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 Life Saver
Posts: 10477
  
Location: MT | Our place is 10 acres and I'd like to do something on it to help generate some income. We have a very short growing season (average of 75 days).
Any ideas? |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
 
Location: Phoenix | Could you section some of it off for boarding purposes? Like rent a pasture or two? |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | hammer_time - 2013-12-27 10:53 AM Could you section some of it off for boarding purposes? Like rent a pasture or two?
That was my original thought. Our pasture is dryland so it would have to be pens. My husband is not overly crazy about boarders being around all the time though. Also, the market for boarding has gone down here quite a bit since the college built a boarding facility for the horse program students here. |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Other things I've thought about are raising some pigs and feeding out steers.
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Expert
Posts: 1488
| Cash crop
grow lights, room and water is all you need.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 582
| Have you ever fed out a pig? Talk about STINK! LOL. I love my bacon but SHEWWW. My neighbor raised boer goats on his 10 acres. I don't know a thing about goats other than they don't stink as bad as pigs, at least in my experience. Now my other neighbor has goats but they are not boers they are the rangy billy goat type and she has way too many, along with a multitude of sheep, geese, chickens and a rather large herd of cats, all on 10 acres. I don't think she's making any money, only more baby goats. |
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  That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| DD2012 - 2013-12-27 12:31 PM Cash crop grow lights, room and water is all you need.
And its not that far from WA and CO so your transportation cost are minimal! |
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 Ms. Potato Head
Posts: 9162
Location: BFE, Idaho | How is your water situation, that makes a huge difference. Do you have irrigation water(water shares/rites).
Can you at least water 1-2 acres?
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 Thread Killer
Posts: 7543
| Chickens? (Meat or Eggs) |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | Are you near a city / town with nice restaurants? If so, there may be a good demand for fresh vegetables. You may be able to talk with local chefs and determine the vegetables they want....and grow what they want. The entire "farm to table" trend is huge these days.... folk love to know their food was grown/sourced locally. If you are willing to grow and provide wat the chefs want it could be a nice income.... and it certainly would not stink like pigs. |
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 Ms. Manners
Posts: 1820
Location: Oklahoma | Pumpkin patch and a corn stalk maze during the fall. Do you have a talent that you could offer classes? |
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 The Rose of Rodeo...
Posts: 2560
Location: Where we still run to look when the siren goes by. | Just Plain Lucky - 2013-12-27 11:55 AM Chickens? (Meat or Eggs)
Chickens are aggravating and not much of a money maker on the small scale. 
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | horsefever - 2013-12-27 11:36 AM Have you ever fed out a pig? Talk about STINK! LOL. I love my bacon but SHEWWW. My neighbor raised boer goats on his 10 acres. I don't know a thing about goats other than they don't stink as bad as pigs, at least in my experience. Now my other neighbor has goats but they are not boers they are the rangy billy goat type and she has way too many, along with a multitude of sheep, geese, chickens and a rather large herd of cats, all on 10 acres. I don't think she's making any money, only more baby goats.
They do stink! My sister and I used to take pigs for 4-H waaaaay back in the day.
I had thought of the pigs and feeder steers because they take up less space and we wouldn't have to have them on pasture. |
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 Always Off Topic
Posts: 6382
Location: ND | if you're talkin once a month movie cash or for a pop when you're in town then maybe some of these will do that for you......honestly......the only real money making suggestion has been by DD.....that has some risk/reward issues in MT though....... |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Rodeo Rose - 2013-12-27 12:35 PM Just Plain Lucky - 2013-12-27 11:55 AM Chickens? (Meat or Eggs) Chickens are aggravating and not much of a money maker on the small scale.
I figured that I would have to have at least 400 chickens to make it a money maker here (enough to make it my job). Not sure my neighbors would be so hot about the idea.
The Hutterites sell a lot of frozen chickens and turkeys here. Might be something to look into for sure!
Edited by ruggedchica 2013-12-27 1:59 PM
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Idaho - 2013-12-27 11:50 AM How is your water situation, that makes a huge difference. Do you have irrigation water(water shares/rites).
Can you at least water 1-2 acres?
Legally, we can water up to 5 acres off of our domestic well. They aren't allowing any new irrigation wells in our county so we couldn't do a separate irrigation well.
Something I had thought about too, was dryland peas? We have only a small acreage we could put them in though so not sure about that. |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | dhdqhllc - 2013-12-27 12:47 PM if you're talkin once a month movie cash or for a pop when you're in town then maybe some of these will do that for you......honestly......the only real money making suggestion has been by DD.....that has some risk/reward issues in MT though.......
True that...
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Delta Cowgirl - 2013-12-27 12:28 PM Are you near a city / town with nice restaurants? If so, there may be a good demand for fresh vegetables. You may be able to talk with local chefs and determine the vegetables they want....and grow what they want. The entire "farm to table" trend is huge these days.... folk love to know their food was grown/sourced locally. If you are willing to grow and provide wat the chefs want it could be a nice income.... and it certainly would not stink like pigs.
This is something I need to look into. Our town is pretty small (about 5,000) but there may be opportunities in neighboring towns.
