So you want to Start a Farm? Six Things You should Know

In today’s video we discuss in depth the fact that there is a kitten in the thumbnail for this video. I tell the story of how I made this video and had literally no idea she was there; about how I’m pretty sure it’s Scooter but it could just as easily be Charlie; and I mention this new fad called farming. Probably.

I also ponder if anyone actually reads these blurbs. I mean, our videos get tens of views so the odds are no one does but I’ll tell you what... The first person to comment the words “Greatest. Philosopher. Ever.” In the comments below will not only get a chuckle from me but I will also send you a thank you card with my favorite concept for a tourist attraction to date. For real. I will do that. Offer ends when the next video goes up.

Game on, but also...

[jeffreyfortner]

Talking about farming being hard . I once was at a market and I had a basket of orka that I was selling for $10. A lady ask me if I would take $6. For it. I told her it was 105 degrees out in that field when I picked it gnats were flying in my eyes and mosquitoes were biting me and the orka was making me itch. At the time I was thinking about $50. Per basket . She agreed to pay $10.

[SgtSnausages]

I'm not sure I ever "started farming". I just started with a few tomato plants in our back yard garden ... and 18 years later my Gardens are 1.3 acres. I run a small CSA but still don't think of myself as a "Farmer". I started on a few hundred bucks ... but it quickly ballooned into a couple of tens of thousands once I started scaling to grow for folks other than immediate family. To really get going, and go well without struggling, you're gonna need to put $20 or $30K into it ... and that's going "on the cheap." Get some cash-flow going and crank most of it back into the operation for the first couple of years and you can get by on low initial startup. Just understand this: The less capital you have to invest, the more it's gonna hurt. Dollars not spent are instead paid for with sweat, frustration, and extra effort.

[mart]

Be prepared to make mistakes and have failures. I grew up on a farm and had gardens all my life. I'm in my second year of market farming and even with my background I make mistakes. I learned everything I could from YouTube, Curtis Stone, Conner Crikmore, Diego Footer, Charles Downing, jus to name a few. They are all successful and have great advice but different contexts that may or may not work for you in your situation. Don't be afraid to have failures. Don't be afraid to try new things, but experiment on a small scale first. Learn from your mistakes. Be as observant as possible. Focus on popular crops first and learn to do a few crops well. Focus on crops that have few pests in your area first. Don't grow so fast that your quality suffers. Those are some of the things I've learned. If you like wholesome work, facing challenges, taking calculated risks, and problem solving on the run you've come to the right place. It's very rewarding growing beautiful wholesome food to sell to appreciative customers and promote healthier ways of living.

[rodrigogarcia]

Thanks man... I know, right? But what to do... I'm starting my farm no till, and no tools, hahaha I'm broke man... But starting anyway... Yes.. I see it, there is the wall... I'm going straight to it. right?
My only tool is a weed eater... I'm going Ruth Stout, and gonna plant what ever grows well in those conditions... Wish me luck... I will like to talk to you... How do I rich you?
Love your podcast .
Rodrigo from Argentina...

[kevinkeen]

A year and a quarter later, this video is maybe a cult classic, and still “Greatest Philosopher, Ever” ...with a doorbell bleeper. Love your stuff & thanks for the inspiration.

[YouCantEatTheGrass]

You sold me on this video when you said negative and showed snow at the beginning, lol. Yup, I'm in the right place, lol

[jerradcampbell]

I'm surprised you don't have more subscribers. Keep up this good work and I'm sure you will be exploding on YouTube in no time. No-dig / no-till is definitely the way to go, I've been experiencing it for 3 years now and the results are phenomenal.

[Bojanglesthewitch]

Thank you so much for some real advice on starting a farm... If there is anymore advice you can give please make more videos regarding how to start a small farm or even roadside stall. Thank you so much!

[icolak]

I felt obliged to subscribe and like the video after watching it. Later read the comments below other people did the same thing. It is not the thing that you are saying a new and revolutionary ideas, I think honesty and dedication makes people get involved into it. Thank you for sharing. BTW I started a little family garden last year. I'm thinking to extend to produce more starting from next spring.

[beegratefulfarm]

I would say one of the most enlightening things our first year is.... weeds. Weeds weeds weeds.

[JohnDoe-yirm]

Jessie, I saw a Netflix Documentary about how tilling is very destructive to the soil. What alternatives do you recommend to grow crops without tilling?

[meganjo]

Greatest. Philosopher. Ever.
I love your videos! I’m actually an accountant in my day to day but I grew up farming with my dad and grandfather. Tobacco, beef cattle, goats, corn, soybeans, a little bit of everything else
I have dreams of “returning” to the farm, just haven’t gotten my husband on board.

[Zerel]

Word. We started a market garden this year at my parent's farm. Garden was great, not very profitable but we did own the farmer's market scene.

One thing you video is missing, "Who you work with". Working with my parents was terrible. Now I know why companies seek out new employees without experience. People who think they are experienced terrible.

[Godhiger]

How is the farm business now?
Am thinking of starting a farm in my country Ghana in West Africa.
But I have no idea.
Your video courage me that is not a bad idea.

[hollyjolly]

what's the best way to pay for a farm? save up? grants? loans? my goal is to have my own land ( I aiming towards 10 minimum, but 15-20 would be great) and I want to build my future house on the land. I have been looking into doing a city bus conversion so I can live in that while I build my farm from the ground up. I don't have a s/o that I can rely on for money nor do I want to. I want to be able to afford and pay all the things i want by myself. I just don't know how to get the money to be able to do my goal. Is it possible to save up for my future farm in 5 years? I'm 24 right now and I really don't think id want to start my farming career when I'm over 35... I mean ill do it if I have to but I feel like I'm missing something to start up my future farm career.

[PotHeadDegree]

I'm so lost on getting grants and getting into crp programs. Which I participated in as a child but was not enlightened in the bookwork of running a farm.

[tajirigarden]

Thank you so much for the real advice. So much glamorization of farming and so many videos by people who are just starting out (and don't necessarily know what they're doing), really appreciate seeing content by someone whose actually doing it.

[Rymorin]

keeping it real!!! makes me want to work even harder.. I have never mastered a craft in my life. if i can master something that makes my community a brighter place then I will sacrifice.

[johndoh]

"I think they also call this July"

Great one liners there.

[llanoda]

thanks for this man, we're in the process of starting a little farm and this is very enlightening!