocabulary. For this particular video, I just have one question - in #4, you said "CSA", but never spelled out what that is. I imagine it's a contract with some kind of grocery store, but I wish you would have said what CSA actually means, because I have no idea about farming, but am interested in it.
I've just stumbled on your page and I'm digging your videos. Very helpful. I'm 39 and year 2 on 2 acres still learning
Hi, sunshine ...... I commented on this page when I came across yours and everything you just said in your comment is amazing and amazing. Sunshine I want us to be friends, this is my Gmail ... wedavidalbert@gmail.com
you can text me okay.! Sorry for the comment about public affairs. Please Gmail is just for sunshine lol text SMS to me on this Gmail if it's okay with you? I hope to hear from you soon ..... God bless you
Great video !!!! Me and my wife have an acre of land in Michigan and believe utilizing it for small market farming. I work full time and am also a musician ! Please help !
I would love access to your book as well
Starts at 2:23
Thank you soooo much! Per #5, yes, sadly I experienced that by a local female urban farmer, shared vocal knowledge not hands on, was possessive of market garden areas....🥺. My middle son who also worked with me said that team was ‘virtue signaling.’ Your advice, to me sounds like common sense. Since I’m over 40 😉, I have only had experience in community gardens and small market gardens.....I am now planning a home garden and meeting at farmer’s markets, AFTER my family’s needs have been met. I’m also watching the Thriving Farmer’s summit!! My family has 121 acres....left to us by my abuelo, need to start working on again. Take care to you and your family. You ARE making a difference!! 💐💖🥰✌️🤠🌱
My biggest dream is to have a small farm !! I plan and prepare a lot even thou I am only 18, but I don't come from a farmer family so I have to build up everything myself. But I am optimistic and I will fullfill my life goal !!
I'm convincing my library to buy your book, but will be buying it myself as a thanks for your inspiration
Really appreciate you taking the time to share this. It's very practical, solid advice, some of which we've learned the hard way already.
Greetings from far away, freezing cold land of Finland, Mr. Stone. I've been following your videos now several months and been very impressed and inspired the quality of your information and your valuable lessons and insights about running the small scale farming business. I'm not that familiar about all the abbreviations of English language and opening up the detailed meaning of "CSI" or something you're mentioning in your video would be highly appreciated. And one more question. Is it possible to order your interesting book overseas? Your videos are just getting better, deeper and more focused in time. Keep up the excellent and valuable work. We're with you.
www.bookdepository.com/The-Urban-Farmer-Curtis-Allen-Stone/9780865718012?ref=grid-view
Oh man the World is so tiny indeed. Nice to see you here Josh! :) btw, I was about to contact you soon, but have to first find out your number from the old phone of mine. Starting to wake up from my hibernation now. What you mean by Lillklobb? Anyways, let's get together soon. And Tom Tom, thank you for details.
Okidoki Josh, I will for sure visit your place and your site when the spring is hitting the business. I've been watching numerous amount of videos about the issues and themes like this, but Curtis' videos are one of the best out there so far. There are many other serious ones out as well but the rate of updating and the level of intrest and quality in Curtis' outcomes are difficult to over run by most of the more or less active fellows in the media. I must admit that nowadays I'm really waiting to find out new updates from Curtis. It's getting deeper and deeper with time. For us in Finland, these methods and insights are even more relevant than for most of the farmers and gardeners in the Western World. Although we must apply these methods and practices even further, cause of our remote and even further north location. Practically the whole Finland is more north than 60N latitude. That's major challenge for most of the time for gardeners and farmers here.
If I may throw in my own two cents, I think the Number 1 reason most nascent farms fail is that the farmers think that ninety percent of their time and focus should be spent on producing their food and ten percent on marketing. I've been very successful because I've spent 50/50 between the two activities in the first five years. Also, always start any blog with a good graphic image even if you buy a stock photo. We live in a graphic culture.
This 2017 video is still applicable as of this time. I know people getting stumbled to it even up to now.