We have already talked about putting in a greenhouse which would be a must. |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Morab76 - 2013-12-27 12:33 PM Pumpkin patch and a corn stalk maze during the fall. Do you have a talent that you could offer classes?
Pumpkins! I think that's something that could work here. We are really short growing season for corn. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| Raspberries in wind tunnels. The tunnels can extend the growing season by 30-40 days. |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 1:00 PM Raspberries in wind tunnels. The tunnels can extend the growing season by 30-40 days.
That's a good idea. Raspberries can do good here and I could sell rapsberry jam maybe too. |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| ruggedchica - 2013-12-27 2:06 PM Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 1:00 PM Raspberries in wind tunnels. The tunnels can extend the growing season by 30-40 days. That's a good idea. Raspberries can do good here and I could sell rapsberry jam maybe too.
10 acres is plenty of room. Most of my raspberry farmer customers net up to $6000 per acre per year. You could start small and grow it to as much work as you want. |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | If you only want to make a little money, then 1 crop or type of animal might do it. For an income it's better to diversify a little, if you can, for small acreage. Pick some things that work well together. We have 17 acres and this year sold eggs, pork, turkey, and stewing chickens. We have 2 steer also, which we are raising to butcher. Our pork didn't smell too bad, but we rotationally grazed them. They did tear up the ground where they had the chance though. :) I have a garden, but I'm awful at it so it basically supplements what we eat (as we go I hope to get better at it :). We don't make a ton of money doing it, basically enough to cover our costs, but also don't charge a ton either because we feel uncomfortable charging what we would be unable to pay, and we are just starting out. But, if you were business savvy or doing it more for income, you could make more money if you use sweat equity and sustainable practices to keep prices down (at least at first). A big thing around here is hops right now, I don't know if your climate would support it? In Ireland (I think) they run their sheep with the hops to prune them...there are 2 crops that work pretty well off of each other, if there's a market for them in your area. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 582
| Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 2:12 PM
ruggedchica - 2013-12-27 2:06 PM Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 1:00 PM Raspberries in wind tunnels. The tunnels can extend the growing season by 30-40 days. That's a good idea. Raspberries can do good here and I could sell rapsberry jam maybe too.
I think that is a great idea!  |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| This is a great thread. We need to keep it going. I am a stay at home mom and my youngest will start kindergarten next year so I'd like to use our property for some sort of income too. We live on 30 acres. We cut hay off of about 20 acres of it which doesn't produce much profit at all(hay is really cheap around here) but we really haven't came up with anything else profitable to use our land for so I'm glad the OP started this thread. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Really interesting thread. Hope to see some more ideas. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Mountains of VA | TOMATOES!!!!! To make the most money from a small amount of land, grow tomatoes. There are lots of varieties that would work for you.
Also consider Berkshire pigs to sell finished pigs and pork. They are the superior pork breed and there are producers in MT.
Pigs do not stink unless you are not feeding them correctly. We currently have approx. 300 Berkshires that are raised like pigs are meant, not in confinement. We feed swine appropriate feeds...........the first comment our buyers make is, I can't smell the pigs!!
Berkshires have a great feed conversion and that SUPERIOR pork that is bringing the higher price. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| You could do something like a hot house and grow vegetables all year long, at start veggies, also you could plant seeds and sell,the plants in the spring. Or could plant like tyme stuff like that. Small hothouses arnt that expensive. There is a magazine hobby farmer and i think several just like that to give you ideas and show,you what can be done. Also, maybe go to,tye co-operative,extension,service same people who,do,4-h see, aybe what funding is avaible for,small farmimg if they dontmdomit,theynwill be,able,to, tell you who does. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
| Garlic? You plant it in the fall and harvest in the spring, or asparagus? Although I think it takes a couple of years to establish. |
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 Dancing in my Mind
Posts: 3062
Location: Eastern OH but my heart is in WV | laying chickens. I could not keep up with the demand just from my co-workers alone. Nice source of extra income. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| Christmas trees and something like blueberries in the summer. |
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Expert
Posts: 1549
Location: Southwest Louisiana | We've got 20 acres and since I've only got 3 horses, we don't really use all of it. My sister is a huge wine person, and she suggested I should grow grapes and have a vineyard. Although it takes a few years from first planting until you can actually harvest the grapes (unless you plant established vines), people are making a pretty good income just selling grapes to wine makers. Not sure about grapes in MT, but for some of you others, it may be an idea. |
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | Growing up my brothers and I did beef, pork, hay, corn, pecans for extra money. For those that have ponds my younger brother and I farmed catfish. Not only did we sell them out by the pound but we also opened up the pond for fishing. One year even though we are central GA my Daddy decided we would take a chance on farming rainbow trout. It got a bit hairy when the weather took an unexpected warming trend but we got out making money.
Also seasonal we let people come on our dove fields and duck, deer hunt for a fee. The dove field doesn't take much land but we created duck ponds to bring in the ducks and we had the wooded acreage for deer hunting.
