2. What is a sustainable
farm enterprise?
Environmentally sound
Economically viable
Socially just and equitable
Triple bottom line results that sustain the
farm and its inhabitants
5. Socially just and
equitable
Community based
Fair wages and decent conditions for
labor
Time off for focusing on family and self
6. Farm = Food system
Components of a food system
1. Land
2. Water
3. Farmers/labor
4. Inputs
5. Infrastructure
6. Consumers/markets
7. Waste
7. Land
High quality soils or at the minimum good
drainage.
Moderate to no slope.
Facing south with good air flow.
Within 1 hour of good markets
Resources
NRCS/Web Soil Survey
Soil testing labs
8. Water
Clean and sufficient source, preferable a well with a
minimum of 10 gpm. Surface water is unreliable and
often contaminated.
On average, one acre of crops with a full canopy use
about one inch of water a week, which equals 27,154
gallons or about 4,000 gallons of water a day.
Drip systems are designed to apply water daily without
splashing disease spores onto leaves or compacting
soil.
Resources:
Neighbors well drilling results
Local well drillers
Dowsers
9. Farmers/Labor
1. Why do you want to farm?
2. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
3. How much income do you need now and in the
future?
4. What skills do you have?
5. What skills do you need?
6. How many people do you want to manage?
Resources:
Farmer occupational profile
http://growingnewfarmers.org/index.php
Other local growers
10. Inputs
Quality seeds/plants for SE conditions.
Breeds of livestock that thrive on pasture
based systems.
Slow money
Resources:
ATTRA
Southern Exposure Seed
Organic Seed Alliance
American Livestock Breeds Conservancy
11. Infrastructure
Roads
Fencing
Hand tools
Tractor
Truck and other vehicles
Buildings
Equipment shed
Washing, packing, and cooling
Human and animal housing
Resources:
ATTRA Market Gardening Document
12. Consumers/markets
Start your planning process here because it impacts all
other decisions.
1. Who are they?
2. Where are they?
3. What do they want?
4. When do they want it?
5. How much and in what form?
6. How much will they pay?
Resources:
Sell What you Sow by Eric Gibson
CFSA and Local Harvest
ECO, Farmers Fresh Market, New River Organic Growers
13. Waste
Aim for zero waste
Cycle nutrients
Carbon footprint
Green packaging
Resources
Composting Council
Responsible Packaging Project
14. Business plan outline
Cover sheet
Executive summary
Organizational plan
Marketing plan
Financial documents
Supporting documents