This question of how much money can be made in intensive growing is an
interesting one.
Eliot Coleman, writing in the New Organic Grower, has the following to say:
"If you compare that [$2,000 dollar a year operating cost per acre] to the
$8,000 plus per year an efficient vegetable operation should realize, you
can see that the economics of small scale vegetable farming are promising.
If the local market permits a degree of specialization in higher-priced
crops, the income figure can be raised substantially. The subscription
program suggested in Chapter 20 offers an innovative marketing concept that
can help achieve those goals."
--p 22-23, The New Organic Grower, 1995, Eliot Coleman, Chelsea Green,
ISBN 0-930031-75-X
So if I understand what Lion Kurtz is saying, he is saying that a lower
capitalization combined with some other methods could produce, on 5 acres, a
net income of $60,000.....certainly, a high figure, but not completely
unreasonable by Coleman's placement of the bar, as Coleman is speaking of
Northeast growing, and not the relatively more benign climate that Kurtz
describes.
Those who have heaped derision on Mr. Kurtz's assertions have done so in a
patronizing and vituperative way which I feel does little to shed light on
the possibilities of profitable market gardening.
Oddly enough, or should I say predictably enough, these are also people who,
like Mr Kurtz, are appealing to would be market gardeners for an audience,
as well.
I for one would prefer to see them compete with more respect and substance,
rather than pejorative comments.
Frank Teuton
>Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 09:04:17 -0400 (EDT)
>From: "Lawrence F. London, Jr." <london@metalab.unc.edu>
>Subject: Re: Andy Lee's micro-farming critique
>
>On Thu, 6 Apr 2000, Lion Kuntz wrote:
>
>> ------Original Message------
>
>What a boon. I didn't expect such a windfall of high
>nitrogen amendment for my compost pile yet again today.
>Time to get out my heavy-duty Bulldog manure fork.
>Thanks LK for all the great poop.
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