Aberfoyle Farmers' Market

After more than a year of planning the Aberfoyle Farmers' Market had a great launch. I resigned from the board of the Aberfoyle Farmers' Market Association so that I could assume the role of Market Manager.
We have an average of 30 vendors, and are truly a farmers' market. Our farmers are no further than 45 miles away, and with a few minor exceptions, all that they sell they produce.

Criteria For Choosing a Place To Grow 50,000 Garlic

I'm looking for a plot to plant an acre of garlic in October to November, about 50,000 cloves. They'll come from the approximately 8,000 bulbs I expect to harvest in July. I've been considering 5-6 farms to plant the garlic.  Thanks to my internship last year I have an idea of the questions to ask. But I've found that it's still a bit of a mystery to choose the "correct" place. I know what questions to ask, but figuring out what to do with the answers is another thing. Some of the questions I've used in my query are listed here. Items marked with a #1 are a priority, 2 are less important.

• Location    
• Growing Zone   
• Are Owners Aware of the features of their farm?    1
• Owner is Ok For Peter to get garlic plot Organic Certified?    1
• What is the Past Growing method in proposed garlic plot?    1
• Crop Rotation History    1
• Distance to Other Alliums on farm or neighbour's farm (to protect against disease such as stem and bulb nematode)?   
• Land Orientation & Slope   
• Soil Type    1
• Soil Properties    1
• Weed Types
• Access to Irrigation
• Exposure to wind
• Opportunity to plant living mulch in late Aug? 
• Cost to Access Certified Organic Compost    2
• Cost to Access Certified Organic Mulch    2
• Does soil Requires Spring Preparation for Oct, 2011 Planting?    2
• Access to min 1 ½ acres in 2011    2
• Potential To Expand to more acreage  in 2012 and beyond?    3

• Access to Labour in That Area?    2
• Access to Machines and reliable Repair    1
• Access to Handheld Tools    2
• Access To Curing Shed    1-2
• Access to Electricity? (for fan)   
• Access to Long term Storage    2

• Overnite Accomodation?   
• Ok To Bring Workers onto land?   
• Access To Outhouse (for workers)    2
• Access to Markets    2
• Someone to keep an eye on plot     2
• Consideration (method of payment)
• Opportunity to learn from farm owner    3
• Does Owner have Tax Exemption Certificate? (maybe they can get it through my garlic sales)?   
• What type of liability insurance do they have?
• Other Issues   

Baby Steps

My friend Eric is wanting to get into farming and is considering various possibilities. He has a full time city-based job. It reminds me of where I was two years ago, when I resigned from my job in New York, and I was back in Toronto. To get into farming represents a massive swtich for most people. It's much more than making a career change. How would a person start on this quest? What baby steps could a person take?

Here are some ideas on how to start into farming. Some seem trivial, but they are a way to reintroduce us city dwellers back to nature. Along the way you'll discover if you really ant to farm

1. Buy a package of seeds and plant them (better yet, invite someone to plant the seeds with you).
2. Plant a window box in your home or at the office.
3. Go to a farmer' market and get to know the farmers. Ask if you can visit their farm.
4. Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), where you get a basket of produce every week for the season. Many CSA farms will invite customers to visit their farm, and some will welcome volunteers.
5. Start a compost pile, either with red wriggler worms or a hot compost. You'll be amazed to watch vegetables break down. It's a great science experiment for kids.
6. Start a garden on your balcony or in your backyard.
7. Join a community garden or volunteer with one.
8. Watch for other city-based opportunities, such as volunteering to install a roof top garden.

If you feel bold, you could intern on a farm or become a woofer. Woofers are people who volunteer on farms for short periods of time. It's like being an intern but it's a lesser level of commitment for both the volunteer and the farmer. Go to "World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms" - http://www.wwoof.org/.

The quantum leap would be to buy a farm. I know city-based people who bought a farm without any experience. Many wish they'd first interned and learned more about farming before buying their own farm.

Start with small steps. It will open up your mind and lead you to like-minded people and exciting idea.