Sounds like there are lots of ways to make money off of a farm , BUT do any of you actually do it? I mean making a 100%living off of your farm . I've come to believe that this just isn't possible .....which is why I got a job that pays so my husband can continue being a farmer.PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG!!!

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), July 04, 2000

Answers

We have been farming for only 4 years, so no we don't make any money off this farm. We didn't borrow a ton of money to start off full scale and have been building. Hope to see some money next year when we finally get some calves out of our cows. Our daughter hasn't been doing too badly with her sheep, but she needs to grow her herd to make it better.

Both my husband and I work full-time off the farm and it really isn't working, so we are re-thinking things. See my thread on selling this farm.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 04, 2000.

kelly, I have been researching this for several years after trying my hand at conventional farming (cash rent, intensive row-cropping with chemicals, etc., etc.) and pretty much failing. The two best resources I have found on this subject are two authors: Joel Salatin Booker T. Whatley Whatley's book is called How to Make $100,000 Farming 25 Acres Salatin's books are: You Can Farm Salad Bar Beef Pastured Poultry Profits You can get Salatin's books from Amazon.com, but I had to search a long time to get Whatley's book, but it was worth it. The American Botanist Booksellers is where I found it, but I don't have their address. I wish I would've had these 12 years ago but Salatin's weren't around then. GL!!

-- dave (IA) (tidman@midiowa.net), July 04, 2000.

We don't make a total living off our farm---but we are working on it!

I am a newspaper reporter for two newspapers (and have been for 20 years) and have always had a home office. I send articles to one paper computer-to-computer (not via the net) and fax many to the other via computer...I usually don't have to go in to either paper unless it is to take photos to them...I do have to leave the farm to cover court, governmental meetings etc.

Husband has only in the past month started a handyman business based here at home and it is going well.

This year we've got our biggest garden ever and we're producing a greet deal of the food we eat.

We've just started raising Angora rabbits this year and hope to have Angora goats soon. Also hope to soon have a milk cow and chickens to lay eggs.

We're still kind of new at this homesteading thing....about the last decade we've really been getting into it...but we've learned so much!!!

We're trying to be as self-sufficient as possible and I've learned to can and freeze and dry a large percentage of our food.

We still have plans and more things we'd like to do.

I'll be watching to see how others are making their living on their farms!

(I used to teach piano and guitar lessons here so that was a way to generate additional income but I don't do that any more.)

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), July 04, 2000.

Most enterprises I've tried were a little profit and a bunch of work. I sawmilled for a while. Made some bucks but you can't do it by yourself and I like to work alone as much as possible. So I spent all my savings to start a small grade A dairy 12 years ago and have to say it has made more for me than I ever did working a 40 hr week in town. It has it's ups and downs. Your tied to it. But its just you and the cows. I built everthing myself. Cleared the overgrown pastures on a neglected old hilly Ozarks farm. Built a concrete block barn for $5000 and bought 8 cows, all cash. As profits were made added cows and land without debt. Now at 250 acres and 45 cows. Secret--- no debt. It will kill fast in the hard times. Also used the sawmill for all building projects, so could put up a building for nails and roofing. Don

-- Don (dairyagri@yahoo.com), July 04, 2000.

If you are asking if we make all of our money on the farm with animals or produce etc. No. That would be tuff to do. But neither my Husband nor I work for other folks. I raise goats and sew, (and if you can sew, have you ever thought of sewing scrubs? Give a few of your outfits to someone who works at a hospital, and the orders will pour in!) And Husband owns/operates Handyman Services. But the farm allows us to maintain the lifestyle that we want for the money. We simply could not have all we have here, in the city. Once the basics are paid for you can choose whether to work the rest of the month or just take a few jobs. If we are saving for a purchase we may decide to work Saturdays. Course the goats are work 24/7! And the kids! And the house! And..............Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), July 04, 2000.

Does anyone out there have WebTV? I'm feeling very stupid, 'cause I can't figure out how to change the subject title for a new thread. I'm on several Lists, but this is the first I've seen set up this way. All I can do is respond to threads that are already here. When I got this forum in e-mail, hitting 'reply' brought up the author of the post, not this forum. One nice lady tried to help, but she's got a 'real' 'puter!

I sent a note to the fella who heads up the forum, but he told about everything but what I wanted to know!! Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

~Rogo rogo2020@yahoo.com

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 04, 2000.

Rogo: When you get to the forum main menu click on the "ask a question" and you'll start a new thread.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), July 04, 2000.

