From Ground Up: The Essential Core Infrastructure for Small Farms!

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Building infrastructure is the backbone of a thriving farm, and in this video, Curtis Stone tackles the essential elements that set the stage for agricultural success. Learn the critical infrastructure required to run small farms efficiently and effectively. From irrigation systems to greenhouses, livestock shelters to composting setups, this video covers it all!

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About Curtis Stone:

Curtis is one of the world’s most highly sought-after small farming educators. His book, The Urban Farmer, offers a new way to think about farming𑁋 one where quality of life and profitability coexist. Today, Curtis spends most of his time building his 40-acre off-grid homestead in British Columbia. He leverages his relationships with other experts to bring diverse content into the homes of gardeners and aspiring small farmers from around the world. Learn more at FromTheField.TV.

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Music and Footage commonly used on this channel:

[natesmith]

Thanks for consistently spreading great information and making these videos. They have really helped me get a good understanding of what it's going to take to become a farmer.

[leeknivek]

an older rototiller tends to work pretty good, too. i got one at the dump, for free, so old that it had points ignition. a new set of points and it's a one-pull start.

[edhorsegolfer]

Hey Curtis, Another great video. Just a few points. The vehicle I own will work for just starting out. I can rent the needed tiller for 100 dollars for 24 hours. The commercial coolers I saw were 2500.00 give or take a few, fortunately I can build the room fully insulated and buy the cool bot for 500.00 and I already have a window unit that was given to me. With tools I already own I figure I can limp in with about 1/3 acre and an infrastructure of about 4k. That doesn't allow for tarps and irrigation but I padded it 1000.00 for the things I will need that I haven't thought about yet like the Laser Printer. I have to adapt and overcome just starting because I just don't have the capital. Anything I have built before I have always made it pay for itself. I would never go into debt to start up a project because. It can fail. Thank you.

[Bayplaces]

Worth mentioning: I got a Ford Econoline where I live in California for $2, 500 and in three years I've used it lightly, put 30, 000 miles on it, and have spent less than $1, 500 on maintenance, repairs, and tires. The cost of a bike trailer at $1, 000 really starts to compete. And honestly depending on where you live a $1, 000 for a custom trailer seems like a steal of a deal. At least around here. I spent $1, 000 on my Surly bike trailer and it's nowhere near custom. Another $1, 000 was spent on my Surly Long Haul Trucker bike and I got a deal on it. After two Surly racks and 4 Ortleib panniers, my bike actually cost me more than my van. I also spend more annually on bike maintenance than vehicle maintenance. I go through more money on tires, chains, chain rings, tubes, lube, etc on my bikes than my van. Additionally there are inherent risks associated with using your private vehicle as a business vehicle. I wouldn't want to be caught in an accident with my van registered as a private vehicle loaded full of business equipment. Easy way to get screwed on getting covered. Definitely worth addressing. I've also seen Ford E350 vans with as few as 120, 000 miles on it costing as much as $1, 800 with a beat up body. Beats spending $20, 000+ on a new Transit any day. I'll add that I love your videos. Just a valuable detail. I'd only start thinking of a Transit van long after playing with beat up old Ecolonine vans.

[booradley]

It's funny when information is free I start to take it for granted. Thanks for the video.

[cybersecretary]

Hey, Glad i found your channel. You are wonderful!! I have worked for other farmers for many years and now I am going to do greens and salad things on my own and hope I can have a good crop and sell to restaurants etc. I love the way your lettuce looks!

I have about $ 800 US. saved to get started. We bought our place a few years ago and I was very sick for quite a while. I am a lot better and now nothing is going to get in my way of my ideas! I may be older and slower but i am wiser ! I feel I can be settled and really begin to expand and get my garden larger, my soil and more beds established. I have a lot of land with good soil and water. I will take your advice and start small.Just start! We have a lot of trees and shade here int he woods, so some tree trimming/cutting is due. Will hire a guy to till so I won't buy a machine yet. Will make sure I don't have a weed issue in the new area! So it's a matter of hard work, when it gets warm...snow is almost melted. Smart supply and seed buying.

