@@lajohnson1967 yes sheriff Johnson, now can you take the handcuffs off, pls! perhaps I already know this and like to look at others approaches...sound reasonable sheriff??? PS sorry I dont have all the answers, but it sounds like you do! bye...
its possible and i think it depends with the country you live in. here in Zimbabwe and many countries in Africa almost everything is for free including land and water.so me and my friend we ploughed only one acre of land using hoes then we dug a water well and planted covo and used buckets to water the plants within 3 months we were getting about 100 bundles of vegetables we were selling at Us $1.50 a wholesale price per bundle every week and then we used that money to raise native chickens for eggs and meat now we have more than 1200 chickens and we planted another 1 acre of papayas and we are doing well right now we are working towards building a solar powered borehole and some by farm machinery like planters to make work easier and go big.so its kinder possible but you will have to work manually almost everyday.
Another reason I think it is important to just get started, which is normally overlooked, is that for some people getting into that "working effciently" mindset might take a while to get used to. Making a list of things to bring out to the field so you're not running back and forth, knowing what has to be done so there isn't head scratching and not knowing what the most important thing to do is. There is an infinite list to do on a growing farm, it's important to do what NEEDS to be done RIGHT NOW. Also, focusing on less land I think would be better for starting. This forces you to maximize profits per square foot, rather than just make another bed. Thanks for being an inspiration Curtis!
True. I just started. Got tired of thinking about it, reading about it and talking about it. I had empty pots around so I started with raised beds. I don’t have my post harvest area set up so I’m glad I ran across this video. Gotta get started setting that up.😬😁
That's great. You can be creative with the limited amount of start-up. On the side, you might want to cut lawn for other people yard and save up some more. Never know that person may let you do your gardening in their backyard. Good Luck!
Dont let these woman steer you in the wrong direction. Keep your focus on your project. You dont want to waste time doing things for other people when you should be working on your farm. See what you can do with your budget and focus all your energy in one place. Its not a bad idea to get a larger start up budget, however keep in mind what you are doing it for and if it feels right. Never sacrifice your farm time because someone else, who probably knows less about farming then you do tells you to. And if anything, get people to come and help you like your parents can do some of the hard work for you. Don't let these woman withhold their love, nurture and care for you. You deserve better then that.
I had a garden, 15x30, when I was 13. Take his advice, and go find what the public wants to buy in your area, and give them the highest$/easiest crops. I never considered selling, we just ate it, but I wish I had found I could make money back then, I sure would have.
Edward Gardener you know what pisses me off when you start off by saying don’t let these women distract you! Me and my wife have been farming pretty similar to the way this guy does it but we mostly work with cattle. You seem like you got dumped or divorced lol don’t hate on females. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for my wife man
Great video. As someone who started out with exactly those numbers - 2000 sq ft and $5000 - I've found that most of this info is bang-on. The only thing I underestimated was the time and cost of building the actual soil. Until you start digging, you have no idea what you'll find. My QCGH money (almost $1000 cdn with extra blades and shipping) had to be put into the soil. As a result, I restricted my crops to those that do best with hand harvesting: Salanova, spinach, herbs and microgreens. This was totally manageable for me. I did lose the first half of the season, and yes, I could have shopped for a different plot, but that 2000 sq ft is at my home base and for me that is invaluable.
Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.
Talking about opportunities investing in crypto currency now should be in every wise individuals list. In two to three years time you might be estactic with the decision made today
I just found you and I couldn’t be happier! Your channel is exactly what I have been looking for!!! I just purchased a house on an acre and can’t wait to get my garden and homestead started.
My dream is to own my own ranch, I’m only 13 and living in Tennessee I have a good start already. Your video is giving me a good idea on how to start my own buisness once I graduate high school and get enough money to get myself a little house but a good enough plot of land I’m probably doing this
Bravo!! You're now 15, so I imagine your ideas and plans are ever-expanding. I used to dream of having a farm when I was very young. But, I stayed in the city and didn't have the courage to leave until I was 58! 😂 So, nowwww... I'm looking forward to starting my own lil farm soon. 🤞🏽😬🤞🏽 Good luck to you!! 🙌🏽
Great Vid Curtis -> If you are running out of things to film, i would really love to see more Crop Focus videos where you go into more depth about each crop, life cycles, pests, how to grow, how to sell/market, yields, special etc... basically anything related to a particular crop.
I second that, been following you for over 2 years since you had less than 10k subscribers and I'd enjoy seeing some crop focus with the pests/diseases.
Yea, Curtis is living a different life in 2022, but this video still has value. A lot of his old videos have value. Thanks to Urban Farmer Curtis Stone!