I love this thread. My husband and I own our own business plus I work part time in logistics. I started that has sort of a play money job and can't seem to quit. I keep getting sucked back in so I am looking for something to do with my land that will force me to quit...lol.
I like the raspberry idea. We can grow the dorman red here. Raspberries are low bug and disease from what I understand. Christmas trees are a good idea as someone mention which reminds me, pine trees and apple, peach trees here. Only problem the turn around of course but good ideas.
To the op thanks for this thread!
Edited by *robin* 2013-12-28 7:09 AM
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Regular
Posts: 93
| Ladies those are all great ideas, but labor intensive. What other ideas do you have that doesn't require lots of start up costs? I have 14 acres in a rural area of Texas and need to make some $$ without adding lots of extra work as I already work full time and goto college part time as well. I thought about renting out my house and land around it and living in the back of the property but am somewhere afraid of renting for fear renters may damage the house. Any thoughts?
Thanks |
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I Will Not Keep Silent
Posts: 1922
Location: GA | prober - 2013-12-28 8:40 AM
Ladies those are all great ideas, but labor intensive. What other ideas do you have that doesn't require lots of start up costs? I have 14 acres in a rural area of Texas and need to make some $$ without adding lots of extra work as I already work full time and goto college part time as well. I thought about renting out my house and land around it and living in the back of the property but am somewhere afraid of renting for fear renters may damage the house. Any thoughts?
Thanks
Just rent out the land. I have a friend who rents out plots to people who do not have access to property that want to grow small gardens etc. Such as small green houses during the cold months, open gardens during the warm months. It has worked out well. Another friend has property on a main highway and she rents out vendor spaces. Bring your own tables, tents, etc type deal. They have been fortunate that they have had good renters.
I would do that but I am not a people person and would probably scare my renters off. |
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 Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 2:12 PM
ruggedchica - 2013-12-27 2:06 PM Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 1:00 PM Raspberries in wind tunnels. The tunnels can extend the growing season by 30-40 days. That's a good idea. Raspberries can do good here and I could sell rapsberry jam maybe too.
So, how are the raspberries then marketed? |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| Any kind of produce grown could be sold at Farmers Markets or just a road side stand or in the local newspaper. As far as renters....I rented out my mini farm for 3 years after we bought a new home and the renters DESTROYED my brand new mobile home inside and out, wrecked my barn and fence too. I was able to sell it and not have to deal with it but if I had to repair everything they destroyed it would have cost me more than if I had let it set empty for those 3 years. NEVER again! |
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| I came across a video that tells you how to build an underground greenhouse to grow stuff year round. Located at www.treehugger.com.
I have 3-4 acres but just a couple head of horses. Ground is fertile enough that I can put something else on it. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Used2B - 2013-12-28 8:43 AM Any kind of produce grown could be sold at Farmers Markets or just a road side stand or in the local newspaper. As far as renters....I rented out my mini farm for 3 years after we bought a new home and the renters DESTROYED my brand new mobile home inside and out, wrecked my barn and fence too. I was able to sell it and not have to deal with it but if I had to repair everything they destroyed it would have cost me more than if I had let it set empty for those 3 years. NEVER again!
I agree with Used2Be! We have had much the same experience. The only thing not destroyed was our stud stall. and the roof of the 10 stall barn and the pipe that kept it all up. The house was unbelievable. Took them to small claims court didn't get a thing out of them. Learned that we have to check on the place every month!
We plan on doing grapes on our ranch when we retire. We are already building deer proof fencing and planning water and drainage. Go to your County Extension agent and get ideas of what will work in your area. |
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Ms. Potato Head
Posts: 9162
Location: BFE, Idaho | ruggedchica - 2013-12-27 12:57 PM Morab76 - 2013-12-27 12:33 PM Pumpkin patch and a corn stalk maze during the fall. Do you have a talent that you could offer classes? Pumpkins! I think that's something that could work here. We are really short growing season for corn.
Yep, pumpkins is where I was headed with the water question also.
One of my daughters former teacher and friend retired, her husband farmed, but was slowing down, they started 15 years ago with a half an acre. Now they have around 5 acres just for different types of pumpkins and guords. The profits are huge, as they built up their clients, they also have some local private schools come out and the kids pick pumpkins, school pays a flat fee, they are always sold out and it has become a tradition for many.
They started off with a cute lock box and honesty(still made a huge profit), now they have a stand that they run.
A couple years ago they added sweet corn(but that is alot more work and water)
First year you can make a profit with only half an acre.
No smell
No year round care
And the left overs you can leave out in a pile for the deer and elk.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 345
| I have a friend at work that has an apple and pear orchid. He make good money for his fruit. Start up is a little costly but an good orchid can last up to 30yrs and has big plus if you want to sell your property later. |
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My Heelers are Heroes
Posts: 4685
| I have alot of wild blackberry bushes that are big producers. My son in law picks them and makes cobbler. He says they are good berrys.
I've never watered or taken care of them. In fact I've wanted to cut them down but kids asked me not to.
