FOOTPRINTFARM

Starksboro, VT

THE FIRST THREE YEARS

A tale of two farms

REQUIREMENTS FOR STARTING A FARM

LAND CAPITAL KNOWLEDGE

- LEASED (FREE )-2 .5 - 3 ACRES

-SLOPED-SANDY

-HAY, HORSES, POTATOES-WELL

-“CANVAS BARN”- HAY WAGON

Land: Thank you, in-laws

-$5,000 EACH-GIFT FROM NEIGHBOR

-KIVA LOAN-COMMUNITY DONATIONS

Capital: Thank you, Empress

-2 YEARS INTERNING(SO, BASICALLY NOT MUCH)

-BOOKS-INTERVALE BEGINNING FARMER

-HMI BUSINESS PLANNING-MENTOR PROGRAM

-FARM VIABILITY

Knowledge: Thank you, mentors

INFRASTRUCTURE + MARKETS

BUILDINGS EQUIPMENT MARKETS

BUILDINGS

Canvas barn/chicken coop/hoophouse

Caterpillar tunnels

High Tunnels

3 Season wash/pack

Year-round wash/pack and house

EQUIPMENTNot quite market gardener

Neighbor plowed and harrowed our fields

BCS to Kubota

All sized to our Tacoma

Semi-permanent beds

Chisel plow, disc harrow, perfecta, (power harrow)

Tarps, mulches, hand tools

MARKETS

CSA, Farmers Market, Wholesale

POST 2015

A tale of two farms

FARMING PHILOSOPHY

We want to build a farm BUSINESS that is sustainable MENTALLY,

FINANCIALLY, and ECOLOGICALLY. In that order.

Key Tenants:

-Give the people what they want

-Take it with a grain of salt

-What’s essential?

-Don’t do stupid things

-If it isn’t a f*ck yes, it’s a no

Key Systems:

-LEAN

-Mise En Place

-Holistic budgeting – plan for income first

-Find the stutter steps

MARKETS

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

80000

2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Market growth over time

CSA Farmers Market Wholesale

SALES

14769

34870

49085

75961

100478

117417

173081

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

200000

2013 (.25) 2014 (.5) 2015 (.5) 2016 (1) 2017 (1.5+) 2018 (1.5+) 2019 (1.5+)

Gross Income growth over time

INTO THE FUTURE

FAMILY SUSTAINABILITY BALANCE

THANK YOU

taylor@footprintfarmvt.com

www.footprintfarmvt.com

@footprintfarm

Intervale Center

NOFA-VT

VOF

Veg and Berry Listserv

National Young Farmers Coalition

KIVA Zip

VEDA/VACC

NRCS

Farm Viability

Elmer Farm

Jericho Settlers Farm

Russell Farm

Red Wagon Plants

Evening Song Farm

Abundant Acres Farm

Claybottom Farm

Pleasant Valley Farm

And so…so many more