As always, awesome video and super informative! I know whenever I click on a Curtis Stone video I'm going to get some quality knowledge. Thanks man! Keep em coming!
if you grow things like potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic and cucumbers, on a smaller scale, you can slide by without cooling. I know they aren't recommended crops by Curtis but they are the top selling crops at the farmer's market in my area of the midwest. Onions and garlic don't really need much cooling, and some of these crops need a special cooling temperature anyway, basically around 50 degrees, so if you had a root cellar that'd probably do the job for you. Or you can just leave em inside sealed containers in an air conditioned house like I do. But, a walk in is definitely on the agenda list, and it would have already been bought long ago if it weren't for the kinds of crops I grow. I spent my first profits on a used bcs tractor, and glad I did!
I just picked up a running BCS 715 with rototiller attachment last weekend on Craigslist for just $175. I'm going to use it for ground prep for a backyard high tunnel.
Curtis, you are awesome!!! I am so passionate about growing food (I've only grown for personal use so far but I want to do this for a living because I enjoy it so much and am so passionate about it). Curtis' videos are so informative and practical- best videos for this type of material that I've seen yet!
Have been lookin for channel like dis to help me start farming at a small pace, b4 I expand.. glad i came across ur channel. Very educative informative for beginners... Tanx🙏🙏🙏
Curtis, I've been fighting and fighting to NOT get a BCS tiller. But I've found a used 732 with tiller for $2200. We've got TERRIBLE impacted clay and I've used the HUGE broad fork to "pop" it up etc etc... it STILL this year is taking a LONG time to get a bed tilled and ready with the HOSS wheel hoe and a small Honda tiller. I watched this vide a second time and I noticed that you weren't talking about the BCS much in it. I know you were trying to keep things on the low end for people to get started. But I also know you are trying to get to no til. Just wasn't sure where you were at with the whole BCS thang anymore. (We are working with about 10000 sq ft if we can ever get it working :-) ). Thanks
Quick video suggestion : Which questions are you asked the most at farmers markets and by restaurant owners. How do you/should you reply? What mistakes did you make regarding that in your first years? This is a VERY important marketing aspect as your answers affect greatly the way your buyers view your farm and if they will come back to buy more.
Hi, i got a question. I very much like this concept of a small profitable salad/herb farm. Only, what about crop rotation? How do you maintain good conditions to keep growing salads/herbs in the same beds every year?
Planning on starting a farm so I can build up my own grocery store. I’m so glad I found your video!! You’re gonna help me so much prepare for my future! ♥️
You guys are so lucky to have 2000 feet just around to garden in, here in The Netherlands most gardens are a third of that... If not smaller, and nobody seems keen to have it turned into a farm. It needs to look pretty or tidy...
1:42 I like that idea in thinking about spending....look at the perspective! as little room as herbs take grow them indoors in a green house, seems you can spare a 10 by 30 foot area???
When you started your farming business , did you feel it was necessary to register as a Corporation , Sole Proprietorship or Limited Company ? Obviously when dealing with FOOD there is going to be some liability issues . I believe additional insurance would be necessary or at very least a smart thing to invest in . Thank you for all the awesome videos packed with wonderful little nuggets of information . Cheers
Hello Curtis...thanks for all your videos, especially this one! I am getting super inspired everyday and am making the transition from my day job to urban farmer...slowly....but I am dedicated, I have a few plants germinating now just to keep my motivation going. I bought your book and it is has been a great companion. Do you ever make down to Florida?
Your command of the farming lexicon is out of this world - did you study this stuff at uni or some college or something? Respect! I'm about to start something similar in Kenya - your vids have been incredibly helpful. Thank you.
Hey Curtis :) I like your videos, very informative, but I do have a question. Why do you wash the vegetables? From my understanding, while doing so and even by drying them really quick, you shorten their shelf life. I mean sure, dust off the dirt, but at least where I live, the fresh veggies come in bulk at the store, so you just handpick what you want and wash them before starting to cook them, when you get home. Is that some sort of health regulation, or is just that people are too lazy :) I'm kinda interested into the all small plot farming ideea, and I was wondering if I could get away with just using the walking cooler for storage, without needing the wash/dry benches
I have a 1.25 acre, wonder what I should plant there. I only go there once a week. I planted ten mango trees and it survived without any irrigation. I have a lot of shadows from tall trees as well. Here in Florida the climate is great to plant just about anything. Any tips would be awesome!
Thank you so much for your videos!! I’m working overtime and buying tools I see I need! I’m about to be home due to kids at home. Excited Amor what I’m learning here
Hey Curtis, it has been my desire for a long time to take one of your classes. I currently live in Las Vegas for work-related reasons. I can attend your Arizona class, it will be good to have several classes of urban farming under my belt before I get started. I potentially have some land on Orcas Island in Washington state that I can lease from a family friend. 2000 square feet and $5,000 sounds like a great start. the reason for multiple classes is due to my core knowledge of urban farming needs to increase. I have left you a comment on one of your videos about starting a mushroom farm as well as a market Farm. this concept of doing both is too much too soon thank you for your Insight on that.
And remember to always call before you dig! It's a free service, at least here in the States. If you accidentally hit a line you could bankrupt yourself & business.