To all (Forum and Private) who helped this dummy find the answer to starting a new thread T H A N K S!!! Don't have one at the present time, but at least I know what to do!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 04, 2000.

Ok so Don is doing it!!!That is great. Are you single or have attachments to look after (kids- and I don't mean goats!!). We can get by on our farm but that is it.... no $$$$ for improvements. We are debt free which is nice , but thinking about taking out a loan (ARRGG!!) so we can fix up the house a bit and really do our bed and breakfast thing. I figure if I just half to work part-time then I have reached my goal. We make money from the lambs and cheese and ricotta and bread . Bread is a year round thing but the rest is seasonal. We also get quite a bit of money from govt. subsities, which is OK but nothing to rely on as sooner or later they will be cut off .... and besides I hate having too depend on them - I would rather have them as an extra. What is the govt. subsity situation in the States? For the people that are trying too make a 100% living off of their farm , do you think this will ever be possible?

-- kelly (kellytree@hotmail.com), July 05, 2000.

I'm making a living but I'm using about 22 farms to do it. I'm leasing older farms from elderly and abandonded properties. I would go broke on my land alone and I still need my spouses income for survival. So, I guess the answer is "not really" but I'm giving it one heck of a try ! GL

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), July 05, 2000.

We aren't yet, hope to in the future, but definitely agree with Don that the secret is "NO DEBT" and do everything yourself that you can. And stay off the grid if at all possible. Do everything you can to minimize the money going out, and maximize what's coming in.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 05, 2000.

No, not anymore. Once upon a time, back about 30 years ago we did scratch out a living when we had no children. We did have to take "odd" jobs when major purchases were impending...then there is the question of medical insurance and that is where our career as "homesteading farmers" came to an end. It only takes one accident or major surgery to put you back into the workforce and out of the fields. If you have your health, a great plan, not a lot of responsibilities/debts you may make it after about 4-6 years of establishing yourself. Not very optimistic, I know, but unless you've got some money socked away to carry you for a few years or inherit a paid-for operating farm, it would be mighty hard, not impossible, but pretty tough...otherwise, it turns into just another a stressful job, and I guess I've already got one of those, with benefits. So, I prefer to keep my farming as an "extra sideline", hobby, and future, post retirement, way to make some extra $$. Truly, I farm for the love of it and don't want to get into a position of making it into a job again...takes the fun right out it for me. Just my opinion.

-- Jim Roberts (jroberts1@cas.org), July 05, 2000.

I have been a full-time cattle farmer since taking early retirement at age 47. Haven't made any money at it yet, and don't expect to. Fortunately I have the retirement income (and excellent health care package), prior investments and do odd-jobs for pocket money, such as hauling cattle and hay and selling through eBay and a consignment shop. Problem with the latter two is in the last couple of years people have jacked auction prices up to where I can't buy and resell for a nice profit. I'm really not the hit the weekend yard sales type, but my neighbor has found some very profitable items there. I'm doing this because it is something I love, rather than for it to be profitable.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 06, 2000.

I'm new to homesteading, but I think if I were to try to make a living off the thing, I'd probably fail, so I'm just trying to make a life. When we got our first duck egg, I came running in to my husband all excited, "Honey, look! It's the most expensive egg in the world!!"

-- snoozy (allen@oz.net), July 06, 2000.

We are going into year four this summer on our farm. It looks like we just may make a profit for the first time. Not from our livestock (we are at the mercy of market prices) but from selling hay, especially the first crop which is desirable for horses. Now we don't even own a tractor yet, but my husband has worked two summers with a dairy farmer just for hay for our own animals. First summer he had someone offer him a 25 acre hayfield to mow so they wouldn't have to hire a landscaper. The next year we fertilized it ($300.00) and doubled our yield. We picked up another 40 acre field this year (same deal) and hope to pick up a few more fields. Now the only reason we were able to do this is because Bill is retired from the army and I take a job from time to time to catch up a bill or two as well as selling some of our own small farm products. Once our feed is in, all extra is for sale. This works extremely well for all of us. The farmer has reliable help who doesn't destroy his equipment and we get hay and use of the equipment for our fields as well as a first rate education on dairy and hay production. I guess the most important thing is to keep all costs down, look at the opprtunities in your area and get a little creative. Oh yes, and don't give up faith.

-- Anne Tower (bbill@wtvl.net), July 07, 2000.

