Sustainable farms are the future of agriculture–not only because of their positive impact on the environment, but also due to the new and growing market for them. Young people are increasingly aware of their role in protecting the planet, and will likely turn to these businesses more than ever in the years to come.
This doesn’t mean you’ll be able to start such a business with instant profits right away, however. It will still take quite a bit of trial and error, but understanding the basics will help.
Location
The most important feature of the farm is its location. When purchasing your land, most of your payments will go towards securing a location. The quality of your soil should be a main concern, but there are other factors to consider. Infrastructure is equally vital, affecting the cost of transportation and machinery you’ll need to deal with.
Choosing Crops
Planning what to grow is another crucial step. You should have a specific plan that will determine not only how much you get paid, but how your soil will react to the planting. It is important that crops be rotated based on what they do to the soil and its nutrients.
Understanding the Market
You’ll need to know who your customers are. There is a market for those who care about how food is made, and you should tap into that market as much as possible. However, this must be a planned, organized venture.
Firstly, you should establish relationships with veterans of the field, who present valuable infrastructure. These include local farmers markets, local restaurants, and other bigger farms and NGOs committed to working in sustainable ways.
Resources
You will need resources as a business working in sustainable agriculture. Sustainable farms can’t use chemicals or other artificial components used by traditional farms. Your biggest expense in this regard will likely be the mulch and compost used in place of artificial fertilizer. This could be made at your own farm, or you may need to purchase from elsewhere. This is an extra expense to consider.
Marketing
It’s often overlooked how important it is to market a small farm. Small farms should start marketing itself via local social media as soon as possible–as a place to get food, not just “produce”. While technically the same thing, wording is important to connect with audiences on different levels.
You should also make sure that you have a working relationship with local restaurants and farmers markets. The “farm-to-table” approach will help you find customers in the “working mom” and “homemaker” niches, among others.
Be Patient
In the end, it is important to be armed with patience to see yourself through as a successful farmer. Farming takes time, and there are often downsides and mishaps. You should prepare for these financially as well as mentally. You can’t let a few setbacks get you down about the future of your farm.
Conclusion
There is definitely money to be made in sustainable agriculture, but the main attraction of the industry is how you care for the environment, and your impact upon it. It is not a charitable venture, however. To succeed, you must be familiar with the process of running a sustainable farm, and possible setbacks that may arise.