I needed to see this video today. Sometimes its frustrating running an urban farm on a shoe string budget and then going to a Farmers Market and coming home with less than $80 in your pocket. Will be trying a different farmers market this month. I gave the first market two months of my life already, nothing has changed. My production has increased, sales have not.
IMHO this industry is like all industries. 80% sales and 20% actual production/services You have to be able to sell, farmers markets are a tiny slice of this particular vertical market. The challenge you face is that the best market is for resellers who already have vendors. What can you do that gets you in the door? IMHO there is only one way to do that. Personality, friendships, networking. You have to get your face in front of the purchasers for resellers. Woo them, befriend them, know them and them you. That is the key You cannot be shy, you have to be an extrovert and get out and meet people. And i don't mean people with $10 in their pocket i mean people writing big n regular purchase orders. Curtis is clearly an amazing businessman. Which means he knows his industry (great farmer) knows systems like laws and time management and purchasing etc. As well as he is a top notch salesman. It is not enough to think that growing means your clients will come.
daniel that was me last year, and yeah sometimes that's me this year. But by learning what sold last year, I reallocated my garden space to cater to the market, and this year I am more consistently doing 100-150 on market days, rather than 50-70-100 like last year. Actually the main reason is I grew more pickling cucumbers which are kinda popular around here, and produce fruit in around 45 days, before tomatoes that's for dang sure!
this is bull btw. your profitability will come down to making sales, but you won't be able to make any sales without large quantities of a high quality graded product. You can't make it as a farmer with great salesmanship and poor farming, in fact you'll do far better as a great farmer and mediocre salesman than a poor farmer and great salesman.
Hey Curtis, I have a bit of a challenge on my hands. My yard is literally nothing but nettles and bindweed with some couch grass, or was anyway. The area I hope to use is 100 feet by 80 feet in size. I have dug over the whole area by hand, chasing out all the rhizomes I could find. 70 black sacks full of weeds taken to the dump. The area was covered with black tarps for a month, then I did the weeding process again. Another month has passed since then, I lifted the tarps again, but looks like more weeding to do lol. Do you have any other tips to rid the area of weeds other than use chemicals?If I have to keep it covered till next spring I am fully prepared to. This is not for profit by the way, just for my family and friends. Any advice or commiserations gratefully accepted :D
@3:30 um... you forgot to include the cost of the land. Also, how do feed yourself while you're waiting for stuff to grow? How do you pay your mortgage/rent for the 6 months you're growing until the crops come in and sell?
The micro greens trimmer is passive. You have to supply your own drill to power it. I like the idea of the soft beaters. $600 needs to be taken into account. In Curtis' situation he is mowing multiple 50-60 foot lanes in just a few minutes and he is harvesting more adult more fibrous adult plants. I'm still not certain that the investment makes sense for a microgreens one man business.
Would u suggest renting a piece of equipment to initially break up ground... Or use the hand tools to start from scratch? Would it be suggest able to get a tarp right away to get the beds ready?
Hi Curtis, In an earlier video you had mentioned getting away from drip irrigation, and I assume landscaping fabric as well. Are you pushing for more overhead watering now, or has your process become a combination of both based on circumstances - provided you do the appropriate soil preparation?
I'm very interested in my own market garden. I have about acres to work with and recently purchased an older model Troy bilt horse tiller with row Hiller attachment.
Curtis I thank you for you ! I thank you for your generosity of heart ! I thank you for your order and commitment ! you are a precious contribution to the earth, your fellow man and the product you produce with such high good standards xx I send you and those you love gratitude and thoughts of excellant good health, joy and provision and most of all love for eachother.
You can use another s property and share some of your bounty! Wash, rinse, repeat and build the capital to purchase independent and Violá!. Also, work with nearby restaurant who seek, clean, non gmo produce and farmers market and gross 100k yearly.
How long does it take various mystery seedlings to grow on top of cardboard in the middle of Seattle? Asking for a friend. He just started this week and hoping it's table ready in a few days. Kinda urgent. Also, how to farm with no tools of any kind? The store that sold them sort of accidentally burned down.
When I become old enough I want to have a crop farm. I want a farm to both eat and to sell it. Although I don’t want to put anything that’s toxic to make it grow faster and what not.
random question Curtis - where do you find cheap sandbags / sandbag covers for holding down fabric? it seems like this should be an easy thing to find but i'm not having any luck anywhere
I am working towards building a farm. Main issue is I don't have the money issue as much as.. I live in an apartment. So.. gotta find some way to place all these post-harvest things somewhere at an affordable cost..
This is a wonderful video. Th a m you for being transparent and sharing your wisdom. I'm wondering about laws pertaining to how sanitary the washing and crying stations are. I !I've your creative crying table with the box fans but the have to kick up dust. Am I worrying about things that aren't really problems?
