Sorry if this ends up being a long post...
A few years ago I had read posts and excerpts from a book a guy on this forum was writing on small scale agriculture. In the years since then and this was dependent on getting my 135 fully functional I've seriously considered actually starting my own Market Garden operation to help pay for my school loans now that I am going to finally also be graduation from college this spring.
I'm thinking about planting about an acre or so of sweet corn and maybe up to an acre of vegetables to sell and augment whatever I'm making at work in case I can't find a higher paying job right off the bat.
If this works out I am seriously considering making an offer to Mom/Family Trust on taking over the two fields that are being farmed by the guy that we lease to now that are seriously becoming eroded and depleted from the corn/soybean rotation.
In terms of equipment I have the MF 135 Gas, a three point disk, bush hog and harrow-gator spike tooth harrow. I am planning on getting a Ford 101 2x14 (Blue) plow this year. I am going to start my plants to cut down on costs and to allow myself greater flexibility in selecting the hybrids. I also have access to a non-potable well if I have to irrigate.
I'm hoping to make around 2-3k.
Are there any really good books or websites I can go to? I live in Licking County, OH and my Ag Extension Officer retired and there is no word on a replacement due to budgetary concerns. I've called the Ohio Farm Bureau and they don't know how to help me and I've checked the OEFFA which fits most of what I'd like to do at home except I'm not as hardcore on the organic.
I just care my produce is fresh and local with minimal chemical inputs.
Any thoughts or suggestions or tips? I know the equipment I currently have is right sized for the job. I know after our monsoons this past year how susceptible I am to weather, I just want to be proactive instead of reactive.
Thanks,
Christos
A few years ago I had read posts and excerpts from a book a guy on this forum was writing on small scale agriculture. In the years since then and this was dependent on getting my 135 fully functional I've seriously considered actually starting my own Market Garden operation to help pay for my school loans now that I am going to finally also be graduation from college this spring.
I'm thinking about planting about an acre or so of sweet corn and maybe up to an acre of vegetables to sell and augment whatever I'm making at work in case I can't find a higher paying job right off the bat.
If this works out I am seriously considering making an offer to Mom/Family Trust on taking over the two fields that are being farmed by the guy that we lease to now that are seriously becoming eroded and depleted from the corn/soybean rotation.
In terms of equipment I have the MF 135 Gas, a three point disk, bush hog and harrow-gator spike tooth harrow. I am planning on getting a Ford 101 2x14 (Blue) plow this year. I am going to start my plants to cut down on costs and to allow myself greater flexibility in selecting the hybrids. I also have access to a non-potable well if I have to irrigate.
I'm hoping to make around 2-3k.
Are there any really good books or websites I can go to? I live in Licking County, OH and my Ag Extension Officer retired and there is no word on a replacement due to budgetary concerns. I've called the Ohio Farm Bureau and they don't know how to help me and I've checked the OEFFA which fits most of what I'd like to do at home except I'm not as hardcore on the organic.
I just care my produce is fresh and local with minimal chemical inputs.
Any thoughts or suggestions or tips? I know the equipment I currently have is right sized for the job. I know after our monsoons this past year how susceptible I am to weather, I just want to be proactive instead of reactive.
Thanks,
Christos