How to Start a Small Farm | A Step-by-Step Guide

In today's video we get into the nuts and bolts of what you should actually do to start a successful farm business.

We cover: how to start a farm from scratch, how to start a farm business, what does it cost to start a farm business, farm business plans, how to start a farm with no money or land, and more.

Links:
Actual Cost of Starting a Farm (forum)👇

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[ColettesGarden]

Great advice! We are in our second year on our own land. First year was tree planting, chickens, bees and soil building. I suggest how important relationships with local farmers has been. Know your neighbors (ranchers and farmers), the farm store staff, 4H, etc. We bought our land from mid-80 year olds. They have lovingly answered our questions and cheer our efforts. We planted flowers along the road, its both beautiful and welcoming. I have never been so tired or as happy as we are now.

[TheTrock]

Your vids are among the best! We've been gardening for 35 years, and couldn't imagine trying to do it professionally but want to be able to ramp up production in SHTF scenario. Somewhat offtopic, but growing up I knew an older couple that never had kids but took in a local kid that had a terrible home situation to help out on their dairy farm and live in their barn. Many years later he was able to buy his own farm and when the husband had passed away he took in the wife and cared for her until the end. Farms produce a lot more than vegetables.

[TheRealHonestInquiry]

Regarding #1, I'm helping out a first time farmer and what she did was really smart... she bought 20 acres and leased out 19 to other farmers. So she literally has nothing planted yet and is already making a return on her investment. Now she can focus on seeing what's possible with 1 acre, and expand as she feels comfortable.

[FrankBott]

two years ago bought 62 acres. last two years have spent building the structure for a organic farm. The farm is very remote and water collection was key along with shelter. My first crops get planted in the spring .. which is exciting. I say all of this because it takes a boat load of work and money just to get to the point of planting crops. I could have done it faster but wanted to avoid large debt. I have learned a lot about the land, weather, soil and the Dept of Ag to name a few things. Thanks to your channel and many others for your sharing knowledge.

[FireplaceKHours-qfbe]

Here's to a future overflowing with success, wellness, affection, and pure bliss. May each moment be a testament to your resilience and the beauty of your spirit.

[lisamcdonald]

Love that you spoke about off farm income. We had no choice but to seek a full time to job to pay for the family expenses. The farm income goes right back to the farm investing in its growth and tools needed to make the job a little easier. One thing I would say though is working a full time job now gets me behind on the farm. It’s a tough battle some days are better then others mentally, but we love our new farm journey and hope one day it pays for everything

[paavolaprincess]

I’m a stay at home mom with two toddlers, we’re building our farm business with the hopes of my husband leaving his off farm job in the next couple of years! It definitely takes the pressure off and has allowed us to build tons of infrastructure and build a market base

[josee.cisnerosjr.]

"Growing mushrooms, legal ones!"
Lol. Love this channel.

[mysticmeadow]

That was like, a whole college course in less than 18 minutes! I saved this because I need a notepad and pencil and I'm taking notes when I watch it again, and yet again. Other vids don't come near what you covered in this. THANK YOU!

[jvin]

First step must be identifying Sales. What is the local market interested in buying at the retail level and can you fill that niche successfully? Do you enjoy selling? Can you work at a farmer's market part-time for someone else (not one who will be a competitor)? Can you buy wholesale (say u-pick tomatoes or strawberries) and sell retail to test the market (and you)? Can you beat the national corporate grocery store at their retail business? That is who you are ultimately up against. Nothing else works if you cannot sell whatever it is you want to farm. ... Practice commercial-level farming before you get a place; saving cardboard boxes and buying bags of compost work (if not contaminated with produce-destroying chemicals) for a small home gardener but what are you going to do with five or ten acres? Practice in that backyard garden growing cover crops to have compost-in-place. ... Raise your own plant starts and not buy packs from the nursery (conserve cash). .... Get garage sale garden tools not new-off-the-rack, same with machinery. Don't buy/lease a tractor but rescue a fence-row abandoned tractor (or locate a running refurbished tractor). You can buy an old tractor off Craigslist outright for that same cash that would just be a down-payment on a new tractor (that still breaks down!) and avoid years of monthly loan payments you may or may not really have cash flow some months. Upgrade features on the tractor every season (like all new wiring, newer tires, etc) to make it more reliable. Sometimes it's better to have two antique tractors to save time dedicating each to a certain job but keep them similar to each other as backups in case one is down for repairs (which is not an option with a single new but broken tractor). ... And if you are married, make sure your spouse either understands you are out there all the time working on the farming startup or they are out there with you too and that is what they want, including a lack of cash in that conversation -- no money, no time, loan payments, and tired can make for huge family friction. ... people don't understand that farming is brutally hard both physically and mentally. Be realistic about the fantasy.

[fuzzytale]

I'm never going to farm, but I love the glimpse into market farming your videos give, not to mention all of the tips and tricks that work just as well for my little 50'x100' garden. Can't wait for my library to get your book in (they said they're buying it after my request, but it hasn't shown up in the catalog yet).

[markmcmeen]

Your videos are always helpful, even to a small home gardener. Thanks for the help and encouragement.

[zachwak]

"On average, off-farm income contributed 82 percent of total income, or $101, 638, for all family farms in 2019" - USDA ERS. Off farm income is 100% normal and im glad you point this out!

[coolshithey]

i really deeply appreciate the thoughtful approach that you take in making these videos and the amount of care and experience that goes into the advice that you give. it's really helpful, especially the advice about going and working (or volunteering if you have to) on some other farms for a substantial period of time before trying to start your own farm business

i am currently working towards the dream of making most of my living growing food. ive bought some land (a very long way from kentucky in the central tablelands of NSW, australia!) with some help from my parents and am slowly saving up for infrastructure and equipment, doing research into the local farmers markets and food scene, meeting neighoburs and other local farmers etc. i have been struggling for nearly 3 years with my enthusiasm for setting up the farm on the one hand, but the need to work off-farm to be able to service the mortgage, eat, and save up for tools etc. your advice about not being ashamed of relying on other income has just flipped a switch in my brain, i have realised that it doesn't need to be an all or nothing thing and i can continue to work part time at my landscaping job while the market garden gets up and running. this seems really obvious now but it was not obvious to me ten minutes ago. thankyou jesse! ive also bought a couple of hats and the book to say thank you, these videos almost never fail to give me something really excellent to think about. cheers mate

[tylerholmes]

Thanks for the inside Jessie, and appreciate the experience and effort you put into these videos. Thanks mate

[sunriseeyes]

Thank you so much for this video! I’m practicing starting a farm on my grandparents’ acre and it is very challenging for me with a non-related fulltime job. But it is so enjoyable for me whenever I can work on it. I know I definitely need actual experience before starting seriously. Thank you for the reminder, ego-check, and amazing info! 💗🙏🏽

[EatwellFarm]

I always wanted to start a farm but didn't got much guts to start, After going through your videos I found it's more simpler than I think.
Happy Farming 😊

[terrysteichen]

This is good advice. I started a home garden two years ago and there is so much to learn. Thanks to utube how to videos it’s coming along nicely but it would take a few more years of study and hard work to be prepared to start even a small market farm.

[craigdyke]

We have an extra acre of land we've been casually gardening on here in NKY that I keep thinking about turning into more intensive farming. This video was great to watch and as a new subscriber, I'm loving your content!

[hskikju]

This video is a game-changer! I've never seen anything like it before, and I'm blown away by the host's creativity and expertise.