|
|
Post by klorentz on Apr 7, 2016 17:30:55 GMT -6
After much deliberating I have decided to try my hand at urban farming.I have not seen much heirloom veggies here so I am assuming the market here is wide open. May have my foot in the door with a local coffee house coming to that will be selling sandwiches and salads. I do have lettuce for cut and come again lettuce and then there is also my tomatoes and peppers.just testing the waters right now but we shall see how it goes. Any suggestions?
|
|
|
|
Post by spuds on Apr 8, 2016 4:39:01 GMT -6
I know nothing,but sure would like to hear about it.Its certainly easy enough to save seeds from them.
|
|
|
|
Post by klorentz on Apr 8, 2016 12:33:13 GMT -6
Being we have a little over half an acre we have room to grow tomatoes,peppers,eggplant,lettuce, green beans ,snap peas,some type of berries,pumpkin/winter squash,cucumbers,radishes,scallions.It just all depends on what folks are in the mood for. Oh yes and summer squash and herbs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 9, 2016 5:50:13 GMT -6
Being we have a little over half an acre we have room to grow tomatoes,peppers,eggplant,lettuce, green beans ,snap peas,some type of berries,pumpkin/winter squash,cucumbers,radishes,scallions.It just all depends on what folks are in the mood for. Oh yes and summer squash and herbs. Kevin, market gardening here is fairly competitive... I can say one thing... Here it doesn't matter what type of plant, what variety...or if it's the best thing you ever tasted.. what is important.. That You have the FIRST of the season. and you can maintain the crop (succession planting) If You lag..or your competitor...and they taste His mators (for instance) you may have lost a customer.. Good Luck in your endeavors Kev |
|
|
|
Post by klorentz on Apr 9, 2016 15:40:21 GMT -6
the great thing with the maters is I have a wide variation of ready dates as far as days to harvest so while one just started a week ago another one begins in a week. The beef stake types can ripen anywhere from mid August and go all the way to the end of September. By that time the earlier varieties will start winding down some.
|
|
|
|
Post by klorentz on Apr 9, 2016 15:41:46 GMT -6
cept maybe AL-Kuffa which pumps out maters like crazy till about first frost.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 11, 2016 5:06:01 GMT -6
That will work perfectly..IF, your buyer is flexible with the varieties you present Kevin...
The bad thing is, many times they are given one variety to try..
And that's the Only one they want for the entire season...
If I was in this position I believe I'd provide them a mixed variety and hope they like the kaleidoscope of colors and the types..
then You'd be less likely to have one they like...and the others..they don't want...
Believe me, the worst thing that can happen is to have an out source go away...
The other side of the coin is other growers...with "other" crops...
Scenario:
Most restaurants today are really IN on the "Buy Local/locally Sourced" trend...
But this means that they are approached all the time by other growers..
Now if you have a loyal customer...no sweat..
But, If the "other" guy is providing the restaurateur with other types of produce...and he low balls your tomato price...
About the best thing You can do is be this restaurateur's EVERYTHING produce man
Just advice Bro...You may have a different situation there, but here, the competition for the restaurants is crazy
How ever it works out Kevin I wish You the best!
|
|
|
|
Post by klorentz on Apr 13, 2016 18:20:32 GMT -6
Yeah Phil that is true in many areas. But much of the area can't seem to wanna give up the shipped in stuff.I don't know of anyone doing the seasonal local produce.There might be one or two sellers at the Bryan Farmers Market but that is about it. It is like being sent back in time when the local movement was not as strong as it is today. A lot of folks here will go after local meats and eggs because there are many local butchers or farmers that have layers that are established and for a long time too. but as far as produce goes the produce end of it all is very wide open.
On our way back to NW Ohio from Texas we passed many produce stands especially in Arkansas.Wondered why in an agriculture based area like NW Ohio next to nobody does this. The answer is the dominate crops here are corn, Soybeans and wheat . It is rare to see anything from Williams, Lucas, Defiance,Henry,Fulton or Paulding Counties. And when you do see produce stands ( the Mennonites have one at CVS in Bryan ) it is brought in from Indiana or Michigan. So not truly local and none of it heirloom cept for maybe a couple apple varieties like Cortland.
|
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 15, 2016 3:31:04 GMT -6
Yeah Phil that is true in many areas. But much of the area can't seem to wanna give up the shipped in stuff.I don't know of anyone doing the seasonal local produce.There might be one or two sellers at the Bryan Farmers Market but that is about it. It is like being sent back in time when the local movement was not as strong as it is today. A lot of folks here will go after local meats and eggs because there are many local butchers or farmers that have layers that are established and for a long time too. but as far as produce goes the produce end of it all is very wide open. On our way back to NW Ohio from Texas we passed many produce stands especially in Arkansas.Wondered why in an agriculture based area like NW Ohio next to nobody does this. The answer is the dominate crops here are corn, Soybeans and wheat . It is rare to see anything from Williams, Lucas, Defiance,Henry,Fulton or Paulding Counties. And when you do see produce stands ( the Mennonites have one at CVS in Bryan ) it is brought in from Indiana or Michigan. So not truly local and none of it heirloom cept for maybe a couple apple varieties like Cortland. Kevin it could be You that paves the way then in your area, there once was few involved here in the locovore movement, now, there are many! If it was the Dominate crops that kept the trend at bay...we would not have the markets here that we have now,,,Minnesota is quite the Ag state... I will find more info and details..when Our Gigs (broadband) get refreshed.. Our county (steele) ranks 27th. in the state, the adjoining county (which is notable and effects our economy)Ranks 13th. in the state.. Here's a good .Pdf read on Minnesota's Urban agriculture www.mda.state.mn.us/news/~/media/Files/news/govrelations/legrpt-urbanag2016.pdfBut here's Minnesota's State wide rankings commercial crops and livestock...  |
|
