Profitable Others

We started off with a general produce garden but have been moving more and more to things I can ship via the mail as my health has failed.  Not really able to tend farmers market stand anymore.  Peppers have been very good to us, but looking for other areas.

Started white desert sage (smudge sticks) and although the germination rate is not fantastic, they look like a go for next year.  Working with sweet grass but damn it is hard to get started.  Next going to try putting the seeds in the freezer for a few days before planting.

So looking for new ideas for next year...

I don't have any experience in running my own commercial farm, but, I did work on a vertical hydroponic farm in Myakka, FL. It was a u-pick. They used something called Hydrostackers. In fact, I worked for the guy who invented it. His u-pick was mostly a sales front to sell hydroponic systems, as that was where his real money was, imo. Not that his farm didn't deliver profits. I think if you're looking for profit, fruits and veggies for the most part will not be lucrative in and of themselves. I think the real way to make a good profit on produce, of any kind, is to figure out a method to grow them efficiently. That's what they did on the farm there

On the front for selling hydroponic supplies: I used to raise poultry and make cages n  coups to display the birds on the farm. Made them fairly nice and painted because people would see them.  Kind of like photographing the peppers that arent all weeded over.  I found myself selling more $ in coupes and cages. 

On growing efficiently: I agree 100%.  First profits of the harvest are going to a green house & we have been for years building a water catchment system that keeps small but deep ponds behind each set of rows.  Decreases cost of production, makes it easier to deliver the water.

Still, finding things that ship well is difficult.  Sweet grass would be great if I can get it to germinate.  It is dried and shipped. Same with white sage.  Shelf life is a year or so because they are incense.

Thank you for not being one of the people that in another forum answered magic mushrooms and tried to get me to believe they were legal to grow.  I'd really like to stay on the farm and not behind bars.  Probably going to go with some of the alchemical herbs like beladona and henbane with huge warning labels.

U pick is a good idea for those kind of things. Blueberries or grapes and can make and sell wine etc