The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: claire123 on March 29, 2013, 11:25:21 pm
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Hi
Does anyone have any ideas of a small business i can set up on my land? I have to have a business running on there,I have four acres of land and at the moment i have 2 mini shetties and a pony and 2 goats on land Any ideas would be great Thanks Claire
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Whatever you do has to be something you enjoy doing so what would you like to do? Grow veges? Plant fruit trees and either sell the fruit or juice or cider? Or other trees for wood? Grow flowers to sell? Breed poultry or other livestock? Sell eggs? Can you craft something? Work with wool? Willow? Bees for honey or wax products? To be honest, the list is pretty endless. Does the business need to support you or can it just make a little money (the latter is much easier!)? Is it just a condition of having the land? What other facilities do you have there? How long is a piece of string?
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Pick your own soft fruit is always popular , but expect them to eat more than they carry to the checkout. :innocent:
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That is true. Depends on the location of course. I rember in my home village about 20 years ago a young couple bought 4 acres. The neighbours sneered - no way one could make a business of 4 acres. They worked hard - still do- Put in various fruit for self pick. Second quality is made into jam. Added home-made cakes to the concept. Icecream to eat with the fruit. Then a coffee shop was also needed. A great concern and great people.
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whatever you do it will need you to add value to your product in some way. whatever you grow you will need to make it into something that is worth more than just selling what the land produces.
How much money are you trying to create in a year -- that would help the thought process a bit.
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There is quite a strong market for non-halal goat meat currently, I am being asked where people can buy it all the time.
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See if you can rent it out per hour to dog agility clubs etc, provide storage for their equipment?
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depending on how big your neighbourhood is..what about takeaway roast dinners .PORK, CHICKEN, & BEEF..all could be served in a 9 inch Yorkshire pudding.. can you imagine if you grew all the veg..and reared the meat... I would say they would be the best roast dinners around..as for packaging..(Pizza box's) gravy could be packed in those little cups, like the chinese takeaway uses ... £5 a meal
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Got to be something you not only enjoy but are passionate about. Native rare breeds is our thing and when we started with our Southdowns our neighbouring farmer thought we were, well, barmy. Now we sell ewe lambs, sell and hire out rams and have a wait list for this year's crop. Similar thing happened with our large, soft-feathered poultry and Narragansett turkeys, followed by the rarest female bloodline of GOS pigs .....
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If it's to get permission to live there you'll be hard pressed to find a living from 4 acres and get the go ahead from the council.
People have tried Alpacas, Llamas and turkeys where by you need to be there to look after them.
To be honest on that amount of ground the only thing that will make you money is cannabis :roflanim:
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Take a look at this site it give 8 ideas for small scale agri businesses and shows that there is money to be made on small acres.
http://www.ecologicalland.coop/projects-small-successful (http://www.ecologicalland.coop/projects-small-successful)
Hopefully this will give you an idea just follow the links to read about the different businesses
Tala
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Great link, thanks!
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I think you need to sit and think a bit then come back and ask the question again with a bit of background. What would be the purpose of the business? Make a living? Self sufficiency? To satisfy occupancy conditions? Lifestyle choice? A lot will depend on what you're prepared to put in and what you expect to get out. If you're looking for an easy answer you'll be waiting a long time.
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I was thinking similar to Alister but it depends on where you are, also, Lavender is a big money growing crop in Australia, either grow something with a high value or...you could always rent it out to those people who love to ride around dressed as a horse and pulling some one!!! Make it an assault course or training ground for humans, if you make it hilly and dippy you could have off road bike track, gun clay pigeon range or archery, and Oh, a ridding school maybe good if you are near bridle paths!!!!!
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You should start a business with your own ideas and not other peoples' Do something you are familiar with and know a good bit about.
Set out a business plan, do risk assessments if you intend having people on your own land and take out insurance.
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But we all need help with ideas sometimes :innocent:
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I have lost count of the number of businesses I have tried to help over the years that were founded on what seemed to be 'oideas' The best idea is the one you know about - or learn a lot about before launching time and money into a project. Sorry if I seem too practical - I am!
List your hobbies and see if they could be attractive to prospective purchasers (either a service you can provide or goods you can make)
List your strengths and weaknesses so you can see in advance where you could improve.
There is no way for instance that I could run a B & B as I like being free to come and go from my home as I please, and I HATE housework!
