Investment ideas

[Mudball]

We live in central TN. We recently had two acres cleared that has some pretty good bottom land soil. As far as soil, nothing has been tested yet. We was curious as to suggestions of what profit could be returned from this two acres. We do not have a lot of money to invest but it would all depend on the possible return. We have no real world experience with crops, livestock, etc...just growing a small garden and still learning on that.
So what are some good ideas for two acres with good soil for a profit for someone like us in our area ?
Thanks

 

[85Hokie]

We live in central TN. We recently had two acres cleared that has some pretty good bottom land soil. As far as soil, nothing has been tested yet. We was curious as to suggestions of what profit could be returned from this two acres. We do not have a lot of money to invest but it would all depend on the possible return. We have no real world experience with crops, livestock, etc...just growing a small garden and still learning on that.
So what are some good ideas for two acres with good soil for a profit for someone like us in our area ?
Thanks

What is your turn around in time to gain a profit? Crop year? OR longer term?

 

[D2Cat]

If you enjoy gardening consider growing products and sell at your roadside or at local farmer's markets. Start with something simple and everyone wants, tomatoes and sweetcorn.

 

[Mudball]

What is your turn around in time to gain a profit? Crop year? OR longer term?

Thats a good question. In my mind I was thinking crop = annual, livestock = maturity.
I would like to hear any long term investments but I wouldnt think we would want to consider anything much past 3+ years.
Thanks

 

[Mudball]

If you enjoy gardening consider growing products and sell at your roadside or at local farmer's markets. Start with something simple and everyone wants, tomatoes and sweetcorn.

This is a good idea. Im not sure if there is much of a profit margin for my area but I will have to go to the local farmers market and check things out.
Thanks

 

[jay2]

My buddy had equipment and I had land, so together we partnered on wheat then baled the straw. profitable...

 

[skeets]

Take seeds from Columbia and Mexico,,, Oh wait, you want something where your not going to have a roommate named Bubba
Really if your going to try and make a living at it you have your work cut out for you. If you just want to have some fun and MAYBE cover your costs then go for it.Watch the farmers markets and see what is the most bought items, corn tomatoes, potatoes ect. and then like they said do a road side stand. When we had the green houses they were always open, and there was a coffee can by the doors everything was marked and people came and went. We never lost much of any thing, folks are for the most part honest

 

[Ridger]

Since everyone is on the "organically grown" band wagon these days, I would suggest "organically grown" vegetables as others have suggested. That way you can set your price point a little higher since they are "organically grown". It's all about marketing. Another thing for you to consider, as a farmer, you may be able to deduct your farming expenses against your farming income. Of course you would want to talk with your accountant, but you may be able to deduct expenses such as seed, fertilizer, diesel, farm implements, tools, etc. Good luck with your farming!

 

[Mudball]

Thanks for all the great info and ideas.
Ive done more research and reading since I posted my question and I may be trying to bite off more than I can chew.
I can see that this is something that is going to take a good bit of planning, no matter what decision is made.
Thanks again.
Now I must procrastinate forever and...

 

[D2Cat]

Don't get chased off because you read somewhere all the cost and intricacies of your idea. Just grow your "small garden" a bit larger then in the past, sell the extra produce to neighbors and see how it goes. Your only investment is really time and some seed.

Good bottom ground is very productive! Just experiment and see how it goes. I don't see any risk at all, only the ability to learn and earn some money.

All businesses start small, and many start from a hobby that is satisfying in many ways. If you're intimidated by the idea of a business, don't call it a business!

 

[Mudball]

Don't get chased off because you read somewhere all the cost and intricacies of your idea. Just grow your "small garden" a bit larger then in the past, sell the extra produce to neighbors and see how it goes. Your only investment is really time and some seed.

Good bottom ground is very productive! Just experiment and see how it goes. I don't see any risk at all, only the ability to learn and earn some money.

All businesses start small, and many start from a hobby that is satisfying in many ways. If you're intimidated by the idea of a business, don't call it a business!

Thats inspiring.
Thanks I needed that.
One step at a time.

 

[Daren Todd]

All businesses start small, and many start from a hobby that is satisfying in many ways. If you're intimidated by the idea of a business, don't call it a business!

I know a guy who started out brewing beer on his stove. Would go to the science store and buy beer brewing kits because he wasn't old enough to buy beer. But go figure, the sale of the kit wasn't regulated Started out where he had enough for him for a week, and would sell the other 12 pack. He grew it into his own micro brewery

 

[Flienlow]

We live in central TN. We recently had two acres cleared that has some pretty good bottom land soil. As far as soil, nothing has been tested yet. We was curious as to suggestions of what profit could be returned from this two acres. We do not have a lot of money to invest but it would all depend on the possible return. We have no real world experience with crops, livestock, etc...just growing a small garden and still learning on that.
So what are some good ideas for two acres with good soil for a profit for someone like us in our area ?
Thanks

Mudball-

I have a bit of the same issue. I have 2 1/2 acres I am wondering what to do with.