Thanks, I keep rewatching this from time to time. I find a lot of it very useful, but this must be written on a note on the door. Reminded every day... only way
Very good stuff indeed ! In my first year of learning a lot and doing a little bit , I hear the words in this video louder than ever.
Curtis your last couple of videos have been totally on point. I like your emphasis on business because although you are doing a public service to people providing them great food, at the end of the day you need to pay your bills. One thing that we were talking about with a friend that could and should be a game changer for small farms producing great produce is food scanners that will hopefully be accessible/affordable for everyone in the next decade.
Hey Curtis you always keep it real man and thank you for telling it like it is. One of the problems of the internet age is so much info and so little wisdom. Sometimes I feel like we just need to unhook, focus, and hunker down. Appreciate all your advice and it's so important because of how badly we need small farms and farmers again. It doesn't set much hope for the next folks if we all go broke does it now.
Reading your book. Halfway done.
Thank you for the encouragement and direction!
Hi, sunshine ...... I commented on this page when I came across yours and everything you just said in your comment is amazing and amazing. Sunshine I want us to be friends, this is my Gmail ... wedavidalbert@gmail.com
you can text me okay.! Sorry for the comment about public affairs. Please Gmail is just for sunshine lol text SMS to me on this Gmail if it's okay with you? I hope to hear from you soon ..... God bless you
Hello Curtis...Your 5 Points are True and Honest
your advice here is applicable to ANY small business.......if you take the word farm out, and a few other field specific words this advice is great!
amazing speech, really. I am glad to know I'm not the only one! good work on making your difference and setting an example. I've moved to Western Massachusetts from Queens NY to do my holistic work and have a patch of soil where I can grow a little bit. thanks!
Great lesson not only about farming but about life. Thank you Curtis! It may sound strange but I am not a farmer, yet I watch every video. These are essential life lessons that go WAY beyond urban agriculture. Keep up the amazing work brother!
I'm watching it twice and making notes. Bruce from Red Gardens brought me here with his Grower's Paradox video.
Me too
never thought I'd meet someone else who still carries a handkerchief.. I got mine in my left back pocket aswell :)
when you're working outside alot like us it's great to have.. runny nose is common for working outside. anyways glad you do that too.. haha.. great info man have a wonderful day! I received your book and digital tools for my birthday, excited to dig through that :)
Dude, ya nailed me on number two. I've tried to get a handle on that, but i always regress.
I am 21 years old living in West Kelowna. One of your videos inspired me to grow some lettuce and micro green with a old aquarium light. As I am of the younger generation I find Hydroponics the most intriguing, example, 'Kratky' method. Fortunately my hobbies already consisted of aquariums and fish keeping, needless to say it goes very well with this new found botanist hobby.
Sounds like you have learned a basic premise of business. Don't eliminate half of your market because a customer may have differing views on life and politics. People are people and most are good.
Wow man I agree
5. I always think to save this world but never bothered about a small sapling dying in front of me.
4. I started big and could not continue it.
3. Spend all my cash for unnecessary thing and fell into debt.
2. Multitasking and all my task failed.
1. I never had a clear destination and struggled, almost dead.
Finally only my interest kept me alive in farming and I have restarted again. thank you for this video.
i am a new small farmer. and i am just starting small. i hope to one day have land to build on and build green houses and raised beds and move on to livestock
solid gold info Curtis, thanks a lot !! I'll try not to fall into these common "new small farmer" mistakes !!
I'm feeling a new reality show brewing, "Farm Rescue" featuring Curtis traveling the country and saving local dying farms.
+glenjamindle I was actually approached by a Hollywood studio about that. No joke. Stay tuned!
hey mate, Dan from NZ here, no idea how to grow anything but this is what i want to do, first step to learning/starting ?
Number #1 is the best advise ever to having a successful farm. Aproching your farm as a viable buisiness will make you sell your product, seek out high grade education, and help you be the absolute best in your space! Boom!