I am emptying out and taking over our catch all /wood shed it is about 8'x14' and turning it into a grow house potting shed! Faster and cheaper way to start as I want to get growing, and can't go into debt right now building a new greenhouse. Will be taking off the old mixed roofing, this weekend if the weather cooperates, there is old cracked leaking PVC. and robbed with tin, so that will go....Will replace with polycarbonate. Also taking down the south wall for more sun. Can cover it with plastic or an old window for now. I have a few lights. Get my seeds and micro greens started and then in a few months I hope to make a hoop house. I have wanted to do this for 20 years..and I'm starting it this year seriously no matter what on my own. Start small, be organized..just start. Thanks for all your inspiration.

[seedsfarmok]

I run a BCS 739 also, perfect tool for small farms imo, maybe not necessary to own one the first year but your gonna need one eventually especially as you develop customers and techniques (green manures, plastic mulch etc). I'm looking into a flail mower now and a harrow.

[JonathanSeagullUtube]

My tiny farm opinion:
Post Harvest area is VERY IMPORTANT ! Scales/bags/boxes/wash area/fan(area to final dry).
Hand tools very important: #1 shovel (big strong one, shorter light one) #2 rake !!!
Greens cutter: yes !
(not doing massive greens yet, just spinach and kale. When more greens come online I will get a greens cutter)
Vehicle (electric bike: excellent) yes !
Tilther (I'm soo gonna get one one day, rake and hand for now.) yes!
Fridge(s) dedicated to product: yes ~ walk in cooler is great !

Rototiller ? Only if free of grass and weeds that love to be cut up into 1, 000 pieces! And free of weed plants with a gazillion seeds just waiting to be spread by the rototiller.
I would use a rototiller in a "jungle" type area that needed to be chopped up (like with wild shrubs with tree like bark and roots etc) and left with tarp cover for several months...then worked by shovel. I would use a rototiller if I was able to leave tarps on for a season or so.

IF a person is in shape, your body and a shovel (on like less than 1/2 acre) is a very good tool. Takes longer. I cut grass in sections and face the leaves of the cut sections down and stack them on top of each other, carefully taking out the grass and roots, leaving the yummy soil just below the root systems. There is far less weed seeds, and I am able to remove 99% of the "evil root weed plants". I plant peas or nasturtiums in the cracks of the top area of the stacked lawn sections and WOW excellent broken down soil ready for next season! The area that has had grass removed is ready for soil amendments and seeding.

[imover]

One of your best videos yet as far as useful information. (not at all to put down any of the others, they're all great, just this was a knock out of the park.) Thanks for this, and of course all your other very informative work. I'm planning on starting a small farm when I move house in a few months, and a big question is always "What do I start with?" So this has been very great. Thanks again Curtis, keep doing what you're doing.

[abideenturky]

Awesome, Awesome,
Absolutely amazing, how few courageous people (like you) act as beacon for the rest of us.
My applaud to you.

[RonHelton]

I started using a stirrup hoe 3 years ago. Amazing tool. I can't imagine not having one now.

[TheJunkyardgenius]

Great video Curtis, you have covered these things in individual videos but got to put into one video.

[jeffstreeter]

Thanks for the clip. Brought my attention to stuff I never thought about.

[Talex]

Hi Curtis!
I wonder, why would one need to own a tiller if the only time you gonna use it is when you prepare a new plot - and then go to no till approach?
Thank you!

[grokstone]

Great videos
A few of your links for the equipment are now 404 errors.
Better check it out or update.

[JonathanSeagullUtube]

Thanks for your videos Curtis ! This is an excellent video to post as a primer for ppl starting out growing for commercial markets.

[seanmcnally]

Because you're always talking about efficiency and you mentioned mitigating those operations and actions that do not have a quantifiable Financial return it may be beneficial to do a video specifically on weeding because though it does not have a quantifiable Financial return it is certainly one of those activities that you would want to mitigate so understanding the best and most efficient way to do it is the best and most efficient way to mitigate the activity of weeding

[elementalearth]

thanks for this great resource!!
have a great day Curtis!

[One_Call_System]

Nice one!  Very useful video for nubbs.

[waltlars]

Great vid Curtis will you do one about what you take to a farmers market