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looking into ways the Smithy field could be best utilised has led me to the idea of market gardening. Although market gardens are not entirely new to me, I had no idea they had so much potential as sustainable and credible alternatives to large scale farming and could provide such a viable solution to the issue of food miles.
Although the plan for the Smithy field has not been fully decided, the development of an organic permaculture smallholding, or "micro-farm" is the general direction of travel. To fine tune this broad aim, I have been spending a lot of time researching models of profitable small-scale farming and the concept of market gardens, and it’s been an eye opener. One of the most fundamental questions that springs to mind when you contemplate such a business is - can you really develop a profitable farm on just a few acres of land? It seems the answer is an overwhelming Yes. In fact, the market garden model is a potentially lucrative proposition on just 0.5 -2 acres and is far more efficient than your average large-scale farm. The bio-intensive polyculture production and season extension via polytunnels ensure a small area is utilized to its maximum potential. The small size means initial land purchase costs are low and mechanism is kept to a minimum as expensive machinery such as tractors is just not required. The small scale means you reduce reliance on outside labor, and the localized nature of market gardens results in reduced transport and packaging costs and the ability to manage distribution in house. Perhaps most importantly from a revenue perspective is that you sell direct to customers and therefore receive 100% of the product value, cutting out the wholesale margins that would otherwise leave you with just 10 – 30% of the retail price. Another consideration is - who do you sell your produce to when wholesale options such as the dominant supermarkets are out of the equation? Essentially there appear to be four traditional revenue routes for market gardens:
Farmers markets
Farmers markets have been around forever and have provided the most traditional and consistent sales route for growers. Over recent years, there has been a renaissance in the concept of locally produced produce, and many villages, towns and cities now have regular farmers markets that provide an established customer base. The system is simple; you rent a stand and sell your goods to passing trade. You can develop a good regular customer base, connect with the community and do so with the minimum of overheads. A market gardener may source several markets within a geographical radius and aim to sell at these on alternate days.
Vegetable box schemes
We have enjoyed the concept of vegetable box schemes for a few decades, in which time they have grown to become national fixtures in the grocery market. The idea involves selling small, medium or large boxes of veg to local customers, usually delivered on a weekly basis, and this has been an excellent way for market gardeners to monetize their businesses and, in many ways, is synonymous with the market gardening business model.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
This is a relatively new concept in the UK and originates from France and America. Very similar to vegetable box schemes, the model relies on selling shares of the farm to customers, who in return receive a portion of the harvest that is dependent on the season’s success. Put simply, a farm capable of producing enough produce to support 100 individuals, will sell 100 shares. A family may purchase 4 shares, and an individual just 1. The food can be collected or delivered and there are various permutations on the way CSA’s can function, to include more hands-on community involvement in the growing process. Due to its longer-term subscription basis, this can provide market gardeners with increased financial security and easier planning.
Restaurants
Selling direct to restaurants can supplement the income streams above but is unlikely to be the sole source of revenue. In line with the trends already noted, British chefs have become increasingly mindful of the value of fresh, local and seasonal produce in their recipes, and a market garden could provide restaurants with a reliable supply.
After some further research it has become apparent that, not only could an acre or so of land be developed into a bio-intensive organic farm specializing in the supply of seasonal produce, this could also constitute a sound, sustainable and profitable business. Detailed examples of similar initiatives are not difficult to find, along with financial projections and business plans, and it seems there is a growing movement towards this method of food production. One of the most well-known protagonists in this movement is Jean-Martin Fortier (www.themarketgardener.com), who’s book the Market Gardener, A Successful Grower's Handbook for Small-Scale Organic Farming has provided me with a great deal of inspiration. His 1.5 acre garden grossed $150,000 a year by selling produce via CSA schemes, farmers markets and direct to restaurants. Although this is an exceptional example, Fortier’s narrative fills you with hope and positivity around this sustainable farming strategy and the idea of “replacing mass agriculture with agriculture by the masses”. In the UK, the idea of CSA’s is gathering momentum thanks in part to the CSA Network UK (www.communitysupportedagriculture.org.uk), and therefore the credibility and awareness of these schemes is growing. It is an understatement to say I am excited by the prospect of a market garden business, and feel this may be the perfect solution for the Smithy field. Therefore, the plan this year is to substantially progress the permaculture design of around 1 acre of the land in the style of a market garden, with long “no dig” permanent raised beds and polytunnels aiming to eventually make up most of the space. Towards the end of the year I will then undertake a small localised marketing campaign to try and enlist 10 subscriptions, or “shares”, in the spirit of a CSA for the supply of produce in the following year (2021). This will be a small-scale experimental year with produce offered at a discounted cost to reflect the risk, and will give me the opportunity to adapt, understand the business, and learn about the land in preparation for tripling production (and shares) in the following year. Ultimately, the aim would be to maintain around 80 shares within a 10 mile radius at around £40 per share per month, which will be portioned into small (1 share), medium (1.5 shares) and large (2 shares) vegetable and fruit boxes, and to produce this on 1.5 - 2 acres. The model may also include open days to allow members to participate in the growing and harvesting process, as well as the potential to donate shares or excess produce to the less well off. Food for thought!
Some examples of market garden CSA projects:
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