Scale, The Heart Of Darkness and My Aching Back (Musings of an Aging Veggie Farmer…) Paul Burkhouse Foxtail Farm Who Am I?? Both a proximate and an ultimate question  Provides a reference for you listening to me here  today. Ultimately provides a framework for you to begin  farming. Unlike conventional farming, there are many ways to farm  in the organic/sustainable arena. Do you like to sell, grow, process, manage, do physical  labor? What you like should determine how you farm. Foxtail Farm 65 acre, former dairy farm in Osceola WI  19 acres in vegetable production.  Market through CSA with 317 summer shares  and 80 winter shares. Paul and Chris, 1 Full time employee, 6 summer  interns, 2 winter interns. 230,000 lbs of produce.  Gardening vs. Farming: “Gardeners have unlimited amounts of water,  compost and time” “Farming is a business (large or small), the  product is food and its survival is based on sound decisions leading to a profit”. (sounds cold huh?) Not Too Big…Not Too Small… To be sustainable a farm must stay in  business…and yes it is a business! Small enough to avoid “macro-economics”  Big enough to protect ones assets! My aching  back! Machinery  Employees  Cash flow  Scale Goals at Foxtail Farm Resources to do it right. (Cash flow)  Tillage, Cover crops, Post harvest facilities, greenhouses etc.  Can sell big or small.  Labor to keep one sane, cover us when we are not there (sick,  talking to WUSA etc). Not having to work off farm.  Not too big to be direct managers. (no assistant mgrs.)  Will support retirement, health care, a vacation to chalupa-  land etc. B hidd Achieving Scale Goals How much do you  need to make for you to live the lifestyle you want to live? Really, pick a number! Profit = Margin x  Units You can work with  either or both to maximize profit. MARGIN Margin is determined by your fixed and variable  costs. Keeping costs low allows you to meet your profit  goals while staying small…..unless….it makes you less efficient….or you go crazy…or get sick… A gentle reminder  Profit = Margin x UNITS  If you can’t produce enough units….you fail 