Love the philosophy! Absolutely! Change the world by changing your little piece. We should all be teachers and you are doing what you should be. Share the wealth brother!
Odd question. Are you Montessori graduate Curtis?
The message of being responsible for oneself is such a cornerstone of Montessori education. Fix your issues before helping others a preachable point in the classroom. We as humans have common needs a place to start conversations.
Very educational beyond the Small Farm.
You have the most fascinating vids. I've never farmed really never gardened, and you have me considering a career change. Very cool.
Thank you for that.
3rd generation small farm .
All 5 spot on in the correct order.
Ideology is the killer of my farm success. Proper machinery and I’d say staffing.
Certainly the financial planning is the key.
Curtis, this is some of the greatest advice you could give! So excellent, I am very grateful. Thank you, from Manitoba.
I just got your book! Perfect timing!
I'm with you a 100% on your mission!! You are such a good role model. The times they are a changin'
Thank you sir I move in a year to NC to start my own self sustaining homestead by myself lol I’ve never grown fruit or veg in my life but I’m sick to my stomach of what’s in our food so I’m looking to more educated people to help me along so I thank you for sharing!
Thank you Curtis . I watch all your vids , I do not have my own farm yet but i am going to i hope this year . what would you say is the best time to start ? i would think b4 the growing season starts yes ? if i get the land and its half way through the season do yopu suggest i just prepare for the coming season or plant what i can and prep what i can for season to come . I will be doing this in Spain as my wife is Spanish and i am a Brit and land in spain is so much cheaper then England . But i would like to thank you for the Education you give and the passion you share .
but you need to know how to grow first. you can just chuck $X0,000 at a farm if you don't have any experience growing. Which is kind of what I feel you are saying.Currently I am "borrowing" people's back yards, because I am dirt poor and live in a flat. but i miss not having my own garden soooo bad, I eventually offered to take over some people's neglected back yard. By end of fall the area should be ready to plant. (Southern Hemisphere) Gonna start with potatoes, garlic and maybe some spinach and leaf crops.
but I do NOT have ANY money for a walk-in cooler! Are you kidding me?? A seed-planter? holy shit, I just raided a dumpster for wood to make a rotating compost! I found an axe in a paddock. I use it as a hammer as well, unless I find a hammer.
I know how to pickle and preserve, so that's what i'll do with the first round, and it won't be much. But sometimes I watch your videos, and I watch a lot of them, and I think, man, so these bastards were all rich before they started, and I'. m starting because I can't afford good food! basically i feel like if I don't fork out the cash I'll never have the opportunity to make the cash. So i'll never fork out the cash, because I can't get the cash to get the cash to get the cash.
Murrangurk2 You have access to dumpsters? Sweeeet!!
Well, technically, yes. Providing i don't get caught. Also building sites and other refuse dumps. My favorite is roadside rural rubbish piles. Nobody tends to ask questions about them and you don't have to raid under the cover of darkness. But you do have to be swift and efficient.
Scrap metal and electronics recycling is financing all my start up costs and helps in the off season. Where there's a will....
they give you 1000's for scrap? Or did you find a discarded walk-in cooler? i think you're missing my point. Where there's a will there's a way, sure. i got no land and no money. I grow for food. Despite the fact i would desperately love the financial security Curtis is talking about here all the willing in the world is not going to make it happen. I can't just start pretending I'm a farmer and suddenly i have a rotissary hoe, cooler, seeder, greenhosue, etc. Where are you supposed to get all these start-up cash from to effect your will?
Murrangurk2 if you can grow, find a market. Use your own fridge. Start small and work your way up to a cold room. Stop making excuses. If you have land, and you can grow. That's it. Everything else is an excuse.
how do i buy the book on the link is only digital.
I'd like to find some information for people that are living check to check in order to earn that startup cash. I've found a little information but if you have some ideas, that would be excellent.
