Small Farms

If you own just a few small acres, raising Christmas trees may be a fun and profitable small farm project.  All you need is a few acres to plant the trees on.  You can plant up to 1,000 trees per acre, which obviously will give you plenty to work from.  Since people buy different sizes of trees, you can plant a specific number each year to give you some variety when you harvest the trees.

You don’t have to haul your trees into town if you don’t want to.  Many tree farmers either help or allow people to cut down their own trees on the property, making it easier for everyone.  The tree doesn’t cut down trees that may not sell, and the buyer gets to pick exactly the right tree for them.

Planting the trees doesn’t require a lot of skill.  Seedlings may be purchased from tree nurseries that sell them in bulk.  The seeds can then be sown by hand after the area for the trees has been tilled (this is much easier than digging holes in the hard ground for each seedling).

This type of business requires long-term vision.  The trees can take 7-15 years before they’re ready to be harvested.

If you’re interested in learning more about this type of farm, the following resources may help:

Small Farm Christmas Tree Business

Christmas Tree Farmer

Ag Opportunities

Whether you are a teacher, home schooler or are a parent who wants to teach their children a little more about bees, finding the right tools to do this can be frustrating.  Since I really enjoy teaching science and spreading the knowledge to other children, either through 4-H or simply to my own children, I wanted to share my resources.  If you’re tired of trying to find teaching materials, here’s my short list of places to find great teaching tools for bees and beekeeping:

Gone Gardening - Beekeeping Basics  - has information you can use for building a unit and a glossary of terms

National Honey Board  - has lots of goodies for teachers and kids interested in beekeeping, including recipes, videos and teacher guides

Bee Crossword Puzzle - a nice puzzle for older kids from the NC State Beekeeper’s Association

Plight of the Honeybee -  a slide show from Weekly Reader

Beginning Beekeeping for Kentuckians - from the Cooperative Extension/4-H

Maine Beekeeping Kids -  handouts, word games and teacher plans for grades 4 through 6

About Bees - for grades K-3 from University of Arizona, includes songs, stories and information

All About Bees - for grades 4-8, an interdisciplinary approach

Bee and Bumble Bee coloring pages

Bee and Bee Hive coloring pages

Anatomy of a Hive - from PBS/NOVA

If you have other resources to share, please do so in the comments section of this article!

Beekeeping is a hobby for some and a business for others.  Bees are fascinating to watch and they can provide a supply of honey to those willing to work hard for it.  If you are keeping bees for their honey, the best way to keep the bees happy is to provide them with the plants that they love best.  After all, if you can’t deliver what they want, they can easily pack up and move to greener pastures!

If you are considering becoming a beekeeper, or you’re just looking for more plants to lure and keep bees on your property, the right plants are key.  I’ve researched some of the plants that have proven to keep bees around, though I’m sure there are a few you could add (feel free- add them in the comments section of this blog!). So here goes…

• Yarrow
• Barberry
• Borage
• Marigold
• Lilac
• Sunflower
• Lavender
• California Poppy
• Toadflax
• Horehound
• Blazing Star
• Catnip
• Catmint
• Scented Geranium
• Salvia
• Verbena
• Tansy
• Mint
• Cosmos
• Buckwheat
• Sea Holly
• Squash (blossoms)
• Trefoil
• Clover
• Sage
• Goldenrod
• Oregano
• Roses (scented)
• Flowering trees - such as apple, cherry and pear
• Honeysuckle
• Jasmine
• Magnolias

The following are a few online references you can use to discover more plants that will grow in your particular corner of the world:

Plants for West Coast (U.S.) Beekeeping and attracting various bees

Plants for Eastern and Midwest United States Beekeeping

Plants that Bees Like (general)

Beekeeping Information and Favorite Plants of Bees

Many people enjoy eating eggs that come from local farmers because they “know” where the eggs are coming from.  In addition, they are usually much cheaper than the ones sold at the store.  Many farmers have free-range chickens, or at the very least, they are free range during the warmer months of the year, then they are in large pens during the winter months.  No tiny battery cages for these chickens!  So, how does the small farmer get away with selling his eggs when they aren’t inspected?  How does he/she avoid getting shut down by the state?