Curtis, Thanks for all the videos you do. Is there a source for older pictures of your farm beyond what is in your book? Pictures of your old infrastructure are very helpful
i am looking to buy a new house and get started in a new area of living and starting fresh from a retail job and a new life, i would love to learn how to improve the quality of the soil and to get the land ready for farming
You reference a list of most profitable crops (greens, baby roots etc...) and 'point' off the video screen for a link but that was obviously meant for another site where this video is hosted. Do you have that link to share since it isn't included on this YT page?
I’m on 1.3 acres of land and I’m looking to start a farm I have 26 roosters and some hens and feed is pretty expensive at a peavy mart so I’m considering on starting to plant my own feed but I can’t use the tools your using on 2000sqft so I’m considering on buying a compact tractor let me know what should I do bc im also thinking about expanding my farm to 10 acres but I I don’t know if I should yet.
My Urban Garden begins this week. I've been growing veggies, herbs and flowers. I live in Phoenix. I've learned the land and what I can grow. Next is to grow my buying market and moving on. Thanks for the information. I wish I could see you in Tennessee, my home state, but I teach and will not have the time off at that time. Thanks so much! Green Garden Chick.
Thank you for the video, Curtis! I have your book and you go through several scenarios of different budgets for starting off. Would you say these are still pretty much the same even with your new technology, like the quick cut harvester, jang seeder, and even the new drop seeder you have been using?
About to get my $3000 FSA youth loan not sure if I need to go to $5000 watching this multiple times I think I’ll play it safe but hey anyone that is between 10-20 and has a 4h or ag advisor can get a loan up to 5000 from fsa and you pay it back when you start selling your crop I’m 17 got my GED at 16 and am doing this
Lets say its harvesting time and im looking for markets. I have the supply but where do i find the demand. How can i find consumers for my crops? Great vid btw!
Do you know you can benefit from agricultural investment without owning a land? Agro farms creates opportunity for individuals to invest in their farms through their website and earn daily ROI without doing the farm work. It's a safe and profitable investment.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
![Noob To Max With DRAGON REWORK In Blox Fruits [FULL MOVIE]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/LnBMOinoOvA/mqdefault.jpg)
Boutta start with 5 square feet and $23
Clorox Bleach update?
what are you doing here clorox?
You can't leave us hanging like this man! haha!
Solid
You can do anything you set your mind to
Summary:
1. Walk-in cooler 5:36
2. Washing table 6:15
3. Bubbler 7:10
4. Greens spinner 7:40
5. Greens drying screen 8:05
6. Quick Cut Greens Harvester 8:44
7. Seeder 9:20
8. Rubbermaid Bins 9:44
9. Basic tools 10:04 - Shovel, bed rake, digging fork, stirrup hoe, standard rake
thanks for the schedule makes it easy to revisit!
@@lajohnson1967 yes sheriff Johnson, now can you take the handcuffs off, pls!
perhaps I already know this and like to look at others approaches...sound reasonable sheriff???
PS sorry I dont have all the answers, but it sounds like you do! bye...
Lisa A Johnson wow you are a NUTCASE!
Good man you
not the man we deserve but the man we all need
its possible and i think it depends with the country you live in. here in Zimbabwe and many countries in Africa almost everything is for free including land and water.so me and my friend we ploughed only one acre of land using hoes then we dug a water well and planted covo and used buckets to water the plants within 3 months we were getting about 100 bundles of vegetables we were selling at Us $1.50 a wholesale price per bundle every week and then we used that money to raise native chickens for eggs and meat now we have more than 1200 chickens and we planted another 1 acre of papayas and we are doing well right now we are working towards building a solar powered borehole and some by farm machinery like planters to make work easier and go big.so its kinder possible but you will have to work manually almost everyday.
That’s so fascinating! Proud of you !!!! I would love to learn morw
I should bring my notebook and pens for lessons in your farm.
I'm asking myself why I don't have a farm going in my front yard right now... awesome feeling!
Yeah do it
Wow, didn't expect to see you here.
Do it.
the goat
Another reason I think it is important to just get started, which is normally overlooked, is that for some people getting into that "working effciently" mindset might take a while to get used to. Making a list of things to bring out to the field so you're not running back and forth, knowing what has to be done so there isn't head scratching and not knowing what the most important thing to do is. There is an infinite list to do on a growing farm, it's important to do what NEEDS to be done RIGHT NOW. Also, focusing on less land I think would be better for starting. This forces you to maximize profits per square foot, rather than just make another bed. Thanks for being an inspiration Curtis!
True. I just started. Got tired of thinking about it, reading about it and talking about it. I had empty pots around so I started with raised beds.
I don’t have my post harvest area set up so I’m glad I ran across this video. Gotta get started setting that up.😬😁
I started on $500 dollars and doing very well mind you it's just to feed my family and myself, but it is my first time and now I will expand.
Can you give me insight please
At 13 I'm probably going to start next year on a bit less than $2000. Time to work my ass off.
That's great. You can be creative with the limited amount of start-up. On the side, you might want to cut lawn for other people yard and save up some more. Never know that person may let you do your gardening in their backyard. Good Luck!