So far the ideas are:
1. Make and sell compost
2. Farm worms (this helps with composting it sounds like)
3. Farm by hand on someone's back yard and sell it somehow???
I know a lot of people that would love to start something but can't find a way to get that $5,000 to startup their business operation.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Hello Curtis. Do you recommend anyone interested in starting a farm take the courses and workshops you mentioned before starting? Should they also hire someone experienced to guide them in the beginning?
GREAT ADVICE! I am glad to see some on tell it like it is. I live in the country and have some ties to corporate farming. The last 15 years I have seen many folks move to the country and try to make money growing organic produce, grass feed beef, goats, chickens, all at once. They only have a little knowledge about each of the 4 or 5 things they are try to do at the same time. They often buy the wrong equipment and put up the wrong buildings always have no or a bad marketing plan. They spend a lot of money and work very hard. They most of the time will not take advice from anyone that lives here and think that those of us that grew up in farming are making a lot money by destroying the planet and killing the world population. Which is not true I want to live to see my grandkids grow up and leave the planet a better place. The sad thing is I do want these small farms to be profitable but they get burned out or go broke and many times they get divorced. Keep up the good advice!
Great advice. Love your passion. I'm soaking up everything you say. 😌
Hadarah BatYah me too!
There are plenty of us that would love to continue the old ways of farming if we could get the jobs to learn. We were pushed out in the 80s and have never been let back in.
Thank you for this advice! I've been thinking like #2 that I can start on the cheap. You make a good case that such a plan is doomed to fail. Thanks!
I know of a small urban farm developed in NYC. It had so many expectations (political, social justice, etc) before a single crop was raised.
Great advice! Thanks. All five were very relevant.
Great video! Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. I so needed to hear this right now as I’m beginning my farm. I have your book as well. It is extremely thorough and has helped me develop a solid game plan to move forward. Your passion for farmers to succeed is heartwarming!
Hi, sunshine ...... I commented on this page when I came across yours and everything you just said in your comment is amazing and amazing. Sunshine I want us to be friends, this is my Gmail ... wedavidalbert@gmail.com
you can text me okay.! Sorry for the comment about public affairs. Please Gmail is just for sunshine lol text SMS to me on this Gmail if it's okay with you? I hope to hear from you soon ..... God bless you
Straight to the point, great content!
As with most industries, if you want to turn a profit....automate. This guy spot on with having the right tools. Alot of people complain about the $5k. Assuming you have decent credit, use a credit card(mine with credit union is 5% interest). There are personal loans. There are P2P loans, aka prosper and lending club. But....do NOT bite off more than you can chew. Start small, lean, mean before growing. Make mistakes on smaller scales so you don't fail at a large scale and lose your a$$ financially.
great advice! thanks for staying positive and keeping it real. getting me pumped for this year
Well done and great advice I will listen and try some of your suggestions. Thanks
I agree with the thought if farms dissappearing. I see a LOT of Century Farms dissappearing. Ours did. It's unfourtunate but with the cost of land, equipement it's unreal. Unless your grandfathered in, or it's handed down to you, it's almost impossable to start farming on a row crop/ livestaock farm.
Danke Personal, bring so eine gute Show!
what is your book name? and how can i buy it online ?
Very helpful, thanks Curtis!
I'm heating and air expert. Best walk in cooler is smallest you can make it. Space cost to heat or chill. Insulation is key. Guess after that thermometer what ever means you use to cool in old days it was block ice mules down hill. In your case it's solor panels few battery's and an inverter. Free deep freezers strategic placed in your walk in.
Great info. Very inspiring.
can you send the links to the other videos you referred to in order to avoid failure in this business
My advice as a commercial farmer is never spend to much time on one crop. Move on from crop to another crop.If you failed at one crop dont worry. Try to master another crop and get back to that crop later. The best teacher in farming is time. A farmer should have an open mind. Openess of the ideas of others though you might think its ridiculous first. Be good friends with other farmers and share knowledge. Always conduct small experiments if you are unsure.
Thank you Curtis! Very helpful information!