It seems like everything would be a labor of love instead of an investment.
I have no idea about your area, but to me "gardening" and selling at farmers market would be a labor of love at best. And from my experience, NOT PLUG AND PLAY. (YMMV)

What about:

Runnin' Hogs
X-mas trees
Nursery plants (tress/Shrubs)
worm farm
compost yard
storage yard for boats/RVs/Equipment.
Renting the whole thing out to someone and just make the money off property

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

First thing I do is take an inventory of what tools I have and what tools are needed.

Tractor, plow, disk, harrow, planter, and such and weight out what you have to what you need to do the job.

Never invest more into it than you can afford to loose, as farming / ranching can be very risky.
You can one day have a prize winning cow, or a superior crop of wheat, and the next day have a big rendering bill or a field of worthless downed wheat!

Look around at other small farms in the area and see what they are growing, that will give you an idea of demand and possible profitability.

 

[skeets]

Mudball it sounds like this is something you really want to do, so good on you, watch this video and see what this guy did, and there are tons of videos and some very sound advice for a small farmett or a really big garden.
Watch and listen and remember YOUTUBE is your friend when it comes to things like this. You have a dream my young padawan follow it, learn, listen and take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Do not be afraid to try something new, you might just hit on something good or fall flat on your arse. Either way you will learn and try to learn from someone elses mistakes, I mean really you wont live long enough to make them all your self

https://youtu.be/tP5bOr0aC58?t=240

 

[OldeEnglish]

Berries are another option to veggies. Raspberries, black raspberries, and black berries will spread to give you more plants. You could even setup a pick your own operation which a lot of people love to do, and it lessens the labor of picking. The best part about them is they ripen at different times and raspberries will give you two crops a year, one in the summer and one in the fall. The toughest part of them is keeping the critters away from them. Strawberries are a very popular pick your own operation also, but they require more labor.

 

[chknscratch]

....for someone like us in our area ?
Thanks

Mudball, we don't know much about you and what kind of work you are trying to put into it. If this is an investment, I assume you have a full time occupation and this will be additional income? If that is the case, you don't need a project that you have to work at every day, unless you have the time.

If you are looking for ROI on 2 acres, I have recently learned of an author out of Quebec, his name is Jean-Martin Fortier. His book is The Market Gardner, based on his experiences on his 2 acre farm. I have read it and listened to it several times. It is loaded with good info for gardening for profit. He, his wife, another couple and occasional extra hands make about 250k in sales a year through CSA and farmer's markets. I think he and his wife brings in around 80-100k. They only work about 9 months a year, vacation and plan their upcoming season every winter, with a few things in the ground like garlic over the winter. Highly recommend checking it out.

 

[skeets]

I would think that would real labor intensive

 

[Creature Meadow]

Some ideas, if you choose the "big" garden route you could also do honey bees which would help your garden cause and sale the honey with the veggies.

Asparagus is an easy one, we have 50 plants and have 50 more on the way to plant. Once mature you can cut daily for 6 to 8 weeks. My 50 plants give me a bundle a day, at $4.00 a bundle over 8 weeks that is $224.00 a year. They produce for 15 to 20 years from the original root that was planted. They do not take up much room in my garden, plant 1 foot apart and space rows 2 feet apart. I grow Jersey giants which yield less than the other varieties. Grow them free of chemicals and you may up the price. The $4.00 mentioned above is market price here for non organic.

My daughter is 2 and we have chickens and sale the eggs. The money is hers, she helps every day feed and get up the eggs. I sale them for $5.00 a dozen, not certified organic, but the feed is free of growth hormones and bi products. this is easy money, laying hens require little work.

The chickens mentioned above we started to help teach our young girl responsibility and it works. At 2 and some change she knows every night we have to get up the "babies" eggs and make sure they have feed and water. this has also helped her learn to count, she counts the eggs and the babies each night to make sure none went missing when they are on the roost.


Just some ideas above.

I think the real question is how much do you want to make a year, that will dictate what route you go.

Good luck.

Jay

 

[Eray]

The best selling crop around here is corn. Everyone knows someone who has a few tomato plants and gets free tomatoes. I planted 4 acres of sweet corn a few years ago. I would get up at about 5 in the morning, pick a truck load of corn and head to the farmers market. Market would open at 8 and I would always be sold out by 9.