Maybe I should do something with them? lol |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 920
| I have a friend whose neighbor has some blackberry bushes unkept. I go every yr and get a bunch. half the time i wash them and jus eat them by the handful. I made some cobbler that was awesome also. They arent cheap at the store either. |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| Berries are not labor free but they could produce some pretty good income I think. There is a local nursery man who also has a berry farm where he sells blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for $5 per quart or $20 per gallon and that's U PICK!! That seems like it should be profitable and he has had this business for at least 7 or 8 years that I know of. His main business is nursery so I'm sure he wouldn't bother with the Berry Farm if it wasn't fairly profitable. |
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Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Might take a little more than you want to do, but what about RV/boat storage?
I think renting out pasture for people who don't have turnouts for their horses would be the easiest. |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| Also, one thing that hasn't been mentioned....I try to remember the saying all the time, "A penny saved is a penny earned" so if you can grow any of your food on your property then that's free money! Groceries are high, especially fruit, vegetables, and meat. Plant a garden and an orchard and fatten a steer and you'll have quite a bit of income from your land in money saved on groceries and its healthier too! |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Truffles, Ginseng and other herbs are good options. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1611
Location: bring on the heat, NV | Im getting involved in Icelandic sheep a milk, meat and fiber breed. I just reserved some ewe lambs and am on the hunt for the ram of their dreams lol.
I am doing a garden this year with some wild looking varietys (purple carrots, orange and stripped tomatos, purple and yellow watermelons, purple and white green beans) that I am going to offer in rope baskets for sale at some craft fairs or at a stand in town two weekends a month after harvest.
I have found a mill for the fiber, have three solid buyers for meat and am taking a cheese course in April... Kinda excited though since they are lambs I wont get to sell meat til 2015 or do the milk into yougurt/cheese/soap til then either. Also have a lady up the valley that felts so that maybe a buyer for wool. Plus, Im want to try weaving rugs and my own saddle blankets... We shall see. Kinda sounds fun though right. I am wanting to just have a few ewes though not a big flock. I hope by investing in really good stock I may be able to sell some of the best lambs as seed stock too.
Id like to get a Berkshire sow and AI for piglets to sell but hubby isnt totally on board yet.
I already have the coolest brown egg layers (golden sexlink) that I cant get enough eggs for folks.
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 Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | With the pumpkins you can't sell I have turned it into dog treats and canned some for pies and the dogs. It's a great additive to a dogs diet and helps their digestive systems. I am thinking if done right you could make some $$ on that too. I don't like the deer feeding idea. I have one that likes to raid my garden at night as it is. If you feed them it might be more of a hassle IMO. I even have an electric fence around mine |
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That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| bennie1 - 2013-12-28 8:11 AM Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 2:12 PM ruggedchica - 2013-12-27 2:06 PM Whiteboy - 2013-12-27 1:00 PM Raspberries in wind tunnels. The tunnels can extend the growing season by 30-40 days. That's a good idea. Raspberries can do good here and I could sell rapsberry jam maybe too. So, how are the raspberries then marketed?
Road Side Stands
Farmers Markets
Independent Grocery stores
Restaurants
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| Thou I have no idea which could be grown in your area. I would consider spices. The price per pound verses how many pounds per acre is very high. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
Location: sunny california | i see a lot of mail order companys selling organic foods. that is what people are willing to spend money on. I know i pay a lot more than i have to in order to feed me and hubby. |
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Life Saver
Posts: 10477
Location: MT | Oh my gosh! Just got back on here after the weekend. What a BUNCH of wonderful ideas! Awesome!
Something else that I was thinking about over the weekend that might work for others too, is selling horseradish. We have a horseradish plant that grows like a weed and I thought that might be a good, easy addition to all the other ideas too. If I'm already at farmers market with raspberries, pumpkins and eggs - horseradish would be an easy thing to sell as well, I think.
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 Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | I've read a couple of books on this and one guy really promotes raising chickens for meat. He even has a book out that part of the title includes the line "make $20,000 in 6 months". I'll have to look for the rest of the title and the author. Not sure how possible that is or what the market for chicken meat really is. |
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Sideways Riding Expert
Posts: 11371
Location: ND--it snows, it floods, it snows, it floods | A pick your own berry place may be a way to start out and grow from there. Strawberries or Raspberry to start. One thing to keep in mind is do you really want people in your yard all the time? |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | kakbarrelracer - 2013-12-30 3:07 PM
I've read a couple of books on this and one guy really promotes raising chickens for meat. He even has a book out that part of the title includes the line "make $20,000 in 6 months". I'll have to look for the rest of the title and the author. Not sure how possible that is or what the market for chicken meat really is.
I think that's one of Joel Salatin's books...hmmmm....he has "you can farm" and "salad bar beef", I don't remember the name of the chicken one and I'm on my phone. His books are pretty straightforward and I enjoy them, he's a big proponent of sustainable ag.
