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Market Stall/Polytunnel

Harriet 3Harriet 3 Posts: 10
in Fruit & veg

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone has experience of selling veg/plants? Does anyone have a market stall or similar? Or do Veg boxes?

I'm quite interested - in a few years once I've learnt a bit more! We are really lucky to have a good sized smallholding (about 5acres) so can grow in fairly large numbers. I'm just wondering on time/input and whether it can ever really be viable, I'm not thinking of large scale farming here, just earning a few extra pennies! We already grow and sell hay but apart from the cutting that's fairly low maintenance. I'm saving for a polytunnel at the moment - another question - does anyone have one? Do you know any good companies etc?

I'm aiming for The Good Life here image I currently work 30 hours a week but only over 3 days so have a fair amount of spare time as well as a handy partner who can operate tractors and rotovators and the like! I keep looking at John Seymour's book and dreaming...

Also any good book recommendations welcome image

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    Rather than a market stall why not see if you can supply a local farm shop?  Our local one has difficulty in sourcing some more unusual fruit and veg and different varieties of things and would be interested in a smallholder who could do that. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    Like Dove I'd be looking at small local restaurants, farm shops, and perhaps have a hunt around to see if there are some other small scale jam / chutney / pie makers that you could venture forth with getting a contract for.

    If nothing else it'd give up a huge amount of time spent at markets which you'll need.

    I'd give it all up tomorrow to live the Good Life but unfortunately for us its just not practical. Good luck with your dream!

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,128

    Having the right partner is key - I did it and loved it image - 9 acres, dairy goats, pigs, bullocks, sheep, hens, geese, veg   grey fergie tractor etc etc etc  - the then OH loved the theory but after a while he got bored and thought playing football and golf was more important than mending the fences when the bullocks had got out!  

    I was the one that did all the training courses and delivered the cheese and eggs to the shops and was up at the crack of dawn and out like a light at the end of the day - several years down the line my health began to complain ........... we sold up and moved on - eventually separately ........... 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Harriet 3Harriet 3 Posts: 10

    Oh sorry to hear your story Dovefromabove! I'm lucky as my partner got me into it, so he is definitely commited, although I am putting in a lot of the time as he works making stained glass windows, although he works from home so I can run and get him when the chickens escape etc! I am lucky though as he does all the heavy work, he's just built all my raised beds and a chicken pen! I'll have a think, we do have a couple of farm shops near us, so could ask around, I also think our local village shop might be interested. Thanks for the help!

  • ninnin Posts: 216

    Harriet 3

    Just wanted to say you lucky girl, am green with envy image

     

  • Harriet 3Harriet 3 Posts: 10

    Hi Nin,

    We know we are lucky! Doing our best to make the most of it image

     

  • Janet RodwayJanet Rodway Posts: 30

    We did a market stall for 20years started small and worked our way up I still think of our first day. On a Farmers Market the rule is that you have produced it yourself. We started with bunch carrots & bunched  beetroot did 50 bunches of each and sold them all in 2 hours. The week after we double up and still sold out. It all went well until the winter when vegetable are not so plentiful, To keep the good position with the stall I started cooking cakes. You have to have a Hygiene Certificate for this and a kitchen inspection. but I still did it. It got busier and I cooked more grew more vegetable added on more cake and then bread. we Weighed everything before leaving so you could serve quicker no weighing on the stall. Yes it paid. but the hour went up to 3 of us doing 120 hour a week each. it paid off the farm and now I can relax. Remember you have to take enough money to pay for the stall, Public liability insurance, Fuel, Ingredients, Seeds etc.,  

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