Luckily in some states, selling eggs from your farm doesn’t have to cause a lot of stress.  In most cases, the eggs can be sold from your farm (usually up to 5,000 eggs per year or have fewer than 3,000 laying hens), and usually without a license.  However, if you want to take them to a farmer’s market or off of your property, you will have to buy a license and follow some simple rules:

1. Pay a fee and file the application form for a license.
2. Label each carton with your name, address, grade, and size of theeggs.
3. Grade the eggs.
4. Keep them refrigerated at 45 degree F or below. At a farmers market or other off farm selling situation, an ice chest is usually okay, but it has to be kept at 45 degrees or below for the duration of the market day.

Here are some links to help you track down information in your state on this issue:

Oklahoma

Georgia

New York

If your state isn’t listed here, go to your state’s Department of Agriculture website for this information.

Who knew that the Internet would be bad for small farms?  State officials are now learning about farms that are selling raw milk and eggs by searching for them on the Internet, and then shutting them down.  This causes concern for the “small guy” who is trying to earn money from their enterprises.  Getting the word out that they do have certain products for sale is difficult enough, and now they will be driven “underground” in order to keep their farm and not be thrown in jail.

One such website, Chicken Feed,was helping to advertise these types of businesses until they learned about officials in Florida combing the web, searching for these farm businesses.

I’ve come across some interesting information from the aforementioned website, mostly from individuals posting comments.  Some farmers are getting around the issue of selling raw milk by selling it as “pet milk.”  In doing so, they can sell their raw milk to anyone, and what they do with the milk once they get home is their own business.  Everyone who buys raw milk should be aware that unpasteurized milk can harbor certain germs- so buyer beware.

Personally I drink raw milk because there is nothing like the taste and having real cream, not the stuff sold in the stores, can’t be beat for taste in my coffee.  I know exactly where my milk comes from, and I can just walk across the street to my barn and get as much milk as I want from our tank.

If you really want to make money from selling your milk you’re going to have to set up a processing area and pasteurize your milk.  Cider operations now have to do this, and it is no small wonder that milk producers have to do the same.  Otherwise, join a co-op and sell your milk this way.

If you’re trying to skirt the law, don’t post your business on the Internet!

Many small farmers sell eggs on the side to make a little extra cash.  They may even be in business to sell eggs on a larger scale and as “organic.”  However, doing so without proper licensing may land them in jail.  In many countries, especially in the United States, selling eggs for human consumption without a license is illegal.

It is possible to raise chickens and eggs without actually selling them yourself.  There are usually producers in your area that are willing to buy poultry and eggs that they will in turn sell.  The larger producers can afford the licensing and inspection that many smaller farmers can’t.  All you need then, as a small farmer, is the larger producer who will buy your product.

So how does a small farmer become compliant?  In short, they need to follow the agricultural laws of their state or federal government.  Check out the following resources to get your business off to the right start, and keep yourself on the right side of the law.

USDA Egg Product Inspection Act 

Getting Started in the Egg Business

Small farmers may also visit their state Department of Agriculture website or discuss their business plans with their local Cooperative Extension office.

~~Charlotte

No matter how you look at it, some small farmers try to make money by skirting inspection laws intended to protect consumers, and this is illegal.  However, these same laws which are supposed to protect the consumer don’t always do so.  Cases in point- e. coli tainted spinach and ground beef, which came from government inspected producers.

What is a small farmer to do, who wants to make money off of “organically grown” meats or sell “raw” milk products, like cheese and yogurt?  The answer is simple- either become an inspected facility or lie like the devil.  Small farmers by and large would rather follow the rules, but they simply can’t afford to compete with mass producers.  Rather than go under, they simply don’t follow the rules.

