The N series tractors were designed for farmers to work on using basic tools back in the 30's, 40's, and 50's. They are simple straight-forward easy to work on machines. And the support for them is incredible. If I need help figuring something out I can just ask. The Fergies are the same as the N series. Then comes the 100's series, 6xx, 7xx, and 8xx. Then comes the 1000's series from the 1960's and early 70's. All of them are about the same to work on. If you are not a mechanic type person you mite want to stay away from diesel tractors. The old gas engines are really easy to work on and understand. When I started looking for a tractor I wanted a Ford 3000. That was the only type of tractor I had ever driven. I didn't know anything about the old N series and wasn't considering one. But then one came along that was very affordable. I did some research on it and found out it was a great tractor. So I bought it. And I am glad I did. I love my 8N tractor. If you want a small tractor I would get an 8N tractor. They are easy to find, easy to work on, and very reliable. You can get an N tractor for $2000 to $3000 depending on the shape it is in and the attachments that come with it. There a few downsides to an N tractor. No live hydraulics and no live PTO. You can add live hydraulics but I have hardly missed having it. Also, you can get a front end loader for an N tractor, but it wasn't really designed for a loader. A FEL makes it hard to steer since it doesn't have power steering. You can add power steering. It causes extra wear on the front end because of the all the extra weight. A FEL makes it hard to get on/off the tractor. An N tractor won't pull a 3pt tiller. The tractor won't go slow enough for the tiller to work. It is geared to high. An N tractor won't pull real heavy implements. And it doesn't do round bales very well (too heavy). The horsepower is low for a tractor, about 28hp at the engine, 23hp at the drawbar. I have been using my 8n since January and haven't had any problems with it. It does all I need to do, mostly mowing. I can plow with it, and I moved some dirt with it. I love my 8N tractor. Pooh Bear

My cub gets less than 10 hours on it per year. When I got it from my father in law, 2 years ago I had the hydro oil changed, but just the once. Typical probem with towing my 5x8 utility trailer loaded with 1000lbs or so is I get on soft ground and lose traction. My yard is totally flat although there's some uneven ground. For the big trailor I can pull ok, it's pushing it back into the garage, I have to build up to much ground speed to get it from the lawn to the apron, I can't creep like in forward. I actually haven't tried to turn the tandom trailer in the yard for fear I'll get it in a spot/position that I won't be able to get the truck into to save it. When I creep the stopping isn't a problem I can control it with the hydro, but like I said if it really pulling hard the front will lift or if I change directions too fast. I'm fairly set on a larger machine, just not sure what the right size is. And I've already got a 25 year old machine, when looking at others it makes concerned buying someone elses problems.

Consider buying a good two wheeler. A good two wheeler is built way heavier than a lawn mower. They will stand up for years of brush mowing. I have similar setup as you in Florida--i.e 6 acres with 2 horses and a pony. If you set up a good rotation you could easily do 1 acres every week. It would take 1-2 hours to do depending on how fast you want to pace yourself with the mower I listed below. That would be all you really need to do for pasture maintainance. I brush hog my horse pastures about every 6 weeks. Keeps the weeds at bay and makes the grass grow thicker. If you have bahia grass like I do, I wold not recomend a 2500 lawn mower for this. It would not last for more than 2-3 seasons mowing this. The two wheeler I listed below is made of way thicker metal and built to withstand the abuse you get from pasture mowing. Some people will think I'm nuts for recomending a walk behind machine for 6 acres, but keep in mind, this is not a lawn and will not require mowing every week like a lawn. You can break up the mowing into sections. Now the recomendations for a compact tractor is sound advise. You may want to think about saving up for one in the future. A good sub compact or compact tractor will make life around a small 6 acre farm easy and the machine iteself will last a lifetime if well maintained. Something like a 10K John deere 2305 or Kubota 2350 would be all you really need and will far outlast 4 $2500 lawn mowers. But if you can't afford it, then you can't afford it. The two wheeler will also far outlast the lawn mowers also. Just more work. Here is a link that might be useful: Two wheeler tractor

Gardengirl12 - I am 48 and expanding my garden so don't hesitate to move forward. We all have our good days and better days. The only bad days are those days on which we allow ourselves to second guess our dreams, our plans and our ability to carry those out! I come from many generations of market gardeners (different styles, different relatives) so it is definitely in my blood lol. My parents are currently aged 72 and 74 and they continue to successfully operate a CSA and market garden, subsidized with specialty jams, jellies and baked goods. Figuring out what specifically are good sellers in your area is very vital, however; this takes time and so just plan for that. Keep your expectations low enough that you won't be discouraged and can maintain a positive view as your business grows. Write down achievable goals for each of the next 3 seasons. Keep DETAILED notes on both successes and failures so that you can build from them each year. Every gardener is unique in their technique, needs, abilities and market area so having a bunch of folks looking over a business plan which is developed specifically for you is not worth bothering with. Only you truly know what you are capable of doing physically, mentally and emotionally to bring your dreams to reality. Most populated areas have some sort of farmers market already established. If you have not already done so, take the time to visit EVERY TIME it is open to study what others are successfully selling. Make notes on what types sell the best, what seems to just sit there and get tossed out at the end of the day. Also take note if the majority of the sellers seem to carry "value added" products such as soaps, jams, wool, eggs etc to make up a portion of their sales. If there is a well established specialty vendor such as "Tomato Lady", I would plan to grow and sell something different as my main source of income. You can always introduce a specialty item similar down the road but focus on developing your own following and avoid disappointment from trying to directly compete with someone who is already well established. As you are developing your sales plan, keep in mind that the majority of your first customers are going to be those whom you already know. Just putting yourself and your product out there is not enough to sell the amount you will need to earn a profit. I am not a big believer in local chambers etc and I refuse to pay dues to be a "part of the community business network" in which I live. Consider ways to effectively advertise for yourself at either no cost or low cost. Keep in mind that ANY cost is going to effect your bottom line even if it is only a penny for the ink that printed you those 50 copies on your home computer. Stay detail oriented so that in the future you can truly see where things can be changed to be better financially as you grow the business. Don't try to be everything to everyone! EVER! You will ALWAYS have someone asking for something that you don't have. Don't fall into the trap of trying to provide it all because the time and product it takes you to grow "just 2" of something special, is time and product which is taken away from what you have developed well already. If you continuously receive requests by more than a dozen customers for a new item, then consider it a possibility for a "limited time only" product. EG - I don't grow zucchini because every Grandma and her neighbor does. However; IF I kept getting requests from more than a dozen of my REGULAR customers, I would consider growing enough just to serve them. I don't see that happening anytime soon though as my market really supports the "unusual" versus the "ordinary". I could go on and on lol yet I have winter sowing to get done. I hope you do well with your adventure and I truly mean that... it IS an adventure!