Eta-I will say he's probably not for everyone. In the books I've read and when I've heard him speak, he does go on rants about "the Man", lol, and gov't, etc. But, he's got some decent, common sense ideas about farming, IMO - but I do get that not everyone will feel the same :)
Edited by Ridenrun4745 2013-12-30 6:09 PM
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Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | Ridenrun4745 - 2013-12-30 4:07 PM
kakbarrelracer - 2013-12-30 3:07 PM
I've read a couple of books on this and one guy really promotes raising chickens for meat. He even has a book out that part of the title includes the line "make $20,000 in 6 months". I'll have to look for the rest of the title and the author. Not sure how possible that is or what the market for chicken meat really is.
I think that's one of Joel Salatin's books...hmmmm....he has "you can farm" and "salad bar beef", I don't remember the name of the chicken one and I'm on my phone. His books are pretty straightforward and I enjoy them, he's a big proponent of sustainable ag.
Eta-I will say he's probably not for everyone. In the books I've read and when I've heard him speak, he does go on rants about "the Man", lol, and gov't, etc. But, he's got some decent, common sense ideas about farming, IMO - but I do get that not everyone will feel the same : )
You are right about the author. The book is "Pastured Poultry Profits: Net $25,000 in 6 Months on 20 acres". |
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 How freakish is that?
Posts: 3927
Location: Oregon | I think you have to find people willing to pay $6 a lb for organic chicken to make that kind of money. So you'd have to be close enough to a urban area to have a lot of rich yuppies. |
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Strong Willed Woman
Posts: 6577
Location: Prosser, WA | crapshooter - 2013-12-30 4:46 PM
I think you have to find people willing to pay $6 a lb for organic chicken to make that kind of money. So you'd have to be close enough to a urban area to have a lot of rich yuppies.
There are people around here selling 5 to 6 pound meat chickens for $20 apiece live. I was surprised to see them going for so much especially when they still need to be butchered.$25,000 in 6 months probably not realistic though. :) |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| docschic - 2013-12-30 3:30 PM
A pick your own berry place may be a way to start out and grow from there. Strawberries or Raspberry to start. One thing to keep in mind is do you really want people in your yard all the time?
Very true...I wouldn't want people in my yard all the time BUT if you could only have set hours only a couple days a week I don't think that would be too big of a pain. My neighbor has a U Pick blueberry patch and its in his yard quite a ways from the house and he has a little drop box for the money there so he never has to deal with people and they can just come when they want. I'm sure there are people who don't pay on occasion but I'm sure its still worth it not having to deal with collecting money and having someone there all the time. Also, it takes about 45 minutes to pick a gallon so I'm sure a lot of people who would think about stealing the berries wouldn't be willing to do the work required to get the berries in the first place whether they were free or not. |
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How freakish is that?
Posts: 3927
Location: Oregon | kakbarrelracer - 2013-12-30 5:35 PM crapshooter - 2013-12-30 4:46 PM I think you have to find people willing to pay $6 a lb for organic chicken to make that kind of money. So you'd have to be close enough to a urban area to have a lot of rich yuppies. There are people around here selling 5 to 6 pound meat chickens for $20 apiece live. I was surprised to see them going for so much especially when they still need to be butchered.$25,000 in 6 months probably not realistic though. : )
Edited by crapshooter 2013-12-30 7:49 PM
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| moapajetrider - 2013-12-29 10:49 AM
Im getting involved in Icelandic sheep a milk, meat and fiber breed. I just reserved some ewe lambs and am on the hunt for the ram of their dreams lol.
I am doing a garden this year with some wild looking varietys (purple carrots, orange and stripped tomatos, purple and yellow watermelons, purple and white green beans) that I am going to offer in rope baskets for sale at some craft fairs or at a stand in town two weekends a month after harvest.
I have found a mill for the fiber, have three solid buyers for meat and am taking a cheese course in April... Kinda excited though since they are lambs I wont get to sell meat til 2015 or do the milk into yougurt/cheese/soap til then either. Also have a lady up the valley that felts so that maybe a buyer for wool. Plus, Im want to try weaving rugs and my own saddle blankets... We shall see. Kinda sounds fun though right. I am wanting to just have a few ewes though not a big flock. I hope by investing in really good stock I may be able to sell some of the best lambs as seed stock too.
Id like to get a Berkshire sow and AI for piglets to sell but hubby isnt totally on board yet.
I already have the coolest brown egg layers (golden sexlink) that I cant get enough eggs for folks.
Golly! You sound like an overachiever, lol. That's cool though. Good luck! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1664
Location: iowa | i have raised a few pigs every year. never have a problem selling them to locals to butcher. but we never really make any money because we have to buy all the feed. same with our steers. and they are a bit of work. a girl who belongs to another forum im on has planted 2 or 3 acres of her acreage to lavender. not sure if that would grow where you are, but its got a big market apparently. she bought a still to make her own lavender oil also. her parents have been doing it for awhile now..they seem to be doing well with it..and bonus...it smells good!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1543
Location: MI | We've saved money on our livestock feed by pasturing them in the woods, or growing root crops and letting them forage them, or getting day old produce from the local grocery store. We also get waste milk from the local dairy farm. Every once in a while as a treat we'll get them some day old bread from the local bakery outlet too. But, the rotational grazing is pretty time intensive, I'd say. |
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Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | My mom is trying to talk us into putting our unused pastures in lavender.