I am good at accounts because I enjoy numbers and love playing with spreadsheets. I made a good auditor as I am naturally suspicious and can spot outliers.
Can you see what I mean? :eyelashes: HesterF has the right idea.
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Thank you for all your comments :) youve all given me a lot to think about xx
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A lot also depends on where your plot is....If its at the end of a long dusty farm track then direct sales is not as easy as a plot with in walking distance of parking and people.
Near me a café would be great (but I cant be bothered with the hassle)
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Good point that just came to me is research...know what would fit in and what suits that location..how you would market the business and the produce etc......... I love hearing others ideas as they inspire me......, not sure quinoa ( or something ) ?would grow on the 4 acres but that's a crop that's hit the high selling stakes, a new super food....Ideas and inspiration from other people are what help make life more exciting :thumbsup:
Just checked, it is quinola. :thumbsup:
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Personally I think it helps to hear others ideas, just for inspiration if nothing else.
For me, it was a case of what we had here in abundance and finding an outlet to make use of it - plum wine and soap it was then ;)
It does need to be something you enjoy doing, something you can feel passionate about and something that there is a gap in the market for though or it could just become an expensive hobby.
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you still didnt answer how money much you need to make from your land - there is a big difference between trying to cover the land cost and making a decent living.
if you were to set aside a small area (one quarter of an acre) for soft fruit and tree fruit(plum / apricots etc) - you could make speciality products - I find that strawberrry and rhubarb jam is popular and also there is quite a demand for Gooseberry jam too.
This isnt the total solution but its an easy one! Should contribute about a 1000 to your income ( should cover the land costs at least).
A small plant nursery might provide part of your income too.
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nowadays, most small buisness models that prove succesful all seem to be based around finding a niche market for a high value product. i agree with what doganjo says, find something you love first, then see if you can turn it into a product or service that adds value to be profitable, ideally, if you are responsible for the supply of your own raw materials, you can cut out any reliance on other people.
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I have always been taught NOT to have a business using something you are passionate about because your passion gets in the way of the business decisions that are required.
A mechanic who loves repairing cars is not the best person to run a garage.
The business should fund the passion!
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well, it definitely works for me!!
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Me too. Running an ethical business based on what I believe to be right seems to be working and I do believe that you do a better job if you enjoy your work.
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For some people the challenge of doing something new is enjoyable, however , we are all different.
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for me its the difference between a hobby business and a serious attempt at making money - you are absolutely right at the hobby end of the scale
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And you know that how exactly? :)
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eh?
my hobby keeps me fully employed on a fair tradesmans rate, and two other tradesmen. just got a new van, keeps a workshop running full time, business due to turn 150k this financial yr.
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for me its the difference between a hobby business and a serious attempt at making money - you are absolutely right at the hobby end of the scale
Seems to me DitW is doing something right. :innocent: :eyelashes:
Just had a thought - specialising in growing things - how about learning about herbs and setting up a herb garden - you could sell pots of herbs - alone or grouped together in a mini garden, herb wheels, jars of herb seeds, olive oil with herbs, tours round your herb garden explaining what each herb is for etc etc :excited: :excited: :excited:
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Now I love that Idea Anne, and its very current!!
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yes but its a saturated market.
the best herb business ive seen was selling fresh, in packets for a £. they flew out of the door. but you have to watch the shrinkage. and required a polytunnel to keep it going out of season which is where the skill lies.
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How is the market for herbal remedies now? I get the impression it's a growing demand - both for people and animals - but it may be just that I'm more aware of it. And I have no idea what the supply is like. I also miss being able to buy a really good range of frozen herbs. You can buy parsley, basil and chives and that's about it. A very niche market though and those who are really passionate about herbs will grow their own.
H
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I'm my original post I mentioned that in Australia Lavender growing is huge, my daughter is a cosmetic scientist and Lavender products are used widely in many products, growing it brings in huge incomes to match!!
There must be similar high value herbs and spices :innocent:
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eh?
my hobby keeps me fully employed on a fair tradesmans rate, and two other tradesmen. just got a new van, keeps a workshop running full time, business due to turn 150k this financial yr.
apologies for a slight detour for your thread but i feel the need to answer..
DitW - turnover isnt the interesting figure in a business - profit is - if you employed a few people and made yourself 50k plus then that would start to take you away from a hobby business.
My point is that even though you enjoy what you do and it sounds like you make a few bob doesnt make it a scalable business because it probably depends on your skills and there will only ever be one of you.