How can they become compliant?  The following websites have information on how to become an inspected facility to avoid becoming a felon:

USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service

Ohio Meat Licensing Requirements

Meat Inspection Act in Canada

History of Meat Inspection

Small farm operators may also contact their state Department of Agriculture office to find out what the licensing requirements are.

If you’d like to learn more about several cases of “Felons or Heroes,” check out this article:  Bitter Harvest for Small Farms.

~~Charlotte

Goats have been raised for their meat for centuries.  It is leaner than other meats, including poultry and is high in iron.  If you’re looking for a profitable small farm or hobby farm business, or simply to raise these animals for your own freezer, read on.

The number of goats slaughtered for meat in 1981 was 62,000 compared with 500,000 in 2002.  The USDA estimates this figure will continue to climb due to the number of individuals within the US that eat goat meat.  Hispanics, Muslims, Asians and Buddhists all eat dishes made with goat meat, which helps to explain why the increase in the demand for goat meat.

Meat goats are easy to care for and can be raised in a small area.  The only real problem most goat farmers complain about is the goats ability to escape from their pens.  Since goats are good climbers, special care must be taken in the design of their pens and fencing.

If you would like to learn more about these easy to raise animals, visit the following sources:

Hobby Farms.com

Boer Goats

Raising Goats for Meat

~~Charlotte

If you have a small farm and want to make a little money each year, consider pumpkin farming.  It is a relatively easy way to earn cash, and it only takes a little bit of your time each fall and spring.  All you need is a tilled area of soil (an acre or two is perfect), someone to plow and disc your acreage and pumpkin seeds.  Add gourd seeds as well if you want to add a little variety to your business.  Both pumpkins and gourds have about the same length growing season, so they work perfectly together when planning this type of crop.

What do you do with your crop when it is ready to harvest?  Sell them, of course!  People love to buy pumpkins and gourds for decorations, especially if you can sell them at a slightly lower price than your local grocery store/retail giant does.  Most people sell them according to size, such as $1.00 for small, $3.00 for medium and $5-6 for the larger ones.  If you have really big ones, consider charging a little more.

If you have a little more acreage, you can combine your pumpkin business with something else, such as a corn maze, hayride, pony rides and haunted houses.  Don’t forget about school tours too!

Here are some links to pumpkin farms to give you some ideas for your own pumpkin farm business:

Kingsway Pumpkin Farm

Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

Barten Pumpkins

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

Adobe Pumpkin Farm

Have a great week!

~~Charlotte

In yesterday’s blog I mentioned building a corn maze to create income for your farm (agritainment).  Since you may not know where to start on a project like this, I’m going to give you a few pointers and places to visit to get “corn maze patterns.”

If you’re worried that you need really high tech equipment and a gps to create your maze, don’t worry.  You can create great mazes that will attract people without spending a small fortune.

• First, check with your town’s business office to see if it is legal for you to operate a corn maze and get any applicable licenses first.
• Second, get some free corn maze creating software.  You can get this free at Corn Mazes America.
• Third, obtain insurance once you’ve decided the scope of your project.  Liability insurance will cover you in case someone gets injured while visiting your maze and surrounding property.  Insurance will cost in the neighborhood of $1,200.
• Fourth, decide on a marketing plan to get the word out.  Options include ads in local newspapers, fliers, brochures, radio ads and creating a website.
• Fifth, decide if you want to have any additional things to do on your property to increase profits, such as hayrides, pumpkin patches, selling cider, haunted houses or pony rides.  You may also need additional insurance if you plan to offer rides of any kind and licenses to sell food if you make it on your property.
• Sixth, decide what to charge for admission.  Most farmers charge around $6 per person, and are open on weekends only.  Most farmers can expect about 3,000 visitors per 4 weekends of operation.

Think you’re interested in this farm business sideline?  The USDA figures there will be a 30% growth in the agritourism industry over the next 10 years.  Find more resources for this project at these websites:

Precision Corn Mazes - when you want to hire someone to do this for you

The Corn Maze Directory

~~Charlotte

SmallFarms4You.com