Our kids also raise 4-H show chickens. Broilers are not favored here, so the local county clubs show dual purpose. Admitted with our numbers right now - 40-50 - we can spoil them and get them a great start with the livestock shows in mind. With their care I am able to sell these pre-laying pullets for $20 a piece. Big return on investment. We'll continue to grow that end of our interests. People buy our pullets, our eggs, both are wanted out here. Extra spending money for us. |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| Tilt The Kilt - 2013-12-31 12:37 PM
My mom is trying to talk us into putting our unused pastures in lavender.
Our kids also raise 4-H show chickens. Broilers are not favored here, so the local county clubs show dual purpose. Admitted with our numbers right now - 40-50 - we can spoil them and get them a great start with the livestock shows in mind. With their care I am able to sell these pre-laying pullets for $20 a piece. Big return on investment. We'll continue to grow that end of our interests. People buy our pullets, our eggs, both are wanted out here. Extra spending money for us.
That's great! 4-H is a wonderful program for kids. I can't wait till mine are old enough for 4-H! |
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 Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | I vote raise your own pigs and steers for healthy food! Grow a big garden and feed them your vegtable scraps! My brother did this and just butchered the pigs out... the BEST tasting bacon with hardly any fat I've ever eaten!!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1432
Location: Never in one place long | I pay $13 for less than a pound of chicken at our local store because it's HEALTHY and locally vegetarian fed, it's worth it to me to pay a high price for better food, we eat less meat by far now but it's healthy meat, totally worth it knowing we're not eating modified fatty junk. |
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Addicted to Baseball
Location: Where the stars at night are big and bright, TX | Used2B - 2014-01-01 1:01 PM Tilt The Kilt - 2013-12-31 12:37 PM My mom is trying to talk us into putting our unused pastures in lavender.
Our kids also raise 4-H show chickens. Broilers are not favored here, so the local county clubs show dual purpose. Admitted with our numbers right now - 40-50 - we can spoil them and get them a great start with the livestock shows in mind. With their care I am able to sell these pre-laying pullets for $20 a piece. Big return on investment. We'll continue to grow that end of our interests. People buy our pullets, our eggs, both are wanted out here. Extra spending money for us. That's great! 4-H is a wonderful program for kids. I can't wait till mine are old enough for 4-H!
Mine finally were old enough last year and another this fall. We have been getting some grief for choosing chickens when everyone else has something on the hoof but knowing at these ages this project would be part mine, I wanted some replacement laying hens so I thought this would be a good way to get into it for them and get a few more of my own at the same time. I'm not into goats at all, didn't have the barn situation/set up ready in time for a pig, and opinions from others were they were too small yet to show lambs their first year and we'll wait until jr. high or HS for cattle on the advice of the agent. Truly getting something worth going to the majors in Texas with will cost you 5 digits. A friend of ours raises show goats known to perform well in the majors, and theirs cost about 20k.  CHICKENS IT IS!! lol Then when I saw the prices paid at the majors for a pen of chickens (3 to a pen), I'd be happy to stick with poultry for their 4H careers, better return on investment. |
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Expert
Posts: 1561
| For those that like to raise or grow your own food and make homemade foods from scratch here is a great little site for that. If you enjoy the site I encourage you to register to help him out, he is a great guy.
http://thehomesteadingboards.com/ |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| bump....because this is a great thread!
Edited by Used2B 2014-01-30 4:20 PM
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| bump |
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Pig-Bear Dog Lover
| I'm not sure if this has been brought up or not, what about breeding puppies? Some dog breeds bring over 1,000 a pup, IF you decide to breed a working type dog they are tax exempt and you do not have to report anything. It'll be an investment initially, but very well could make some money at it. |
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Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Anyone do hydroponic growing? Im wanting to save up some money and get into it and grow enough for our horses and to sell, and maybe grow some othere stuff like lettuce, etc. Got the idea from a farming equipment catalog I get. |
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I Really Love Jeans
Posts: 3173
Location: North Dakota | Breed llamas! Those things are expensive and don't require much work! Get some females and a male and you will make what renting the pasture will bring easily and you will not have to deal with boarders who don't pay and disrespect your property!!!! |
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Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | I wouldnt get into breeding any animals. To labor intensive and the over head is attrocious making a very low return.
Christmas Tree's is a VERY lucrative venture, low work load and the return per acre is astonishing. |
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Posts: 1392
Location: Central Texas | Fairweather - 2014-01-31 9:34 AM Anyone do hydroponic growing? Im wanting to save up some money and get into it and grow enough for our horses and to sell, and maybe grow some othere stuff like lettuce, etc. Got the idea from a farming equipment catalog I get.
I have a friend that has a huge aquaponics set up. She is a professional chef and uses what she grows in her business. The start up costs can be pretty big to get the system set up correctly. |
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 Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | If you aren't really really rural, a U-Pick would probably go over really well. Even if people aren't interested in coming to you, you can sell produce at Farmer's Markets. You can also make and sell canned good items/jellies etc. Check with laws in your state of course. I planted some small dwarf variety fruit trees that will produce much faster than the big fruit trees. I'm planting full size also but those will take longer. Each year I'm adding more fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries which eventually I hope to incorporate into the Pick-Your-Own. Blackberries sell for $$$! I'd like to add some pecan trees as well. That's something that will take a lot longer to establish.