Kelly,

My wife and I read your entry and can relate. We don't believe it's possible to make a "100% living" off a homestead farm either. But, I ask you, would you really want to live like an amish or old fashion farmer? After all, this is the 21st century, to consider success on a farm or homestead, look at it from that perspective. Commercial farming operations are making it more difficult for smaller operations and small farmers are resorting to technology to compete. As modern homesteaders we also need to look at it from a modern perspective. My thought of a successful farm is one where I can grow my own produce for feeding my family and selling at the local farmer's market for "get ahead" money and a computer room and office where i can invest or run a home based business. All this being done on my own terms with ultimate responsibility in my hands. When you are in control of all operations then you will be making that "100% income". My wife and I are doing just as you are. She gardens, I work, however I no longer fear failure or being layed off and our dreams of self sufficiancy are now 2 years within our reach. So consider your options, and reach for them and with a new perspective you will find them right in your palm. Good Luck.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair@yahoo.com), July 10, 2000.

sorry, kelly, i'm not going to prove you wrong either... although i think that it could be possible, it would require an awful lot of work, a bunch of seed money and a really good plan... we didn't really get into this lifestyle for that reason. we just want to be able to enjoy good food, fresh air, privacy, and we wanted to be able to build our own home, the way we wanted it. we want to be able to stay out of debt. it doesn't seem like any of our city friends are able to do any of those things. i work in a hardware store in town, and i really like it. the money isn't great, but i don't really need that much money. (though i'm sure i could find some use for it!) the best part of this is that we are able to do what we like to do. if i had to worry about trying to make a living off of our land, i think i'd go nuts! that'd be a lot of work.... john

-- john houser (farmrjon@juno.com), July 10, 2000.

We've been at it for six years in Oct. Haven't made it yet. But we'er working at it. We might show a small profit this year,on hogs. We went into this for a better life not ease. I work at a sawmill full time. I get lumber cheap, which helps. My wife stays home with kids and animals. IT's not fair, but we're working together. Try to stay debt free.

-- Anthony Hobert (hobert7@ekyol.com), July 10, 2000.

Anthony, just curious, to whom is it not fair? To you, having to be away from home all day? Or to your wife, having to be at home all day and with most of the chores falling on her shoulders? (I'm not taking sides here, just curious!!)

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 11, 2000.

In answer to your question, YES! We DO make a living "off our farm" because we can't make a living ON it!!! LOL! Wish we could, though!

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), July 11, 2000.

I have had a 32 acre farm since 1986. Yes, you can make a living on a small farm depending upon just how hard you want to work and be tied down. Let me explain: I raised show horses, bred horse, ran a boarding/breeding operation, taught riding lessons 6.5 days per week at odd hours (all dependant upon the lesson takers hours) and started young stock, rode broncy stock, and in eight years I did make money. Also in eight years, I found out the following: I did not like working from 4:30 am until 9:00 pm seven days per week, I did not like teaching kids who had no interest in riding and were only coming because it was the "in" thing to do; I did not like having constant visitors to my farm leaving gates open, bringing dogs who chased my foals and cats, (no matter how many times you tell some people no, they believe that if they pay for a service, they can tell you what to do. I had people abandon horses for back board, I had people run up horrendous vet/farrier bills and just leave, and I had people send me horses that needed "tuning" up, just to find out that the horse hadn't been riden in five years. Barn help was always hard to find and keep, even paying 8.00 an hour and giving weekends off. The good things I learned: yes I can make a living at running this kind of business, I met some really wonderful people and rode some of the best horses, and I got to do what I really wanted to do for a long period of time and my daughters were with me every day. Would I do it again? No. I am older now and figured out that even though I made money, the salary actually was less than minimum wage. So now I work off the farm, make enough to keep up all the horses, goats, and other critters, and put away some for retirement which I plan to do in about five years. Would I advise anyone else to try to make a living off their farm - yes, cause if you don't, you'll always wonder if you could have.

-- Cindy Lawson (colawson@mindspring.com), October 21, 2000.

Well, I always dreamed of being a farmer, my view from my window growing up was a brick wall of the building next to mine. I dreamed of being in the fields and working hard and making an honest days pay. I ended up working for big fortune 500 companies sitting behind a desk and arguing with people in meetings. I was accually thinking about giving it all up. Running away from this people infested city quiting this crappy job sitting in meetings all day. Take my family into the country a be a farmer, LOL, thanks for changing my mind!!!! Looks like I will always be a City Boy, Sometimes dreams should be just that, Dreams! Gota go, time for another meeting!!

-- City Boy (dambrose@arrow.com), March 13, 2002.