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well considering ive only been in this for a year properly and my bank manager has offered me finance adn im due to take on another 2 employees in the next 4 months. it would seem that it is scalable. in fact i have an order book stretching to 4 yrs worth now.
all built from what was basically a hobby.
it can be done. i know lots of others doing it...
you need to find a niche that fits your life and you find satisying and can add value to.
im happy to know that the personal profit will come. as is my accountant.
the thing is, the market has changed. the new growth in this economy will not come from large enterprise, that has had its day.
if turnover isnt the interesting figure, how come tescos only make 4%? when im making 15% even with a fairly high capital outlay for equipment, vehicles etc..
id prefer 4% of 200? billion to 15% of 150k.
turnover is everything.
maybe you need a new business advisor?
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Jeez - your bell gets rattled easily?
There are exceptions to everything - there is sense in what I said but I didnt quote it as the LAW.
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What about turning some of the land over to growing cider apples. I knew someone who did that and found there were good returns for little work.
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great compost.....
not often no, but tis one of them nights. im sorry if i offended.
but the argument stands. that it is entirely and feasibly possible to take an interest or a hobby and turn it inot a scalable business.
of course there is logic in what u say but we're talking about working off an area of land. and it is possible to be succesful if its done right. being succesful doesnt mean its an exception.
one friend of mine, has slowly built up a cracking business from one medium polytunnel, to 3 and is dojng great selling herbs at £1 a pack.
one of my clients has 80head of dairy and adds value by making icecream, built from just a few head.
look at river cottage, look at any of those kind of succesful businesses. look at jimmys farm.
the estate where i live have done it.
the model has changed.
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Hi Thank you everone for your ideas , Im not wanting to start a buisness to pay for up keep of land its just ive always wanted to start my own buisness and the time sems right for me, I love my goats but dont think i could breed for meat , Would like to have a go at soap making and love the idea of herbs Thank you all again :) x
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Hi Forgot to say my plot is down a lane off the main road situated in a small village , Ive got 2 livery yards near me and a fishing lake rest is farmers fields x
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Good luck, whatever you decide, Claire. My second husband had the idea of a herb garden, just didn't get round to it in time. :'(
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Might do well using the space for second hand rotorvators and parts, or other stuff. The good old junk shop is doing well over here. Brocante they call it.
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There are some herbs that are legal to grow but give people the same high as non legal ones...always a market for something like that!!!!
I also think along the lines of min input, max outcome......
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How about this?
(http://i1200.photobucket.com/albums/bb334/kcooper2011/c1_zps68e055dc.jpg)
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:thumbsup: , wonderful. ...
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Theres some really good ideas on here and it will be interesting to know what you decide :)
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Lots of people use some of theeir property and buildings to run internet businesses stating a four or fivere working day turnaround for thinsgs like books , 1960's stuff and earlier cult things , Cd's records , cheap costume jewlery .
Before I got crippled for the second time we sdecided to make a business out of selling small mammals to the pet trade in bulk.
I started off with £600 and two female hamsters and one male sold locally to start with and aftr several years the wholesalers were sending their collectors to me .
Getting zapped in my day job killed it dead as I couldn't stand up for the best part of 18 months .
We had by then two shed full foam insulated with power and water , doublew width doors capable of taking in a fork lift truck and fuly floated smooth floors .
Toyed with the idea of a specialist book shop when I could eventually walk 50 mtrs but realized it was too much for me so sold up for much more than I ever expected and moved into a tiny bungalow in a city managed to get that in order then three years or so later sold up and moved to here in a place that had been unocupied for a couple of years .
Due to the money made from the sale of the earlier bungalow & our various busineses I was able to buy this place out righth and still have a decent wad of dosh in th bank for another internetbased busines.
We made a fair living out of that but I have finally retired to do my squarefoot gardening as & when the disabilities allow . All this time my wife has run a self employed internet based business for the last 12 years it gives us " the nice things " in life after the bills have been paid.
Out lay for an internet busines can be almost self financing after the first hundred pounds or so... there are many outlets where you can buy crates of goods at a time ..usually from house clearance people.
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And there are still a number of companies who will dropship so you don't need to keep stock :excited:
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A friend of mine used to buy any clothing and punk them up with zips etc and make a lovely bit of profit, she had been a machinist so was skilled at putting in zips, not sure if she is still going but that suited her.
I think there are some great ideas on here, best advice is min in max out!