Is Micro-Farming A Safe(er) Startup?

With the way things changed for millions so quickly in 2020, it might not be all that surprising that people are looking into exciting ways to make their own food – or grow it themselves.

You can learn to bake bread with fewer ingredients than those you can buy in the supermarket, micro-farming, herb bundles, and even tea blends. All of these can not only reduce your own outgoings but can provide a nice supplementary income too. 

Specifically looking at micro-farming, is it the best small business? And, if you are interested in it, how can you make it a success?

Love it, Plant it

If there are specific vegetables or herbs that you adore, then try to grow those first. It is the same principle as if you enjoy eating it, then learn to cook it. There are a few fruits and vegetables that have a higher price in the supermarket, so these are also a great option if you intend to sell batches of the product or create something with those ingredients like jams, spreads, or bakes. 

Time Commitment

Because you aren’t running a giant farm, of more industrial size, you can get away with a small time commitment to your crops. A commitment of just 15 minutes a day can be enough to keep your crops free of weeds, well-fed, repotted when required. The larger your plot of land, the more time you are going to need. But it doesn’t need to eat into the time you spend on other projects. 

Start Small

Entrepreneurs are always looking for where they can grow their businesses, and micro-farms are no different. Once you have those skills in the bag, you might be looking at ways to expand your farming. How can you be an eco-friendly farmer, the minimum land you need to produce a limited number of vegetable boxes, how much a tractor will cost, and which GPI pump you’ll want to keep it running. 

But starting small means in the early days, you’ll have something that looks like this:

• Four different vegetables
• A healthy and overflowing herb patch
• Fruit-bearing bushes

Get in contact with local restaurants. Try to find those that share some of the beliefs about indie businesses, local produce, and sustainable choices—regular clients for seasonable vegetables.

Perennials

Nut trees, berry bushes, strawberries, and most herbs come back every year, making them a great choice when it comes to space usage. They are easy to maintain and depending on the size of crop you are looking to grow, and they don’t need to take up much room. 

Grow Up

If space is a premium, then think about using wall space, overhead beams, and stacked platforms. Stack Growing beds, raised gardens, and pots can all be utilized. You can even get experimental with upcycling and DIY. 

Giving Back

If you find that you have plenty, then there are other ways to make use of your produce. You can get in contact with homeless shelters, animal homes, and other charities to see if they would be able to make use of your fresh goods.

This is a contributed post.