After the fiasco going on with my allotments and a windfall heading my way I've started dreaming...
I'd like to buy some land 5-20 acres of farming land and start a market garden... sell on local farmers markets to start with but the dreams get bigger and bigger and I think I've outgrown the 20 acres in my mind already (it did start at 5acres only a couple of hours ago!) LOL.
Does anyone know how easy/hard it would be to do it? I'm not after anything with buildings or even permission. The way i see it if i invest in land (reality my money will prob go on a car if i dont invest it somewhere)... even if i do nothing with it, the land would hold its value at least.... but I'd really like to start my own business and eventually give up work...
Dreamin!!!!!!!!!!!!
As someone who is following her dream, I say go for it! ;D I don't know enough about the farmer market side of things and/or growing stuff (I'm a newbie!) to have specific advice.
Having some funds is always a good thing, so remember to keep some aside. When I started out I allocated a certain amount of money to live on for a year, with the idea that I would be earning *something* so that money would probably last longer. But it gave me the buffer to put a lot of energy into the new business. (The money lasted 2 years, btw.) I also put some into premium bonds (chance of winning, but instant access if you need it) as my tax money for the end of the year. An ISA would serve the purpose too. Business-wise, if you're just a sole trader (not incorporated or employees or anything) then you can operate a small business out of your personal bank account too, just keep all your receipts etc. Just keeps things a little simpler when you're starting out. (And you can be employed and self-employed at the same time, so don't worry about that.)
Think laterally too. Once up and running perhaps supplying a local restaurant or shops with some produce? Maybe a small, very local organic delivery service? I'm trying to think small and manageable. Those can also be things that you can advertise as additional services at any markets you might do - you never know who'll come along to those things! :)
Tina.
Dreamin too.
I have been thinking about market gardening but as i live in the south east buying land is almost impossible.Where ever there is spare land houses are built.
My original plan was to run a serviced allotments company.Where i have say 100/200 small veggie gardens all in the same location and grow whatever each customer wants.then the customer picks their veggie fresh from the ground and pays a premium for the privilege to me of course.
Sounds a big mad but you never know.
Doesn't help with your dream though
:)
awww thanks for the messages. I mentioned the idea to my mum and even she thought it was great. OH is still at the hmmmmmmmmm stage. I would have to work for the first year whilst i got it going but as i work in a school i would have plenty of holidays to work on the land too. OH would continue to work so we would have an income and i could give up employment when it was the right time.
My windfall isnt that big but big enough for a deposit on land - hopefully would beable to get a small loan but cross that bridge when i come to it.
in the meantime i'm just planning in my head. I'd like to run a free kids club at weekends for children to get involved... maybe run courses in the future for beginners... sell plants and unusual veg. I'm sure there would be ways to tap into european community funding too once it is up and running.
Follow your dreams gal, always,if you stop following them you might as well depart.
Go for it !!
XX Jeannine
don't know if it's still going, olive, when we started, we were given a grant..only 40.00 per week each, from the enterprise allowance people, local council, I think..they run courses as well, book keeping etc..al you need is an idea..just a thought, good luck ;D
Quote from: OliveOil on April 10, 2007, 17:00:58
but I'd really like to start my own business and eventually give up work...
A bit of a contradiction, You will be looking forward to a leap year so you can have a day off.
Go for it, Olive Oil! Read what Jeannine said - then read it again.
If your dream is within reach grab it with both hands and don't let it go. That way you won't spend the rest of your life saying 'if only...........'
Wishing you good luck and success - in whatever you decide to do. :)
Olive, sounds like a lovely dream, and no reason why it can't work out. Timelady's advice is really sound i think ( and useful to me and OH who are considering starting up own biz. (he's a gasman) I never knew you could be employed and self employed at the same time!
Loads of people buy veg boxes and honey etc from farmers markets and supporting local growers very much the rage at the mo. I guess you have to think, what would you do if you had a really bad year where loads of stuff failed to grow, or got eaten by beasties or all your toms got blight. Would you be able to get through any disasters financially and keep your business running? Not doom mongering, just thinking out loud. Either way, sounds brilliant. 8)
ACE's comment made me think it's worth repeating... remember that you will work MORE when you work for yourself. Much more. My allotment is my treat now :) and I'm lucky if I can get there 3 times a week. I usually get a whole day off about once every couple weeks. Also, once your hobby/love/pastime becomes your job it's very different! It's a responsibility, you MUST do it, and sometimes you have to compromise what you want to do with it in order to earn a living from it.
Also, you have to find new hobbies! That was the weirdest thing for me...
Side note: the self employment thing is easy. You do have to register, which you have to do within 3 months of starting getting income (or that used to be it anyway). The Inland Revenue's website is really helpful. Then all that happens is that when you do your self assessment you have 'employed' pages like usual and then some extra 'self employed' pages which are very straightforward as long as your turnover (incomings before any deductions) is under around £15K. For your tax it's essentially just adding the total of your employment and self-employment incomes/profits to work out your tax. The nice thing about the system is that it means a side job if things are a bit slow or you're starting out doesn't become a big complicated thing in terms of your taxes. :)
Tina.
another bout of great replies. I've been self employed before so know the system so to speak. I went back into employment for various reasons but have always secretly wished to be self employed again.
I have so many great ideas... I'm sure they would work but due to past business experience I know to think of the short term and develop the long terms.
Short term i dont think we could go wrong with a market garden and I know i could work it around my job.
Mainscousers - I know that self employment is like double a normal job LOL... but the benefits - oh the benefits!
I'm just thinking land sizes now... as I already said the market garden is no. 1 idea... but would like to extend to sell veg plants locally, have a cafe with home cooked home grown food, maybe get organic soil certified (if possible), sell eggs, chickens, posh readimeals, have a kids club where the parents for an annual fee join their kids and each weekend for a couple of hours they drop them off and we teach them about growing veg and wildlife etc - all hands on. Day training for beginners growing their own etc... Have our own willow and make our own willow structures and basket making days. Walled kitchen potager repro, herb garden etc
Oh and then i was thinking rarebreed animals (long time future now LOL)
I'm lookig at doing the RHS qualifications - think it would look good to the bank manager and would give me a good grounding. OR>>> a qualification in Market Gardening.
Tina - what do you do?
You gotta market your own seeds, handpacked in posh brown recyclable bags, I have always wanted to be a seedsman, then you could have a bit of your acreage as your experimental garden and let people come in and see what your seeds do.
Can I come and cook for you!!
XX Jeannine
I could commute to Grantham if you need any hired help... try tapping up Steve who has taken on that walled Kitchen Garden...
;D
Oooo yes brilliant idea Saddad!
;D
Hired help??? you mean you wouldn't be on my volunteer list? :o
I think seed packs and 'ready meals' is a great idea! Maybe you could somehow have your own shed shop too if possible? Just thinking that our allotment society sells veg on Sunday mornings. And the kids classes would be great too.
I'm an artist, btw. I like how you say 'oh the benefits!' and I'm pondering if you mean inconsistent cash flow, working all hours, or having no social life. ;) But yes, I really do know what you mean. :) Though I do a bit of side work it is all as a freelancer so still falls under my self employment. I love that I control the hours, even if there are a lot of them. For example, tomorrow is a day off! Just decided last night. :) (although technically I have to do a gallery delivery first and also buy some supplies while I'm out in town) And probably going mountain biking Monday too! Ha! Two days off in a week! What's the world coming to?
Tina.