tools for sustainable farmers - moses organic conference 2013
TRANSCRIPT
Farming for Fun & Profit
Grant SchultzVersaLand.com
Tuesday, March 26, 13
Farming for Fun & Profit
• Farming is a creative endeavor. Anything deemed ‘Work’ shall be eliminated.
• Make Time for More: Eating, Athletics, Art, and Engineering
• Hack: Equipment, Landscapes,Transport, Marketing
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What is Hacking?Using the least amount of force to achieve the greatest net benefit.
Oftentimes the least expensive option
Typically considered ‘unconventional’ by society as a whole.
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Equipment HacksCutting Edge/Old School - Either Way It’s Not MainstreamNever Pay RetailInnovation - Building What Doesn’t Exist
Production HacksHigher Quality, Less Time - Leverage Appropriate & Accessible Technology
Land HacksGet Land - The Unconventional Way
What IS Farmhacking?
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Hacked Labor = Happy Labor
25lbs/hour $10/hr+ $$$$+???
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Hacking PAYS! Hand Machine
lbs to crack 2,000 2,000lbs/hr 25 500total hours 80 4$/hour $15 $25annual labor expense $1,200 $100
Annual labor savings 1100Machine construction cost 3000ROI 36.7%
What if done in a co-op model?
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Anatomy of a Farmhack
Parts Fabrication Automation+ =
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Electric Tractors
• PRO
• Quiet
• Mechanically Reliable
• Obnoxiously Versatile
• CON
• Size, Availability
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•You’re a FARMER!
•Fabricator
•Mechanic
•Programmer
•Marketer
•Manager
•Accountant
•ALL OF THOSE!
Focus on the Leverage Points
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Hack or Hire?
• Have the skills? Tools?
• Want to learn the skill?
• Have the time?
• Make the time?
• Hire the time?
• Opportunity cost - dollars for hours
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KNOWLEDGE HACKS
Shipping/Trucking: Uship.com
Equipment Sourcing: SearchTempest.com
Plans/Hacks: FarmHack.net, Instructables.com
Craigslist Prospecting: Post WANTED Ads!!
Tough Equipment: GovLiquidation.com
Farm Challenge? Google Translate, then YouTube!
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BORROW, BUILD, AND BARTER...THEN BUYUSHIP.COM, FARM HACK, FARM SHOW MAGAZINE, SEARCHTEMPEST.COM
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Straw BlowerStraw BlowerManual Mechanized
Man hours 300 50$/hr 15 25Annual 4500 1250
Savings/YearSavings/Year $3,250Cost New $7,500ROI 43.33%
Jang PlanterJang PlanterManual Mechanized
Man hours 40 10$/hr 15 15Annual 600 150
Savings/YearSavings/Year $450Cost New $400ROI 112.50%
USE METRICS FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO!
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Tractor TimeWhat’s the Sweet Spot?• 60-80hp
• Loader is a must-have
• 1960-1975 - Diesel
• Parts readily available
• Phd not required to repair
• Values fully depreciated (hold value over time, not overpaying)
• $4,000-10,000 safe range
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Get The What?The Factory Service Manual
• Shop/Service Manual - Much More than I&T or Owner’s Manual
• $50-100
• Pays for itself in 15 minutes.
• Build skills without the mistakes.
• ‘Instant professional’“I&T Manual” is just a start
FACTORY Shop Manual has
EVERYTHING
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THE AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSFARMING’S MOST VERSATILE TOOL HTTP://MIDWESTTRANSIT.COM
HOME STORECOOP
HARVESTPICKUP
COOP
TRAVEL
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• Livestock Transport
• Mobile Farmers Market
• Weatherproof Mobile Shop
• Melon/Pumpkin Harvest
• Poultry Coop
• Heavy Hauler
Do-Anything Bus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=JDuZyyjqjMI
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Europe Builds Better
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European Hand Tools - Design is in the Details
Swiss, Austrian, German. Teutonic excellence.
Glaser, Earth Tools
Machinery
Yeomans Keyline Plow - Australia
Maschio-Gaspardo - Italy - Seeders and Power Harrow
K-Line Irrigation - New Zealand - Clever Kiwis
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FarmHack Minneapolis
Saturday, March 23rd 2013Urban Scale Farmhacks + More
www.FarmHack.net/Minneapolis
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What Have You Hacked?
Share with the World!
www.FarmHack.net
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Stay in Touch!
http://VersaLand.com
Grant [email protected]
319-830-9700
http://twitter.com/GrantSchultz
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