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Two racks of hay ready for the barn. We have nine like this still waiting to be unloaded!
If you’re like me you read the latest books, find the best websites, and listen to the greatest podcast about your topic and then think you can go from 0 to 60 in no time flat. Sure, maybe you understand there will be a learning curve or some bumps along the road, but all in all you think it is totally doable and totally doable in your own prescribed amount of time. In some ways that is how I was when I started my farming journey. I read about the people that were doing it. I talked to beginning farmers that were making it work. I thought I had looked at every possible angle! But, what I didn’t do (and what I still don’t do from time to time) is do a quick reality check and compare apples to apples. If I had done that I don’t think I would have actually changed anything other than my thoughts on how long it would take to get from “Point A” to “B” and so on.
On today’s episode I want to talk about just those sort of reality checks. Today you can find all sorts of great books, videos, and blogs talking about a great way to make a living on the farm. In fact you’ll find links to some of my favorites below. But, at the same time it is important that you understand that just because “Farmer A” is making $50,000 per year on 1/2 an acre doesn’t mean that you can go out and do it tomorrow. You probably can do it, and for some of you it may happen tomorrow, but more realistically it will take some time and learning to get to that point. That’s why my show has plenty of “Hard Lessons Learned” and most weeks I have multiple lessons to choose from!
:: Great Resources for Those That Know They Can Farm ::
- You Can Farm by Joel Salatin – This was the beginning of the rabbit enterprise
- How Joel Salatin Nets 60k/year on 20 Acres of Rented Land! (Video)
- Joel Salatin on “Part Time to Full Time Farm” (Video) — I didn’t mention this on the show, but I was there that day and there are a lot of great nuggets in this one!
As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.
If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!
I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …
Hi, great episode! I too found You Can Farm and all of Joel’s works to be super inspirational, but I really understand what you’re saying. I’ve really failed financially with poultry. In Pastured Poultry profits Joel does say this is a tight system that works just has he explains it. I gave it a go with heritage poultry because I really didn’t want to raise Cornish cross. It just didn’t work with their slow growth and the high cost of my feed. I was breaking even and never making back my capital with poultry. However, the market I built selling chickens and eggs has been a great boon to me in raising pork, which is profitable. And, I’m having great success marketing another small farms beef. I did this starting out in my urban backyard and now only have 3 acres of my own. I’m not going to be a full time farmer anytime soon, but I see its possible!
For the gentleman who wants to farm but his wife doesn’t, I can relate. We are in FL and my wife cant take the heat plus she’s busy with homeschooling and being a mom. I definitely need some farm help from her, but I think if your wife is supportive of YOU farming, you could at least start a small enterprise. Joel’s best advice is to just start doing something!
Casey … Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. I love that you started out in your urban backyard and have been able to expand and grow successfully. So cool!
Hi Ethan,
I’m a little late to the party, but I started at the beginning of your podcasts and listen when I have time.
I’ve seen the youtube video you discussed in this episode, and the part of Joel’s formula that is hardest for me to swallow is getting $900/pig. I’ve been farming in the midwest for a number of years now and get about 1/2 of that per pig and that’s only if I spend hours more time and sell by the cut at farmers’ markets. I’m raising Berkshires on pasture, non-GMO grains, no antibiotics, etc, with excellent feedback on the pork.
Do you have any comments on $900?