Conference turris::womannotes-v2

    hmm. i'd like not to pay annual dues, not to pick my own, but to
    be able to buy produce for a fair price. i'd like to get decent
    tomatoes, corn and herbs, especially basil. i'd also like to get
    flowers.
    
    liz who's suffering from garden withdrawal

    It might make sense for her to have a dual pricing system: one for
    people who pick their own and one for people who buy pre-harvested
    produce. One of the chief reasons for this is that many vegetables have
    a short prime harvest window. If allowed to sit on the vine for another
    day or two the vegetables are past their prime condition. She will
    probably want to pick some of these during their prime and put them in
    baskets so they are not wasted. Examples of vegetables like these are
    zucchini, summer squash and cucumbers. I believe some herbs are similar
    in this regard, though I have no personal experience with herbs.
    
    She should be very careful in matching her crop selection to her
    available acreage. Corn, for example, consumes alot of space per
    harvestable ear. This may be a consideration on a small farm, depending
    largely on her available space and equipment.
    
    Other worthy considerations when making crop selections are resistance
    to infestation and diseases. On the farm that I worked on, entire
    fields of corn were lost to those damn little caterpillar-like worms
    that would attack the ears, despite the use of pesticides. 
    
    I think a yearly fee is a good idea. She will probably need some money
    up front for seed and fertilizers. It also has the by-product of
    keeping the clientele smaller though more community-like. You tend to
    see the same people when you go to get some fresh veggies, facilitating
    casual conversation ans perhaps initiating new friendships.
    
    Give her my best. Farming is alot of work.
    
    The Doctah (who's first job entailed picking corn at 5 am)
    

    I'd certainly be willing to pay a reasonable fee (depending on variety
    of produce and how it fit into my needs/uses) to have fresh foodstuffs
    available to me.  We grow many of our own veggies, so they wouldn't be 
    high on my list, except for fresh corn.  But fresh dairy products,
    eggs, and (be still my taste buds) freshly killed chickens would be 
    worth more than market rates to me.  However, a relatively convenient
    location would be an important consideration, and I agree with the
    suggestion of a dual pricing system for pick-your-own versus cash-
    and-carry.
    
    I think most of us today have forgotten what fresh food tastes like.
    It was only after eating at a Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant located
    in the middle of the farm where the food was produced that I recalled 
    what real fried chicken, milk gravy, and fresh butter (I know, 
    cholesterol!) taste like.  Yum!  But it could present quite a marketing
    challenge to your friend to overcome that dormant memory in those
    old enough to have it and to create the hunger in those who have
    never experienced it. 
    
    Would I be willing to shop at such a "market" regularly?  Yes. 
    Always?  Probably not, convenience being so important to a family
    where both parents work.  Do I think the idea could work?  Definitely
    yes, IF the location is right.
    
    Karen
                

    
    I think the annual fees will be a good idea for her but not to begin
    with.  The reason being that some people (including myself) won't
    want to invest any money, no matter how small, for something that
    is JUST starting.  You never know if it's going to work out or if
    the farm will fold.
    
    If she started doing well after a year and started to build up her
    clientelle, then she can initiate the annual fees.  (in my opinion).
    
    Another thing she needs to remember is that it takes TIME for clientele
    to build and before she'll see any profits.
    
    If she's anywhere near me, I'd be GLAD to buy FRESH veggies and
    produce from her farm.  (I live in Hudson).  If she does start her
    farm, please send me mail at SALEM::ATKOCAITIS and I'll surely be
    one of her first customers!
    
    I've never had FRESH chicken!  Mmmmmmmmmm!!!
    
    
    

    
    Make it "Members Only" but offer free memberships to charter members.
    
    "pick your own" should be limited to certain crops which are essentialy
    viable in that mode.
    
    Members should have the option to buy 'futures' for the crops -
    pay in advance to cover the cost of planting and harvesting, and
    get a cheap price when the crops come through. And that way the
    members get to have a say in what the range will be in future, and
    help to pay for special requests.
    
    Consider offering a "fresh from the field frozen food" service.
    
    Consider offering a budget payment scheme (pay a regular $100 a 
    month and get $1200 of veggies a year say). It makes sense because
    as a demonstrable source of income it can be shown to the banks
    to help with loan financing.
    
    And good luck (incidentally one of Britain's largest supermarket
    chains - Asda - started as a cooperative farm marketing scheme not
    a million miles different from the above...)
    
    /. Ian .\                                 
    

    I would be willing to pay a yearly fee if I knew that the produce
    was free of dangerous chemicals and the meat (if any) was free of
    hormones.  There isn't a Bread & Circus in my area and it would
    be worth it to me.
    
    Mary