Dont let these woman steer you in the wrong direction. Keep your focus on your project. You dont want to waste time doing things for other people when you should be working on your farm. See what you can do with your budget and focus all your energy in one place. Its not a bad idea to get a larger start up budget, however keep in mind what you are doing it for and if it feels right. Never sacrifice your farm time because someone else, who probably knows less about farming then you do tells you to.
And if anything, get people to come and help you like your parents can do some of the hard work for you. Don't let these woman withhold their love, nurture and care for you. You deserve better then that.
I had a garden, 15x30, when I was 13. Take his advice, and go find what the public wants to buy in your area, and give them the highest$/easiest crops. I never considered selling, we just ate it, but I wish I had found I could make money back then, I sure would have.
Edward Gardener you know what pisses me off when you start off by saying don’t let these women distract you! Me and my wife have been farming pretty similar to the way this guy does it but we mostly work with cattle. You seem like you got dumped or divorced lol don’t hate on females. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for my wife man
How did it go?
Great video. As someone who started out with exactly those numbers - 2000 sq ft and $5000 - I've found that most of this info is bang-on.
The only thing I underestimated was the time and cost of building the actual soil. Until you start digging, you have no idea what you'll find. My QCGH money (almost $1000 cdn with extra blades and shipping) had to be put into the soil. As a result, I restricted my crops to those that do best with hand harvesting: Salanova, spinach, herbs and microgreens. This was totally manageable for me.
I did lose the first half of the season, and yes, I could have shopped for a different plot, but that 2000 sq ft is at my home base and for me that is invaluable.
Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming.
Talking about opportunities investing in crypto currency now should be in every wise individuals list. In two to three years time you might be estactic with the decision made today
Is never stressful when you're guided by a pro
I remember friends calling me crazy when I started investing in bitcoin now I shut them up with my 4 figures weekly returns.
Thanks so much to Ma'am Diana Lucy for introducing and making me believe in crypto
Everybody has been talking about Diane Lucy so I'm not surprise you mentioned her here
This was my budget and I accomplished quite a bit. I bought a used washer cheap.
I just found you and I couldn’t be happier! Your channel is exactly what I have been looking for!!! I just purchased a house on an acre and can’t wait to get my garden and homestead started.
My dream is to own my own ranch, I’m only 13 and living in Tennessee I have a good start already. Your video is giving me a good idea on how to start my own buisness once I graduate high school and get enough money to get myself a little house but a good enough plot of land I’m probably doing this
Bravo!! You're now 15, so I imagine your ideas and plans are ever-expanding. I used to dream of having a farm when I was very young. But, I stayed in the city and didn't have the courage to leave until I was 58! 😂 So, nowwww... I'm looking forward to starting my own lil farm soon. 🤞🏽😬🤞🏽 Good luck to you!! 🙌🏽
Curtis, you are doing important work. Thank you for making your videos.
Great Vid Curtis -> If you are running out of things to film, i would really love to see more Crop Focus videos where you go into more depth about each crop, life cycles, pests, how to grow, how to sell/market, yields, special etc... basically anything related to a particular crop.
+M P good suggestion. Thank you.
I second that, been following you for over 2 years since you had less than 10k subscribers and I'd enjoy seeing some crop focus with the pests/diseases.
Yea, Curtis is living a different life in 2022, but this video still has value. A lot of his old videos have value. Thanks to Urban Farmer Curtis Stone!
As always, awesome video and super informative! I know whenever I click on a Curtis Stone video I'm going to get some quality knowledge. Thanks man! Keep em coming!
Who down with occ
if you grow things like potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic and cucumbers, on a smaller scale, you can slide by without cooling. I know they aren't recommended crops by Curtis but they are the top selling crops at the farmer's market in my area of the midwest. Onions and garlic don't really need much cooling, and some of these crops need a special cooling temperature anyway, basically around 50 degrees, so if you had a root cellar that'd probably do the job for you. Or you can just leave em inside sealed containers in an air conditioned house like I do. But, a walk in is definitely on the agenda list, and it would have already been bought long ago if it weren't for the kinds of crops I grow. I spent my first profits on a used bcs tractor, and glad I did!
Where was your walk in cooler when you had your first system ? Thanks. I have land but no station
Your an encyclopedia of knowledge I thank you for having this channel it calms my nerves!
I just picked up a running BCS 715 with rototiller attachment last weekend on Craigslist for just $175. I'm going to use it for ground prep for a backyard high tunnel.
And here I am 6 years later 4 days away from my 4 year of farming. Thank god for these videos.
Curtis, you are awesome!!! I am so passionate about growing food (I've only grown for personal use so far but I want to do this for a living because I enjoy it so much and am so passionate about it). Curtis' videos are so informative and practical- best videos for this type of material that I've seen yet!
So many videos to look through... you mentioned in this one making a video on attaining yards. Thats the one i want!
