Small-Scale Farming

Heritage turkey eggs as a niche product

Editors — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 16:11:15 +0000

TRENDS: Heritage turkey eggs may delight your customers, as a growing number of people are seeking edible eggs from unique birds. The very exotic such as emu and ostrich may be beyond your capacity, but consider eggs from heritage turkeys. Speckled turkey eggs are about one and a half times larger than chicken eggs.

At the Center for the Micro Eco-Farming Movement we’re working on a full-length how-to article on the topic. Stay tuned!

Chickens and agritourism: Very unique possibility

Editors — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:54:59 +0000

AGRITOURISM — TRENDS: The age-old farming advice to not become affectionate with animals meant for slaughter still holds true. But as rural revival and backyard chickens continue to grow in popularity, farmers are adapting and making informed choices as to when that rule can be broken.

Certain animals used for hand milking and egg-laying, for example, are purposely tamed for handling purposes, and even trained further to attract customers to the farm. This also builds respect for farming and the animals involved with awareness for the intelligence of some animals such as chickens who have bad reputations for being “dumb.” A trend for training chickens “tricks” (full report by clicking ‘training chickens’ link) has also evolved into a method allowing their owners to get them to come to the coop on demand, and to attract farm visitors with other entertaining antics. — www.microecofarming.com

Agritourism ideas: Two interesting approaches

Editors — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 17:43:57 +0000

AGRITOURISM – TRENDS: A vineyard in the Pacific Northwest takes wine tasters on snowshoeing tours through the snowy landscape in winter. It’s an easy skill to learn, and to pass on quickly to farm visitors. Investment would include a few pairs of snowshoes, free lessons from the snowshoe outlet if the skill is new to you, and an appointment with your attorney about liability insurance and/or waivers for guests to sign.

Near the same area, a rural landowner has obtained unwanted old train cars including a kaboose, gradually refurbished them, and now offers them as a unique bed and breakfast destination. Those who want to explore the idea of a rural bed and breakfast business don’t necessarily need restored Victorian country mansions to do so. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com

Goat dairies, great use for surplus male goats

Editors — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 19:42:34 +0000

TRENDS – We are interviewing Amaltheia Dairy for AcresUSA and came across this video of one of the owners, Susan, describing their full circle farm and how they humanely handle surplus male goats. Enjoy. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com

Neat CSA idea from Maine

Editors — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 16:07:38 +0000

TRENDS — In Belfast, Maine, bankers have created a fee-free CSA savings account similar to a Christmas Club savings account. Customers can add small regular or occasional amounts to the account anytime throughout the year to make it easier to build up to the full preseason upfront fee to pay their CSA farmer. It’s a great advantage for most CSA farmers to receive the full year’s fee well in advance of the coming season. — www.microecofarming.com

Learning sustainable small-scale farming

Editors — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:27:51 +0000

AGRITOURISM -TRENDS: Want to get immersed in learning sustainable farming, permaculture, and regenerative community? We’ve recently affiliated with Common Circle Education. With CCE you can learn sustainable farming and permaculture in multiple ways including workshops and bicycle tours across the country that stop at successful small-scale eco-farms and communities. Bicycle tours are suited for beginning and intermediate cyclists. Check out what they have to offer those interested in sustainable local farming and permaculture. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com

Pumpkin Farm Partnership with Nearby Parks & Rec

Editors — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 01:25:46 +0000

AGRITOURISM, MARKETING, TRENDS — Here’s a fun example of autumn agritourism marketing for your farm. The Anacortes Parks and Recreation department is holding a pumpkin carving pizza party for an $8.00 fee, and with registration, participants receive a voucher for a free pumpkin 15 pounds or less from Schuh Farms, a nearby farm that sells pumpkins, ornamental gourds, ornamental corn, and other seasonal products.

Studies show that many people who come for one pumpkin end up buying more once they see what’s available. And the city catalog that describes the farm and their partnership with it goes out to every resident of Anacortes, meaning the Schuh Farms name is promoted to a lot of people for free. Registration for the pumpkin carving workshop is limited, so the farm doesn’t have to be concerned with too many vouchers. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com.

Fun farmers’ market promotion idea

Editors — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 20:05:40 +0000

MARKETING — Our own local farmers’ market is having an official “Ride your Bike to the Market Day” Saturday event to help draw attention to the market and promote the good will of encouraging people to exercise and protect the environment.

The event includes a parade that starts at 10:30 a.m. in a park several blocks from the market, which includes contests for best decorated bicycle. Community volunteers included owners of a local bike shop who greet riders when they arrive at the market and answer any bike safety or maintenance questions they have, along with providing free local bike maps.

The local newspaper picked the story up, put it on the front page, and both the farmers’ market and bike shop benefited from the positive exposure. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com

Deadline fast approaching: Farming grant for farmers’ markets / roadside stands / CSAs

Editors — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:19:45 +0000

MICRO ECO-BUSINESS: The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has approximately $10 million available in competitive grant funds in fiscal year 2011 to be awarded through the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program (FMPP).

AMS will competitively award grants to projects that develop producer-to-consumer market outlets, including but not limited to farmers’ markets, community supported agriculture, and road-side stands. Complete applications must be received by July 1, 2011. — www.MicroEcoFarming.com

Fun agritourism idea

Editors — Sun, 01 May 2011 16:08:40 +0000

AGRITOURISM: A poultry club in Washington State earned income and drew attention to its ag-projects by putting on a chicken coop tour.

Local farms and backyards were open on the day of the event to show their various chicken coops, enclosures, and other creative ways of raising chickens.

Owners of the chicken coops were on hand to talk with the public. The tour was self-guided, and the club members sold tickets via local farm and garden stores for $10 each, with a map provided with each ticket.
— www.MicroEcoFarming.com