tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579242589372209341.post5477030792542220838..comments2024-03-27T14:11:11.317-07:00Comments on Foothill Agrarian: More Thoughts on Scale and Small Farm ProfitabilityFlyingMulehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08319140214676274456noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579242589372209341.post-67575110324598882392014-09-01T14:40:58.935-07:002014-09-01T14:40:58.935-07:00I wanted to share this email from John Tecklin at ...I wanted to share this email from John Tecklin at Mountain Bounty Farm in Nevada County - wonderfully said!<br /><br />There has been a lot of hoopla recently in the farming community about the recent New York Times article titled “Don’t Let Your Children Grow up To Be Farmers.”: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/opinion/sunday/dont-let-your-children-grow-up-to-be-farmers.html. I encourage everyone to read it and the various responses and discussion out there in internet land. I'm stimulated to kick in my own two cents after reading the excellent posts by Dan Macon and Randy Oliver, two local farmers I really respect. I especially admire how Randy works together with his sons, each adding to the others successes. <br /><br />For my part I am tired of the tired cliché that farming is so hard and so hard to make financially successful. The cliché exists because it is, of course, true on many levels. However I find it unhelpful and counterproductive. Starting, running, and succeeding at any small business is very, very hard. And farming is probably harder than most because our agricultural system and economy are not set up in our favor. And we rely on the weather. But if we approach it with an “it can’t work” attitude, then why bother. Instead I prefer to focus on my passions – which luckily include seeking out new challenges, watching plants grow, eating the best food anywhere, and working together with lively folk. When I started Mountain Bounty, and for quite a few years, the financial rewards were slender, and sometimes it did feel impossible. I started with $7,000 of savings, ½ acre of rented land, a borrowed pickup truck and a few hand tools. With some persistence, a measure of good luck, and a lot of community support, we are now thriving. More than many businesses, we remain vulnerable, and who knows if we can keep it going for the longer term. Nonetheless, I remain hopeful that our talented farm crew and my family can keep supporting ourselves and our community through farming for a long time to come. I don't know yet if my boys will take to it or not. They may have to if they keep eating veggies at their current rates! Thank you all for your help along the way!<br /><br />-- <br />John Tecklin<br />Mountain Bounty Farm<br />MountainBountyFarm.com<br />(530) 615-1742Flying Mule Sheep Companyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15025902155175709402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579242589372209341.post-11075917500107808372014-08-29T13:33:05.036-07:002014-08-29T13:33:05.036-07:00Farmlink is a great resource - thanks, Liya!
Farmlink is a great resource - thanks, Liya!<br />Flying Mule Sheep Companyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15025902155175709402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579242589372209341.post-48952485724002251702014-08-29T12:04:27.744-07:002014-08-29T12:04:27.744-07:00Fantastic points you bring up, Dan! Don't forg...Fantastic points you bring up, Dan! Don't forget about California FarmLink! Our two programs assist farmers and ranchers with Access to Land and Access to Capital. Our loan program was created to fill the void for small scale, direct market, underserved and underbanked farmers that commercial lending could not serve. Learn more about our non-profit here: http://www.californiafarmlink.org/Liya Schwartzmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04069678374197476893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3579242589372209341.post-67871056105473364522014-08-28T09:57:54.409-07:002014-08-28T09:57:54.409-07:00Great post Dan!Great post Dan!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03370341000617649790noreply@blogger.com