Found one of them... 😅
Have been lookin for channel like dis to help me start farming at a small pace, b4 I expand.. glad i came across ur channel. Very educative informative for beginners... Tanx🙏🙏🙏
Curtis, I've been fighting and fighting to NOT get a BCS tiller. But I've found a used 732 with tiller for $2200. We've got TERRIBLE impacted clay and I've used the HUGE broad fork to "pop" it up etc etc... it STILL this year is taking a LONG time to get a bed tilled and ready with the HOSS wheel hoe and a small Honda tiller. I watched this vide a second time and I noticed that you weren't talking about the BCS much in it. I know you were trying to keep things on the low end for people to get started. But I also know you are trying to get to no til. Just wasn't sure where you were at with the whole BCS thang anymore. (We are working with about 10000 sq ft if we can ever get it working :-) ). Thanks
Quick video suggestion : Which questions are you asked the most at farmers markets and by restaurant owners. How do you/should you reply? What mistakes did you make regarding that in your first years?
This is a VERY important marketing aspect as your answers affect greatly the way your buyers view your farm and if they will come back to buy more.
Excellent video I am really thankful for you posting it.. it gives exactly what you need to do some small-scale gardening work
Hi, i got a question.
I very much like this concept of a small profitable salad/herb farm.
Only, what about crop rotation?
How do you maintain good conditions to keep growing salads/herbs in the same beds every year?
Planning on starting a farm so I can build up my own grocery store.
I’m so glad I found your video!! You’re gonna help me so much prepare for my future! ♥️
How’s it going?
You guys are so lucky to have 2000 feet just around to garden in, here in The Netherlands most gardens are a third of that... If not smaller, and nobody seems keen to have it turned into a farm. It needs to look pretty or tidy...
1:42 I like that idea in thinking about spending....look at the perspective!
as little room as herbs take grow them indoors in a green house, seems you can spare a 10 by 30 foot area???
When you started your farming business , did you feel it was necessary to register as a Corporation , Sole Proprietorship or Limited Company ? Obviously when dealing with FOOD there is going to be some liability issues . I believe additional insurance would be necessary or at very least a smart thing to invest in . Thank you for all the awesome videos packed with wonderful little nuggets of information . Cheers
so much good info
There he is!
Agreed
Hello Curtis...thanks for all your videos, especially this one! I am getting super inspired everyday and am making the transition from my day job to urban farmer...slowly....but I am dedicated, I have a few plants germinating now just to keep my motivation going. I bought your book and it is has been a great companion. Do you ever make down to Florida?
Dear, how can i get land (+/-10 acre) for farming at BC in Canada and where to knock ? thanks
I'm not sure what you're asking.
I'm in western newfoundland when you said you're in Canada and can make 20k in a year you got a follower.
hi, from your experience, how many acres of land does it take to support a family? 5 people, enough to live on
It depends on many factors friend.
Very nice set up👍 in some European countries you can't use wood stands for washing veggies so you need to go stainless steel ones
Your command of the farming lexicon is out of this world - did you study this stuff at uni or some college or something? Respect! I'm about to start something similar in Kenya - your vids have been incredibly helpful. Thank you.
we are starting right now
how’s it goin’?
Congrats!
Hey Curtis :)
I like your videos, very informative, but I do have a question. Why do you wash the vegetables? From my understanding, while doing so and even by drying them really quick, you shorten their shelf life. I mean sure, dust off the dirt, but at least where I live, the fresh veggies come in bulk at the store, so you just handpick what you want and wash them before starting to cook them, when you get home. Is that some sort of health regulation, or is just that people are too lazy :)
I'm kinda interested into the all small plot farming ideea, and I was wondering if I could get away with just using the walking cooler for storage, without needing the wash/dry benches
So do I, but there are so many on other videos saying keep them clean and avoid washing. Don't harvest in wet weather for example
I'm so appreciative at how often and consistent you are with uploading videos, i just found your channel and i can not wait to watch them all
What type and size of greenhouse would you recommend for a beginning plant start business? And anything else that's necessary?
I have a 1.25 acre, wonder what I should plant there. I only go there once a week. I planted ten mango trees and it survived without any irrigation. I have a lot of shadows from tall trees as well. Here in Florida the climate is great to plant just about anything. Any tips would be awesome!
Thank you so much for your videos!! I’m working overtime and buying tools I see I need! I’m about to be home due to kids at home. Excited Amor what I’m learning here
Hey Curtis, it has been my desire for a long time to take one of your classes. I currently live in Las Vegas for work-related reasons. I can attend your Arizona class, it will be good to have several classes of urban farming under my belt before I get started. I potentially have some land on Orcas Island in Washington state that I can lease from a family friend. 2000 square feet
and $5,000 sounds like a great start. the reason for multiple classes is due to my core knowledge of urban farming needs to increase. I have left you a comment on one of your videos about starting a mushroom farm as well as a market Farm. this concept of doing both is too much too soon thank you for your Insight on that.
And remember to always call before you dig! It's a free service, at least here in the States. If you accidentally hit a line you could bankrupt yourself & business.
