Is grossing $400k on a small farm possible?

“Neversink Farm, Gardening Basics” is a series of videos intended for backyard gardeners growing food for the family and for enjoyment. Follow along as I use my many years of experience as a farmer to grow vegetables in my family garden.
Find out more at
/ neversinkfarm
www.neversinkfa...
/ neversinkfarm
/ neversinkfarmtools
Conor Crickmore quit his job in the city and moved to the country. There he started an organic farm from scratch and never looked back.
His farm became successful due to his simple systems. He now works to help small farms succeed. His a well known educator throughout the world in small scale market farming and has been very successful at earning a good living growing vegetables on a small plot. He farms without tillage and uses mostly hand tools.
He also designs tools and hosts online courses in farming and gardening.
Online Courses can be found at - www.neversinkco...
Tools can be found at - www.neversinkt...

[@dennisryan7500]

I need to agree with Molly the availability of markets is a key factor in how large you want to be. There is a huge difference between wholesale and retail prices.

[@witness1449]

I've always been impressed by your work ethic and experience. I've incorporated several of your techniques and processes in my small homestead garden. We always have an abundance of what we grow but had some issues with the drought this past year. At 71 I've been gardening for most of my life but have learned so many new and more efficient ways to garden. People freak out when I tell them that I had shoveled 100 tons of compost and mulch in the last 3 years. Using a no-till method and continuous cultivating has been a great experience and success. I have to thank you for your videos and gardening tips. By incorporating your techniques, our garden has been gradually becoming a super productive garden 😀 👍 Many of our friends and relatives ask why I don't sell some of our produce at the farmers market. I tell them I don't want to work that hard, and enjoy giving it away to food banks, friends neighbors and family. We always enjoy your videos Thanks Bob 😊

[@SpiritusBythos]

Thanks for sharing. Love when 70+ y/o use terms like 'freak out' Take good care PEACE

[@nathanzientek894]

Where did you get 100 tons of compost?!

[@billcarter4670]

Thank you for this video, it shows that you know. I'm doing a start-up hobby farm here in Kentucky at 64 years old, on less than 3 acres. I lost nearly 20lbs clearing the land and what fun I had. Much to learn...

[@NeversinkFarm]

You can do it!

[@cezino10001]

Hello Connor. Im still learning from your amazing course and watching your videos with pleasure and huge respect. It’s not only money you and your family gets , it’s about joy and connection to the nature. For me the most important aspect is that you are teaching and involving your children to appreciate what they have and respect for nature. It doesn’t matter if they will continue, the knowledge is in them forever. Thank you for such a great teacher as you are Connor. Maria

[@osotaylor8920]

Thanks man. You’ve been getting me fired up about farming again, after going to big to fast and burning out. Your advice has me excited for trying again, but small and tidy this time.

[@tizianogarulli880]

Same here, had to go back to employee life. Now slowly collecting ideas, plans, knowledge, a little cash and looking to start again ...as you say small and tidy.

[@homermtz]

Let's do this

[@mollytheda9273]

Appreciate your words so much! Would add that your market makes a difference, too.

[@trishapomeroy9251]

I agree. We have several different markets around us that really vary in size and customers.

[@uncommoncents2152]

Sure is a Beautiful looking farm

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

In a nice location too, didn’t know it was on a river surrounded by wooded hills, idyllic.❤

[@steveale0711]

Shoulder seasons is spot on. We saw this early at our markets. People are creatures of habit, you put items on the table before anyone else they keep coming to you all season. Likewise, others have waning harvests and you are growing strong (pun intended) you lock in buyer loyalty.

[@cassityart7001]

All that plus. 🌞🌱❤️. There are also micro businesses that will develop from these market farms. We grew red wiggler worms from farm and land waste in 6’ x 4’ round worm compost units. The worms created worm castings that dropped into bins below and sold bags at the market. Passive but impressive. The freeze dried sweet root fruit is a winter market staple. Multi layered micro markets. A grandchildren earned 101 business. 🙂🙂🙂

[@SimonHaestoe]

Yeah, freeze drying is something everyone can do when they cant even afford food.

[@andrewarmstrong5764]

You're our Hero, Conor.

[@jayweiss602]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge, you always have valuable insight & present it in a no non-sense easy to digest way. Thanks for all you do!

[@ScottYdo]

Thanks for the good advice Conor. Appreciate your knowledge and experience. 👍👍🎯

[@FreeThinker7]

Thank you Conor, I’m trimming things this year in what I’ll be growing to better suit our farm and profit margins.

[@thesupertruckerdave]

Love the channel. Very inspiring.

[@frankenstice2829]

Connor you are the man. Great perspective on small scale farming and how to get started.

[@rossleaman7350]

Thank you for this video, looking for property for the first time, this gives good perspective on how much land to get.