Although we don't have small acreage, most of what I'd like to do will probably take less than 10 acres to do:
A pick your own garden. I have a greenhouse so I will start seeds in a few weeks to give them a head start and put them in the ground in April weather pending. You could definitely do this, there are lots of shorter season vegetables out there and if you built a big enough greenhouse it wouldn't be too big of an issue to get them bigger before you plant outside. You'd be amazed at just how much food you can grow in a small area especially if you go vertical with a lot of things. You can get away with planting tomatoes every 2' as long as you can provide ample water/nutrition.
I plan on doing a mini rotational chicken grazing system. I'm going to fence off multiple 4 yard units with a roosting house in the middle and plant forage chickens like to eat. As long as I can keep it watered it should keep growing. This will eliminate the need for buying grain. Keeping a compost pile in each will also provide you with free fertilizer for your garden/worms bugs chikens like to eat. In Kansas, I can legally process/sell off the farm 1000 chickens a year without having to be USDA inspected. Another point is to hatch your own chicks. Then you aren't out the cost of of buying the chicks. I'm planning on using Delaware and/or New Hampshire reds. They are dual purpose chickens that are pretty early maturing. Cornish cross, although they grow super fast, just won't work for foraging.
I'm going to purchase a Jersey milk cow. I might put 2-3 calves on her and milk her as I need to/want to. I can make my own butter, sour cream, etc., sell raw milk, make soaps. The milk can also be fed to the pigs/chickens and used on the garden.
I'm going to get a sow and boar Berkshire (old lines not show) and raise pigs. Like an above poster said, they won't stink if you feed them/raise them in a pasture setting. I can feed the pigs from the garden & milk from the cow.
I think there are tons of opportunities for a turn-key small acreage operation. Yes, most is labor intensive and requires some startup $$. I think the sky's the limit though!
Edited by Jinx 2014-01-31 11:26 AM
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Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | GraciousLegacy - 2014-01-31 11:01 AM Fairweather - 2014-01-31 9:34 AM Anyone do hydroponic growing? Im wanting to save up some money and get into it and grow enough for our horses and to sell, and maybe grow some othere stuff like lettuce, etc. Got the idea from a farming equipment catalog I get. I have a friend that has a huge aquaponics set up. She is a professional chef and uses what she grows in her business. The start up costs can be pretty big to get the system set up correctly.
It doesn't have to be expensive at all. There are many 'cheap' ideas on You Tube and the net.  |
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Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | Another idea is raising meat rabbits. Rabbits reproduce at insanely fast rates and you can use the manure straight on your garden! Also, you could do Angora rabbits, card the fur and sell it.
Edited by Jinx 2014-01-31 11:10 AM
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Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | kakbarrelracer - 2013-12-30 6:32 PM Ridenrun4745 - 2013-12-30 4:07 PM kakbarrelracer - 2013-12-30 3:07 PM I've read a couple of books on this and one guy really promotes raising chickens for meat. He even has a book out that part of the title includes the line "make $20,000 in 6 months". I'll have to look for the rest of the title and the author. Not sure how possible that is or what the market for chicken meat really is. I think that's one of Joel Salatin's books...hmmmm....he has "you can farm" and "salad bar beef", I don't remember the name of the chicken one and I'm on my phone. His books are pretty straightforward and I enjoy them, he's a big proponent of sustainable ag. Eta-I will say he's probably not for everyone. In the books I've read and when I've heard him speak, he does go on rants about "the Man", lol, and gov't, etc. But, he's got some decent, common sense ideas about farming, IMO - but I do get that not everyone will feel the same : ) You are right about the author. The book is "Pastured Poultry Profits: Net $25,000 in 6 Months on 20 acres".
I considered this but honestly it takes a lot of acreage and a lot of time moving them every single day/making sure they're in at night. He does this behind his rotational cattle grazing pastures. That's when I thought a mini rotational chicken grazing system planted with chicken forage might be easier. It'd be so much less work too. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | We raise pigs as an extra income. We only get 6 a year and the pen is big enough that we have NEVER had them stink! We've been doing it for probably 5 years. They are really easy to care for but they like to dig...ALOT! We put railroad ties around the fence so they can dig passed them because we had them escaping. We found a large hog feeder at an auction for $40 and my dad built a waterer out of a 55 gal drum and something like what a hamster drinks from(the spout) and we keep them wet as possible and keep the ground wet so they can dig a mud hole. We buy them from someone who raises and breeds them. We take deposits every spring before we buy them so we know we have a buyer very year. We've only had one pig die and his intestines fell out of his but
Oh and we have chickens and sell the eggs!! Way better than buying them, better for you and they earn money!