@@ChillYeti In the US, it is the law. Don't like it? Well... too bad.
this series gets better and better
Thanks Dear , But what about preparing land , beat-moss and compost cost ?
I needed to see this video today. Sometimes its frustrating running an urban farm on a shoe string budget and then going to a Farmers Market and coming home with less than $80 in your pocket. Will be trying a different farmers market this month. I gave the first market two months of my life already, nothing has changed. My production has increased, sales have not.
Keep pushing man, but don't be afraid to change things if they're not working. Sounds like you're already doing that, so good job!
Keep pushing man, but don't be afraid to change things if they're not working. Sounds like you're already doing that, so good job!
IMHO this industry is like all industries. 80% sales and 20% actual production/services
You have to be able to sell, farmers markets are a tiny slice of this particular vertical market. The challenge you face is that the best market is for resellers who already have vendors. What can you do that gets you in the door?
IMHO there is only one way to do that. Personality, friendships, networking. You have to get your face in front of the purchasers for resellers. Woo them, befriend them, know them and them you. That is the key
You cannot be shy, you have to be an extrovert and get out and meet people. And i don't mean people with $10 in their pocket i mean people writing big n regular purchase orders.
Curtis is clearly an amazing businessman. Which means he knows his industry (great farmer) knows systems like laws and time management and purchasing etc. As well as he is a top notch salesman.
It is not enough to think that growing means your clients will come.
daniel that was me last year, and yeah sometimes that's me this year. But by learning what sold last year, I reallocated my garden space to cater to the market, and this year I am more consistently doing 100-150 on market days, rather than 50-70-100 like last year. Actually the main reason is I grew more pickling cucumbers which are kinda popular around here, and produce fruit in around 45 days, before tomatoes that's for dang sure!
this is bull btw. your profitability will come down to making sales, but you won't be able to make any sales without large quantities of a high quality graded product. You can't make it as a farmer with great salesmanship and poor farming, in fact you'll do far better as a great farmer and mediocre salesman than a poor farmer and great salesman.
Hey Curtis, I have a bit of a challenge on my hands. My yard is literally nothing but nettles and bindweed with some couch grass, or was anyway. The area I hope to use is 100 feet by 80 feet in size. I have dug over the whole area by hand, chasing out all the rhizomes I could find. 70 black sacks full of weeds taken to the dump. The area was covered with black tarps for a month, then I did the weeding process again. Another month has passed since then, I lifted the tarps again, but looks like more weeding to do lol. Do you have any other tips to rid the area of weeds other than use chemicals?If I have to keep it covered till next spring I am fully prepared to. This is not for profit by the way, just for my family and friends. Any advice or commiserations gratefully accepted :D
lostonexxx
Flame weeder
And some propane
Boiling water will kill the weeds in 24 hours. Hard to do in an area that size but it's doable.
@3:30 um... you forgot to include the cost of the land.
Also, how do feed yourself while you're waiting for stuff to grow? How do you pay your mortgage/rent for the 6 months you're growing until the crops come in and sell?
My farm leases land.
The micro greens trimmer is passive. You have to supply your own drill to power it. I like the idea of the soft beaters. $600 needs to be taken into account. In Curtis' situation he is mowing multiple 50-60 foot lanes in just a few minutes and he is harvesting more adult more fibrous adult plants. I'm still not certain that the investment makes sense for a microgreens one man business.
Would u suggest renting a piece of equipment to initially break up ground... Or use the hand tools to start from scratch? Would it be suggest able to get a tarp right away to get the beds ready?
Hi Curtis, In an earlier video you had mentioned getting away from drip irrigation, and I assume landscaping fabric as well. Are you pushing for more overhead watering now, or has your process become a combination of both based on circumstances - provided you do the appropriate soil preparation?
Yes, more less. I'm now moving to do all hi-rotation plots with overhead. Still, all tomatoes and crops like that would be drip though.
I'm very interested in my own market garden. I have about acres to work with and recently purchased an older model Troy bilt horse tiller with row Hiller attachment.
Curtis I thank you for you ! I thank you for your generosity of heart ! I thank you for your order and commitment ! you are a precious contribution to the earth, your fellow man and the product you produce with such high good standards xx I send you and those you love gratitude and thoughts of excellant good health, joy and provision and most of all love for eachother.
I hope its not too late for this to get answered, but why would you want a bubbler and a washer? Wouldn't just or the other do?
I'm in Florida. So growing seems easy. I'm more concerned with selling. How easy would it be to find customers like restaurants, or stores locally?
You can use another s property and share some of your bounty! Wash, rinse, repeat and build the capital to purchase independent and Violá!.
Also, work with nearby restaurant who seek, clean, non gmo produce and farmers market and gross 100k yearly.
do you glue or cement on your pvc plumbing? on something like your bubble station.
How long does it take various mystery seedlings to grow on top of cardboard in the middle of Seattle? Asking for a friend. He just started this week and hoping it's table ready in a few days. Kinda urgent. Also, how to farm with no tools of any kind? The store that sold them sort of accidentally burned down.
