Hey I'm a teacher to. 18 years of Jr. High Science. I face the same problems as you do. how Big is enough in the garden or in my case orchard. Here is my thoughts. The extra cash from the market garden is nice but its not enough to provide a living with insurance as is my teaching job. We are getting ready for cuts in the school where I teach and the guy who got me into this is a teacher here with me. I have told him to take some summer classes so he can teach other subjects in case his(PE) gets cut. His answer is always the same "I dont have time the gerden takes all my time in the summer". well time will tell If he loses thais job things will be tough on him and his family. I love extra money beyond my paycheck and that is really how I will get ahead in life but I wouldnt want to depend solely on it. two years age all the peaches and apples froze out. Add the other Market and hire some help but dont give up your day job.

You say your markets are between 3-40 miles from you. Are there any upscale restaurants around or on your way to your current markets that you can contact? You may be able to sell more produce just by stopping somewhere along the way to your current markets. I'd skip the mom and pop places if possible, unless they are really interested in using fresh, local foods.

We sell produce at 2 markets, and to 2 restaurants. Chefs pay the same as market customers on most items, while other items they pay about 20% less than market prices. The good thing about working with restaurants is that you know your product is sold, and you don't have to worry about bringing home piles of produce that did not sell at the market. Adding restaurants will allow you to move more produce without sacrificing your current markets.

Anyway - that is how I look at it. I know some growers don't like to work with restaurants, but to me it is a guaranteed income, and reduces the likelihood of having produce go to waste.

Thanks for the feedback.

alan-in-calhoun-il:
I am glad to hear I am not the only teacher who moonlights as a Market Gardener. I agree that it is nice to have the extra income from the garden, and that is the money that we use to finish projects in our house. Two years ago it was the basement bathroom and finishing the basement, last year it was a woodstove and all the parts. You do bring up a good point about insurance. My wife works for the state and I would be able to go onto hers, but it still makes me think.

I am going to grow my Jelly business next year. I have several small stores that want to stock my stuff, I just have to get all the regulations done.

ekgrows: I wish there was an upscale restaurant on the way to my markets. There isn't anything between my town and the two towns they are in except Highway. I live in North Central Kansas and I don't think a Wendy's, Sonic or Subway is going to buy tomatoes from me. I guess it wouldn't hurt to ask. I do agree that working with restaurants is a good way to know your product is sold. I hate bringing things home. The best days I have is when I get home, I bring in the tables, empty tubs and empty coolers. Then I know I have a big fat money box.

Maybe I should try the restaurant thing and see what happens.

Thanks,

Jay

I agree, I'd stay away from the Mom and Pop's. Don't sell your products cheap, it doesn't do you or other farmers any good.

When my husband was a teacher, it worked very well for us to use our school as a great source of customers. Maybe you don't yet have a "farm to school" program there, becoming your school's supplier of some vegetables, but we also had school tours come out for a few dollars a head (a few hundred x $5) had a fall harvest festival, and were thinking of on-farm nature classes with kids. This caused local parents to want to buy more from our farm via either road-side stand or CSA

I left my first market for 2 years, missed it and went back. My suggestion is to either have someone else go to market with you, until you are comfortable with leaving them in charge and get your customers used to dealing with the other person, before you start with the "new" market. that way, if the "new" market doesn't work out, your established market is still there and working. OR offering a shopping list for your regular customers and deliver to a designated spot for them to pick up or pick up at the farm on a non-market day. You may need to have someone during the pick=up times.