[@RJ-fs3mj]

Love your channel. Reminds me of growing up on a farm and how I learned how to work.

[@janking2762]

As a consumer, I have several seasonal farm sources for vegetables, but my main resource is one that has a year round market. I’m ok with seasonal or weekly growers markets but the market that’s open six days a week will get my business year round.

[@jordanbanda4744]

Well put its a tough subject but you hit it on the head- Your farm course has been tremendously helpful for us thank you!

[@johnharrison2511]

Enjoyed watching and getting the insights of a capable producer.

[@niaelbryant2336]

Being local is profitable. Businesses are sometimes challenged with imported products due to the transport process.

[@fitzpreacherfarm6826]

Thank you sir for sharing this information. Much appreciate your videos

[@khafreahmose8768]

The farm course they offer is well worth the initial investment! He has a ton of high quality knowledge on there!

[@timgranvillani4851]

Great content

[@mammyoffgrid]

Looking good Conor..Great video as usual!

[@daughterofgod3721]

Wow, this is amazing! The Lord has blessed you with wisdom and talent and determination! On top of 400k gross, you also get tons of free produce. God bless you!

[@NeversinkFarm]

Thank you so much

[@honeytreefarmnc]

Good stuff

[@TheProCut17]

thanks for the insight

[@nineallday000]

Surprised you didnt mention more about location and marketing. If growers spent 10% of the time they do talking about weed strategies as talking about marketing, it would help a lot. But even so, certain areas of the country/world this is just not possible, just due to customer demographics, population etc. A million homesteaders all in Nebraska trying to do the same thing just isnt going to work.

[@dedetudor.]

The hard work you all have accomplished hasn't happened overnight. This is a great tutorial on your beginnings. Your tools you design are a valuable resource for income for sure!😉 Your soils look beautiful!. Such a gorgeous farm.

[@NeversinkFarm]

I have not earned income from tools. Everything goes into R and D for new and better tools

[@dedetudor.]

@@NeversinkFarm oh!!! Well you should! They are genius designs you've created. I admire your craft and skill in your designs. I know it's not your main focus for sure. But They are ingenious. 🌞

[@matatanesinctv]

great video

[@lugzitho]

Thank you 👌

[@FourSeasonFarming]

Thanks

[@tanguyromieu4614]

Merci beaucoup.

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

You’re not judging people on how profitable their small scale vegetable farms are, are you Conor…?😂 Good advice, also like you mentioned with zucchini dialling in your crop timing and types Vs your market area demand, I’m sure makes a massive difference. Probably finding a niche too growing stuff others aren’t, sort of the same point.

[@isapsa45]

Ignore the first video I sent you. It popped up after I was getting ready to send you this one.

[@ginganinga1010]

Very impressive. I work on a 300 acre vegetable farm and I doubt my boss is taking home that much money. A lot of expenses and he works 7 days a week 80+ hrs. Yeah he's successful but most of his money comes from things other than selling produce. My question is for you, What percentage of income is purely from the sale of produce.

[@NeversinkFarm]

Whenever I talk about farm income, I am always talking about sales of produce

[@messanger3114]

How much realistically speaking can a farm produce with 1 laborer?

[@caseywilson812]

Does neversink only sell at a Saturday market?

[@wordvendor1]

I intend to run a small retirement farm with high diversity. I saw your courses are closed now. When does your course open again?

[@LucasBrendel]

He may change it but I enrolled in December 2 years ago. So you may see something next month or January.

[@lindafuiten2556]

How do you deal with weeds4

[@thefruitgrower]

i agree with you in production circulation all year non stop, but the next level in vegetable farming is hydroponics aeroponics etc cause they will be a serious invtestment at the beggining but low production cost then. im third generation arboriculturalist and there is no future in any agriculture job if we cant lower the cost and cant deal with climate change i dont know how you deal with that in us but in the medditeranean territory the problem is huge.

[@quees8865]

Is it possible to have a thriving farm in an area that averages 140 sunny days per year? I'm a aspiring farmer in the Seattle area but thinking about looking elsewhere do to the lack of sun

[@NeversinkFarm]

Neversink farm is in Zone 5a

[@emanonymous]

how many years did it take for you to go from just starting to turn a profit to grossing 400k?

[@NeversinkFarm]

We were profitable the first year

[@haynerbass]

The big question (for me) is HOW do you find buyers for such a huge crop?

[@NeversinkFarm]

Great places to find customers is local ( or not so local ) farmers markets, your local grocery stores, cafes, restaurants, and online marketing for CSA members.

[@kristijantadic8476]

Do you have a book?

[@F15labs]

I've been strugling with couch grass and i have to clue how to deal with it on a big scale withought using any chemicals. Any tips?

