Why is small-scale farming better? Profit margins are better, and intensive planting crowds out the weeds. Thus, Jean-Martin Fortier, in his book, The Market Gardener suggests that you don’t need all of the fancy tools or a lot of property to have a commercial farm.
I will write about some of the techniques that make that statement a reality.
1. Intensive Planting
When you plant things close together, the leaves touch and create a micro-climate. The canopy creates shade for the soil (retains water), reduces weeds and prevents wind damage.
The writers use permanent raised beds instead of rows.
- This allows them to build the soil.
- Also, they keep the structure of the soil intact, which is very important. (They don’t turn the soil at all).
- They use a broad fork to aerate the soil rather than tilling the soil.
- Succession planting – Once one crop is harvested, they plant another in its place.
2. Grow what is most profitable.
The writers said that tomatoes and mesclun lettuce are their biggest money makers, so they grow more of that. When determining this, they consider how much land it takes to produce it and how quick they can turn out the vegetables.
The least profitable fruits vegetables are those that have to sit in the ground for a long time (cauliflower and broccoli).
3. Find the right site.
You need a place that:
- is near a farmers market or place where you can sell your produce.
- is accessable to vehicles
- has access to electricity and portable water
- is not close to conventional crops
- has healthy soil (no contamination)
- good customer base for organic farming
- has early planting dates
- has low number of frost days
- is in a mild hardiness zone.
- has good soil (clay? sand? silt?)
- just big enough (not too small or too big) – 2 acres is ideal (need 4 people+ for this amount of land)
- doesn’t have too much of a slope.
- has a good building
- doesn’t have a water drainage problem. (No marsh land)
- doesn’t have any valleys.
- has clean water.
Ideal:
Climate/Microclimate
Use bioclimatic zone maps. These will show you different conditions affecting the plant growth – oil type, elevation, proximity to major bodies of water
Market Access
Do you have customers who will pay for organic food?
How close are you to farmer’s markets?
Ideal Soil
loose, drains well, high in nutritional content
Building Market Garden (plant right next to the house)
- Plan for how long you want to walk between places
- Have a place to wash and store vegetables
- Tool storage
- Bathroom
Tips for Storage
- Have harvest containers that you use
Location of the green house and hoop houses – North-South (If you are planting your garden, it needs to be on the south side, facing north-south).
Make sure your buildings are spaced out, one building with each.
Protection Against Dear
- Fencing (electric or mesh)
- Dog
Irrigation
- Drip
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