Curtis, I have a family of four. What size farm can sustain a family year round? Do you have any knowledge on food storage in off season?
Sounds just like john. amazing mimicking hijaking skills.
My good news in life was a boyfriend who works at a hydro shop 👌🏻...so, we grow everything VERY cheap. At cost of the products, basically.
Unfortunately where I live, the market for your profitable crops are over saturated here.
When I become old enough I want to have a crop farm. I want a farm to both eat and to sell it. Although I don’t want to put anything that’s toxic to make it grow faster and what not.
same man thats my plan
Ben Fisher that’s good, good luck for you then
random question Curtis - where do you find cheap sandbags / sandbag covers for holding down fabric? it seems like this should be an easy thing to find but i'm not having any luck anywhere
I am working towards building a farm. Main issue is I don't have the money issue as much as.. I live in an apartment. So.. gotta find some way to place all these post-harvest things somewhere at an affordable cost..
This is a wonderful video.
Th a m you for being transparent and sharing your wisdom.
I'm wondering about laws pertaining to how sanitary the washing and crying stations are.
I !I've your creative crying table with the box fans but the have to kick up dust.
Am I worrying about things that aren't really problems?
Crying not crying
Ugh. My tablet keeps auto correcting the word Drying
Hey Curtis. That's the easy stuff!Dealing with the town and selling it with permits are very restricted
Curtis, Thanks for all the videos you do. Is there a source for older pictures of your farm beyond what is in your book? Pictures of your old infrastructure are very helpful
i am looking to buy a new house and get started in a new area of living and starting fresh from a retail job and a new life, i would love to learn how to improve the quality of the soil and to get the land ready for farming
You reference a list of most profitable crops (greens, baby roots etc...) and 'point' off the video screen for a link but that was obviously meant for another site where this video is hosted. Do you have that link to share since it isn't included on this YT page?
I know you use the Jang seeder now for carrots, but can the Earthway be used for carrots? Thanks
Great stuff, Curtis. You've been an inspiration
Water is a big issue in my place and many others. And it seems to be an increasing problem...
Anyway thank you for your helpful and interesting video
For a super cheap bubbler, you could start out with a bilge pump with some pvc.
Wow you gave such valuable information for me. Just what I needed. Thank you
Sir , I wish to work with someone live U, I meant being apprentice for 6 month - a year in order to have absolute knowledge
I’m on 1.3 acres of land and I’m looking to start a farm I have 26 roosters and some hens and feed is pretty expensive at a peavy mart so I’m considering on starting to plant my own feed but I can’t use the tools your using on 2000sqft so I’m considering on buying a compact tractor let me know what should I do bc im also thinking about expanding my farm to 10 acres but I I don’t know if I should yet.
My Urban Garden begins this week. I've been growing veggies, herbs and flowers. I live in Phoenix. I've learned the land and what I can grow. Next is to grow my buying market and moving on.
Thanks for the information. I wish I could see you in Tennessee, my home state, but I teach and will not have the time off at that time. Thanks so much! Green Garden Chick.
Great Video! What hoops are you using for row cover that were stacked on the right of your beds?
Would you also suggest tarps for starting out? Or any other kinds of crop or ground covers?
But not much less. My season would have been A LOT different with an early injection of 5K
Hi curtis, had some trouble finding the exact model used for your salad spinner mod, or does it really matter which specific model i get???
The green harvester ... what is it used for? How?
Wow that’s is awesome 😎, thank you I wonder how they did that raising veggies 🍅 greens did it .
Hi, where do you sell your products? Who do you sell to when you started?
I have a large farm land in back home but I don't have idea how to do!
You are so awesome. I hope more videos to upload to inspire more people.
Thank you for the video, Curtis!
I have your book and you go through several scenarios of different budgets for starting off. Would you say these are still pretty much the same even with your new technology, like the quick cut harvester, jang seeder, and even the new drop seeder you have been using?
When is the best month or season time to start a small farm?
About to get my $3000 FSA youth loan not sure if I need to go to $5000 watching this multiple times I think I’ll play it safe but hey anyone that is between 10-20 and has a 4h or ag advisor can get a loan up to 5000 from fsa and you pay it back when you start selling your crop I’m 17 got my GED at 16 and am doing this
Lets say its harvesting time and im looking for markets. I have the supply but where do i find the demand. How can i find consumers for my crops? Great vid btw!
Very great specific information for everyone . Thank you
It would be interesting to a video from then to now with an update on what you use now. This is great. Thank you for this information.
Hie Curtis. Absolutely fantastic, and thank you. How do I get in touch with you or your establishment?
Do you know you can benefit from agricultural investment without owning a land? Agro farms creates opportunity for individuals to invest in their farms through their website and earn daily ROI without doing the farm work. It's a safe and profitable investment.
LOVE this Curtis! Keep up the great job man!
Great video! The production part I think is very important can't wait for those vids.