Edited by lexyy12 2014-01-31 11:35 AM
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| Jinx - 2014-01-31 11:03 AM
If you aren't really really rural, a U-Pick would probably go over really well. Even if people aren't interested in coming to you, you can sell produce at Farmer's Markets. You can also make and sell canned good items/jellies etc. Check with laws in your state of course. I planted some small dwarf variety fruit trees that will produce much faster than the big fruit trees. I'm planting full size also but those will take longer. Each year I'm adding more fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries which eventually I hope to incorporate into the Pick-Your-Own. Blackberries sell for $$$! I'd like to add some pecan trees as well. That's something that will take a lot longer to establish.
Although we don't have small acreage, most of what I'd like to do will probably take less than 10 acres to do:
A pick your own garden. I have a greenhouse so I will start seeds in a few weeks to give them a head start and put them in the ground in April weather pending. You could definitely do this, there are lots of shorter season vegetables out there and if you built a big enough greenhouse it wouldn't be too big of an issue to get them bigger before you plant outside. You'd be amazed at just how much food you can grow in a small area especially if you go vertical with a lot of things. You can get away with planting tomatoes every 2' as long as you can provide ample water/nutrition.
I plan on doing a mini rotational chicken grazing system. I'm going to fence off multiple 4 yard units with a roosting house in the middle and plant forage chickens like to eat. As long as I can keep it watered it should keep growing. This will eliminate the need for buying grain. Keeping a compost pile in each will also provide you with free fertilizer for your garden/worms bugs chikens like to eat. In Kansas, I can legally process/sell off the farm 1000 chickens a year without having to be USDA inspected. Another point is to hatch your own chicks. Then you aren't out the cost of of buying the chicks. I'm planning on using Delaware and/or New Hampshire reds. They are dual purpose chickens that are pretty early maturing. Cornish cross, although they grow super fast, just won't work for foraging.
I'm going to purchase a Jersey milk cow. I might put 2-3 calves on her and milk her as I need to/want to. I can make my own butter, sour cream, etc., sell raw milk, make soaps. The milk can also be fed to the pigs/chickens and used on the garden.
I'm going to get a sow and boar Berkshire (old lines not show) and raise pigs. Like an above poster said, they won't stink if you feed them/raise them in a pasture setting. I can feed the pigs from the garden & milk from the cow.
I think there are tons of opportunities for a turn-key small acreage operation. Yes, most is labor intensive and requires some startup $$. I think the sky's the limit though!
Wow, this is awesome! You sound very motivated and driven. Good luck on all that you try! |
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Dr. Ebay
Posts: 8507
Location: Land Of Oz | Used2B - 2014-01-31 1:18 PM Jinx - 2014-01-31 11:03 AM If you aren't really really rural, a U-Pick would probably go over really well. Even if people aren't interested in coming to you, you can sell produce at Farmer's Markets. You can also make and sell canned good items/jellies etc. Check with laws in your state of course. I planted some small dwarf variety fruit trees that will produce much faster than the big fruit trees. I'm planting full size also but those will take longer. Each year I'm adding more fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries which eventually I hope to incorporate into the Pick-Your-Own. Blackberries sell for $$$! I'd like to add some pecan trees as well. That's something that will take a lot longer to establish.
Although we don't have small acreage, most of what I'd like to do will probably take less than 10 acres to do:
A pick your own garden. I have a greenhouse so I will start seeds in a few weeks to give them a head start and put them in the ground in April weather pending. You could definitely do this, there are lots of shorter season vegetables out there and if you built a big enough greenhouse it wouldn't be too big of an issue to get them bigger before you plant outside. You'd be amazed at just how much food you can grow in a small area especially if you go vertical with a lot of things. You can get away with planting tomatoes every 2' as long as you can provide ample water/nutrition.
I plan on doing a mini rotational chicken grazing system. I'm going to fence off multiple 4 yard units with a roosting house in the middle and plant forage chickens like to eat. As long as I can keep it watered it should keep growing. This will eliminate the need for buying grain. Keeping a compost pile in each will also provide you with free fertilizer for your garden/worms bugs chikens like to eat. In Kansas, I can legally process/sell off the farm 1000 chickens a year without having to be USDA inspected. Another point is to hatch your own chicks. Then you aren't out the cost of of buying the chicks. I'm planning on using Delaware and/or New Hampshire reds. They are dual purpose chickens that are pretty early maturing. Cornish cross, although they grow super fast, just won't work for foraging.
I'm going to purchase a Jersey milk cow. I might put 2-3 calves on her and milk her as I need to/want to. I can make my own butter, sour cream, etc., sell raw milk, make soaps. The milk can also be fed to the pigs/chickens and used on the garden.
I'm going to get a sow and boar Berkshire (old lines not show) and raise pigs. Like an above poster said, they won't stink if you feed them/raise them in a pasture setting. I can feed the pigs from the garden & milk from the cow.
I think there are tons of opportunities for a turn-key small acreage operation. Yes, most is labor intensive and requires some startup $$. I think the sky's the limit though! Wow, this is awesome! You sound very motivated and driven. Good luck on all that you try!
I'm bound and determined to stay home, be self-sufficient and make money doing it. 
Thank you! |
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Income opportunities for a small acreage?