PerennialPolycultureEnterpriseIdeas

NOTE:Theseideasarespecula8ve,alwaysresearchnewenterpriseideas

carefullybeforeinves8ng!

Whatisanedibleforestgarden?

•  Aconsciouslydesignededibleecosystem

•  Lowmaintenancefoodproducinglandscape

•  Mimicofnaturalforest

•  Providestheecosystembenefitsofanaturalforest

•  Producesfoodandotherusefulproducts

Forestfarmingvs.annualagriculture

TreeCrops:APermanentAgricultureJ.RussellSmith,1927

•  Terribleerosionofslopesfromannualcrops

•  Solu8on:treecropswithpasture•  Forhumanfoodandforlivestockfodder

“Montando”cork‐porkforestsofPortugal

ContourHedgerows

Produc8onPerennialPolycultures

EnterpriseSelec8onGuidelines

Perennialfarmingsystemproducts:

•  WhatcanyouPRODUCE

•  WhatcanyouSELL

•  Whatproductscomplementeachother

•  Whatproductsfityourmarke8ngplan

DirectMarketvs.Wholesale•  DirectMarke8ng– keephigher%– workmore

–  limitedquan88es?– Setyourownprice– Cansellnew&unusualproducts

•  Wholesaling–  lowerprofitperunit– Easier!– Canacceptlargequan88es– Pricessetbyexternalbusinesses

Value‐AddedProducts

•  Increasepriceandprofitability•  Improveshelflife

•  Diversifyproductline•  Somelegal/processingissues

Pasture&FodderSystemProducts

AnimalProducts:

LiveAnimals MeatsEggsDairyProductsHoney

Plantproducts

Hay

EQUIPMENT:coolers,slaughterequipmentorlivestocktrailer,permits,commercialkitchen,stainlesssteeldairyprocessing,bo_lingequipment,cheesecave,farmstoreormarketstand

Animalsbringincomebutalsomanageunderstorywithminimalhumanlaborinput.

TreeCropProducts:WoodProducts

LumberFirewood Fenceposts

Equipment:portablesawmill,woodworkingequipment,charcoaloven

Cra`sCharcoal Furniture BambooProducts

TreeCropProducts:Foods

FoodProducts:

Fruits NutsVegetablesHerbs,Spices,&Teas

Sweeteners BeveragesOils

Equipment:wash&pack,bo_lingandsterilizing,sugarshack,dryingsystem,farmstoreormarketstand,commercialkitchen,permits

Jams&JelliesBakedGoodsSmoothieStand

UnderstoryProducts:Foods

BerriesVegetablesHerbs,Spices,&TeasMushrooms

Jams&JelliesBakedGoodsSmoothieStandAnnualCropsinAlley CroppingorEarlyStages

UnderstoryCrops:Non‐FoodProductsFunc8onalunderstorymoreexpensivetoestablish,mustpayforitself.

Na8vePlantSeeds Cutflowers(sometreestoo)Cra`s,Dyes,Soaps…MedicinalHerbsFunc8onal&CropSeeds

Equipment:Seedcleaners,cra`tools,5‐gallonbuckets,herbdrying&processing

OtherProducts

Plas8csIndustrialfeedstocks Rubber(hardysourcestoo)Fer8lizers, Pes8cides

VeggieoilfuelGasoline(!) FiberCrops&Products

Equipment:o`enprohibi8velyexpensive,thesecropso`ensoldtoprocessors.Couldincludeoilpress,bo_ler,biodieselrig,homelab

GermplasmSales:PerennialFarm‐AdaptedOrganisms

Breedingstock Nursery FungalspawnSeeds&seedmixes

inc.gra`edtrees

Pre‐plantedmats Brushfascines Cuhngsforlivingfencesetc.(erosioncontrolfabric,groundcoverflats,etc.) Equipment:irriga8on,nursery,seedcleaning&drying,

mushroomlab

Services

Consul8ng Tours&Workshops Landmanagementservices

Equipment:laptop,experience,herdofgoats

RESOURCESforFARMandNATURALRESOURCE‐BASEDBUSINESSDEVELOPMENT

ExploringtheSmallFarmDream:IsStarMnganAgriculturalBusinessRightforYou?

www.smallfarm.orgGuidetodecidingwhetherornottofarmasabusiness.

SmallFarmPlanner:BuildingYourNewfarmBusinessAround

What’sMostImportanttoYouwww.smallfarm.orgHelpsaspiringfarmersmakedecisionsaboutloca8on,enterpriseselec8on,marke8ngstrategies,andfinancing.

YouCanFarm:TheEntrepreneur’sGuidetoStartandSucceedinaFarmEnterprise

JoelSala8nInteres8ngguidefornewfarmers,greatenterpriseselec8onguidelines.

ATTRAwww.a_ra.orgOne‐stopshoppingforallyourfarmmarke8ngandenterprise

selec8onneeds.Hundredsoffantas8cpublica8onsallfreeonline.DirectMarke8ng(10publica8ons)Value‐AddedandFoodProcessingBusinesses(12publica8ons)

BusinessPlanningandManagement(8publica8ons)Plusmany,manyguidestoenterprisesfrompasturedporktobambooproduc8on.

TheLegalGuideforDirectFarmMarkeMngNeilHamiltonExcellentresourceforplanningthelegalaspectsofafarmbusiness.

TheOrganicFarmer’sBusinessHandbookRichardWiswallBrandnewguidetobusinessaspectsoforganicvegetableproduc8on.

TillingtheSoilofOpportunitywww.nxlevel.orgAgriculturalbusinessplanningcurriculum,12‐weekcourse.Otherbusinesscurriculaandresourcesinclude:EstablishingaShared‐UseCommercialKitchenGoingGreenguidetogreendecisionmakingforentrepreneursAndmanygeneralcoursesandguidesforbusinessplanning

BuildingaSustainableBusinesswww.sare.org/publica8ons/business.htmOnlinepublica8onfordevelopingdetailedag‐relatedbusinessplans.

NewEnglandSmallFarmInsMtutewww.smallfarm.org/main/for_new_farmers/resources_by_topicsExtensiveresourceslistofresourcesfornewfarmbusinesses.

VoicesofExperience:GoodAdviceforNewFarmerswww.nybeginningfarmers.orgExcellentvideoclipsofstart‐upadvicefromexperiencedfarmers.