[@wildrangeringreen]

smother it out with plastic tarps in your field blocks (leave it a year). Dig a 18" (very few rhizomes travel deeper than 12") deep trench around the block and place a 24" wide strip of 6+mil thick plastic down in it in an "L" shape. Make sure the "_" of the "L" is pointing away from your field block. Leave 1-4 inches above the soil, and protect it from the sun and being walked on with stones and bricks. Protected from the sun, that Plastic will last centuries, and especially if you go for thick (10-20mil) vapor-barrier type sheeting, even bamboo isn't likely to get through it. For cost and availability reasons, I would just use a double layer 6mil black sheeting (in the painting section of large hardware stores) used for drop cloths and dust protection in construction.

[@alextritten3378]

He he! This is our third season farming and selling all year round here in France on an acre. I don't think we could have had a much better year, every square inch producing, for once a good season for cabbage, and we have a farm table fully booked most Saturdays... We'll be happy to gross 40 000 euros, 10 000 of which is from the restaurant... I can see another 10, 15 thou growing space in the years to come, if the economy doesn't collapse in the meantime of course, but 100000? 200000? 400000? Cover my acre in green houses, heat them up, only sell tomatoes, green beans and mesclun? This raises many issues, mainly one of resilience. If tomorrow there is no electricity, gaz, or plastic to cover my green house, i can still feed my 60 families year round no problem. I don't think new farmers should concern themselves with how high their turnover can be, but with how sustainable their farm is. Still, always impressed by your farm Connor!

[@NeversinkFarm]

Sure sustainability is important but I also believe farmers should be able to pay to fix their car, put a new roof on their house, go on vacation if they want etc. A farm business can be sustainable and profitable. There is nothing wrong with farmers earning a great living. It is what I try to support and encourage.

[@DimRagga]

What's the net income?

[@mrdobalina3451]

Not once did I hear him say anything about tax…?

[@NeversinkFarm]

I am not a cpa so I avoid giving advice on tax. I would advise talking to an accountant about tax liability concerning a farm business. Thanks for watching.

[@comediesandlifestyles449]

400k is way too much to get you a very large farm in Nigeria

[@tws061105]

Thanks for this, Conor. May I ask: how much of the $400k is farm course revenue?

[@NeversinkFarm]

None. The video is about farming revenue

[@99cornisland]

Well let me put in my 2 cents and that is that if you are not in very few specific markets like NY-City or a few others 400k is not going to happen on 1 acres or even 5 acres. You simply cannot harvest or sell that many vegetables at market value. I get it people will pay a little more for fresh quality but very few places they will pay $6 per lb for tomatoes or anything else. So all about location location location.

[@NeversinkFarm]

Neversink is hours from any major city. New York City is three hours without traffic one way which is why we don’t sell there. Sometimes you will need to travel. According to the data most small farms are within two hours of a major city.

[@wildrangeringreen]

I sold my cherry tomatoes in OH for $4 a pint last couple years (about .75 lbs, so $5.33/lb), prices have gone up (a lot) since then, so I'll probably be charging $4.50 or $5 a pint this year to keep up with costs (we'll see as we get closer, depends on my restaurant accounts as well to see where the average ends up). That means I'll be getting between $6 and $6.66 per pound. Slicing tomatoes are less per pound, but have a substantially lower picking-labor cost (I'm getting $1.25 a fruit for slicers, so between $1.75 and $2 a pound). $2 a head or bunch for greens, $10/lbs for mesclun (spring), $2 for radishes (with greens, so not many radishes), $15/doz for sweetcorn, $1.50 per fruit for summer squash... all of my pricing is based off of grocery store prices in the area I'm selling in (for retail), and is negotiated between retail and commodity pricing for wholesaling. Ohio isn't exactly known for a burgeoning high-end food scene or high incomes. Plus everyone and their brother out in rural areas seems to have a roadside stand or is giving stuff away. If you only have a few units of things to sell, those prices don't seem like much, but you sell hundreds per week, $$$$ adds up. Don't even get me started on things like herbs, berries ($6/pint last year and couldn't keep up with demand), bee products, and tree fruits. We're only currently utilizing about 2 acres of our 10 tillable right now.

[@Michael_McMillan]

Gross numbers are kind of useless, grossing $500,000 but you have $499,000 of expenses isn't good.

[@NeversinkFarm]

Pretty standard is 50% profit 50% expense. Gross is really the most useful since gross determines final profit. Also the more gross the better efficiency. Economy of scale. Over 250k and the profit usually gets to 60%. No small farm is earning 500k with expenses of 499k. It is just not possible.

[@laurie2715]

“ it’s about having a good life most of all …” That is the the real point to all the balancing of profit per acre , the hard work and implementing changes . A good life for us and our families and friends. 👏🪴I’m inspired to try again .