Have a passion for looking after animals? If so, you should seriously considering starting your own farm! As far-fetched as this idea may seem at first, this is the perfect way to extract yourself from the rat race and do you what you love day in, day out.
Should you decide to push forward with your dream of starting your very own farm, be sure to heed the comprehensive advice and guidance laid out below.
Choose your animals carefully
As an animal lover, you will undoubtedly want to fill your farm with all manner of wonderful creatures, big and small. However, if you want to fortify your farm’s foundations, you mustn’t be overzealous in this instance. Before you go ahead and bring in a whole host of different animals, you need to acclimatize yourself to the demands of farming. It is for this reason why you must exercise caution when choosing your starting animals. This will help you get used to your role as a farmer, which will stand you in much better stead when you attempt to expand your empire in the future.
Here are seven animals that are perfect for farming beginners:
1. Pekin Ducks
2. Rabbits
3. Chickens
4. Goats
5. Pigs
6. Cows
7. Honeybees
Showcase your sustainability
If you want your farm to stand out from the crowd in the farmer’s market, you’re going to need to come up with your own unique selling point (USP). You can do many things to differentiate yourself from the competing pack in this sense, showcasing your sustainability being one of the very best. Not only will this provide you with your own brand image, but it’ll also help you to play your part in the war against global warming.
Here are three things you can do to showcase your farm’s sustainability:
1. Rotate your crops regularly — otherwise known as intercropping, this will promote healthier soil on your land and, in turn, aid you in your bid to grow organic food
2. Reduce your tillage — as beneficial as tillage may be to your crops, it can have a profound negative impact on your soil pH levels
3. Invest in durable wire — making use of 10 gauge galvanized wire will reduce the amount of wiring that you send to landfill, which in turn will help you to lower your farm’s overall carbon footprint
Perform market research
Just as you would if you were starting any other type of business, you need to perform some market research before you go ahead and start your farm. This will help you find out what does/doesn’t grow in your local area, it will make you more aware of the prices you should be charging, and it will aid you in your bid to pinpoint cost-effective suppliers and vendors.
For advice on performing market research in an extensive, effective, and efficient fashion, be sure to check out this insightful article on the matter.
