Have a Small Farm
Having a small farm can provide an income and can be used as an educational adventure for children.
Steps
- To build a small farm you need to have an area, your own or rented, that is not less than a 1000 square meters.
- Get a buyer for your produce. The buyers can be one company (a middleman) or many companies or both.
- With many companies, expect to be doing more driving and have higher prices. When working with many companies you must have interpersonal skills.
- When working with one company expect a lower price, but the plus side of dealing with a middleman company is that they will be able to accept more of your produce.
- Have a vehicle to haul your equipment, supplies, and produce. Choose a small truck with 4 wheel drive as your main vehicle and add other vehicles as your business grows.
- Study the market and what other farmers are doing. Sell your products at a reasonable price minus your expenses including paying yourself. Be adaptable to the market and other problems such as diseases.
- Have a basement and sheds. Know carpentry. You should have areas to lift heavy items on and off your truck with a block and tackle. On the farm, a big, strong tree could be used for lifting heavy objects.
- Haul water or have access to a water source, water line or a reservoir. If you have just one vehicle and you are hauling water, you must load and unload your water hauling tanks. If laying a water line, you must buy a pipe, fittings, glue and have equipment for sawing and digging.
- Have equipment. Have tools to fix minor repairs to your equipment and your vehicles.
- Establish a relationship with your buyers if you want to make some serious part time income.
- Keep track of your expenses and income. Get a accountant if necessary.
- Protect your farm from theft.This can be done by erecting a proper fence around your farm's perimeter
- Stick to small livestock like goats,chickens and other types of domestic fowl such as pigeons.
- Choose your products according to the amount of time you want to put into your farm business.
