Tips for vegetable farm: keys for proficient vegetarian production
If the idea of running a vegetable farm sounds discouraging, you are not alone. What can you do to simplify techniques and reduce expenses? What are you starting from? Well, a youthful farmer, we are here to aid.
Eliot Coleman, a pioneer of organic gardening, identified four key areas on which you should focus on planning diminutive, producing food, agriculture.
The following fragment comes from Up-to-date ecological breeder, edition on the occasion of the 30th anniversary Eliot Coleman. Has been adapted to the network.
Starting a vegetable farm: System creation
I compiled and evaluate information on biologically based food techniques since the start of cultivation. At the beginning I collected this material as a commercial vegetable breeder because I needed it to ensure the success of my own business.
In this process, I realized the huge unused potential of this method of agriculture and fascinated by the discovery and practice of plain agricultural techniques, which is in harmony with the world of nature.
To develop a reliable vegetable production model, I focused on gathering information in four thematic areas:
- How to simplify production techniques
- How to locate the most proficient machines and tools
- How to reduce expenses for purchased consumables
- How to launch products in the most rewarding way
In my experience, these four areas represent the basic information needed for the production of food for diminutive, economically, biologically based food.
The first category explains how plain and rational a successful vegetable production system can be.
Although growing commercial crops are often considered only for “experts”, it is definitely not the most. The world of plants is necessary, energetic and self -sufficient. Drop the grain into the ground and wants to develop.
The common wisdom possessed by farmers’ successes is that they understand how to aid seeds in doing what is already determined. The greater the farmer’s success, the better understanding, how to improve natural processes without overwhelming them.
This just a specific idea is the key to successful organic food production.
Next is the importance of proficient and reliable machines and tools that meet the needs of diminutive -scale production.
Little farmers can and compete and succeed economically and practically when they have access to scaled and valued equipment as part of their funds and designed for their specific tasks.
The fact that such useful and appropriate equipment was not easily accessible was a factor contributing to the fall of a diminutive farm and a parallel conviction that it cannot be successful.
Too often, unjustified and problematic enhance in the size of the farm was dictated by the need to justify exorbitant and immense equipment, because nothing else was available.
To find, try and modify the right equipment, I looked at the whole world.
The ideas for equipment contained in this book were created in many different countries. Recommended tools do their work admirable.
Up-to-date models will undoubtedly appear in the future and should be even better. But I expect that the basic relationship of tasks with the system will remain quite constant.
Thirdly, economic success should be provided with every operation.
To reduce costs, I emphasize the importance “Low production practices”.
By this I understand practices, such as crop rotation, green manure, animal manure management, proficient labor, expanding the season and so on.
Production benefits are obtained from careful management, not exorbitant purchases. These practices will not only save money in a tiny period, but in the long run will enhance the stability and independence of the farm.
The more production needs are generated by farms or saving work, the more independent and protected the operation becomes. The farm and its economy cannot then be hostages due to unavailability or high prices of goods from external suppliers.
The most stable agricultural economy is one that is built with the greatest exploit of production aids generated by the role.
Finally, regardless of success in the first three areas, it would be hardly useful for me if I didn’t have a successful marketing program.
Marketing has always been the Make-Or Break area for diminutive producers. Much depends on the highly developed marketing skills, which probably would not lead someone to cultivation.
In many cases, the recent growth of farmer markets has helped local products in marketing. But there are other solutions. I noticed on both sides of the Atlantic that farmers who enjoy the greatest economic success found competitive niches in a larger marketing system.
The scope of this market for diminutive breeders and how to achieve it are described in the marketing chapter.