Forum

"Renting" Crops

Print this Topic

Page: 1

No Tags

User

Post

12:52 am
Thu, Nov 15, 2007

kitchensqueen

Guest

Print this Post

I'm currently reading the 1978 edition of "Growing for Market" by Roger Yepsen, and he introduces an interesting marketing concept that I've not come across elsewhere- renting crops to customers. He mentions it in regard to apple orchards. Basically, a grower rents a tree to an individual or family for a fixed price. The farmer is responsible for care and maintainence of the tree during the season, but the renter can come visit the tree, assist in it's care and of course, harvest all of the apples it produces.

I think this is a fantastic idea- it allows the consumer to feel some real ownership and responsibility, gives the farmer up front cash to make it through the season, and is really a bargain (both for the consumer and the farmer) price-wise. You could concievably do this with other crops as well- any kind of fruit tree of course, but also nut trees, berry bushes/briars, or even chickens (renting one and getting all of the eggs) or cows/goats (for all of the milk).

What are everyone's thoughts on this concept?

12:20 pm
Thu, Nov 15, 2007

Jules

Guest

Print this Post

The concept sounds very similar to the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) model where the grower sells shares of the forthcoming year's harvest. The 'investor' pays the grower a fixed amount in advance of the growing season to secure a share of that year's harvest, safe in the knowledge that they will get a weekly supply of very fresh veg/fruit etc and happy knowing that they are supporting that local grower by easing his/her cashflow.

It's also a way to share the risk/reward, so that if a harvest fails, both the grower and the consumer suffer, rather than just the grower. There is usually also an option to pay a fixed amount on a monthly basis, which in total works out slightly pricier than the lump sum at the start of the year. CSA members are also encouraged to put in a few hours of work on the farm on a voluntary/unpaid basis. That gives them the chance to connect closely with where their food comes from. There is a good outline of the CSA concept here. This is something that Tiny Farm does, in conjunction with selling at the farmers' market.

It's obviously a win-win model and I know it's becoming quite popular over here in the UK. It's something I want to implement when I get started next year, however I am wondering, in practical terms, how easy a CSA is to set up in Year 1 (or even if it's possible at all). Unless you already personally know all your potential local CSA-ers, how would you go about persuading strangers to sign up? You're asking them for a not insubstantial sum of money on the promise that they'll receive something (IF all goes well) in the future and since it's Year 1, you have no proof that you can actually produce anything!

Perhaps a CSA is really only feasible from Year 2 onwards…and maybe a weekly box scheme is more approriate (plus farmers' market) in the first year. At least with a box scheme, the buyer knows that they only pay if something is actually delivered. If, as a grower, you're able to prove your capabilities in Year 1 via a box scheme, then perhaps in Year 2 and onwards you can transition your regular customers into a CSA.

I would love to know what Mike's (and anyone else's) practical experience has been with this issue…

5:29 pm
Sun, Nov 18, 2007

Mike (tfb)

Admin

posts 104

Print this Post

Renting crops sounds similar to CSA in spirit and practice. As I'm finding after four seasons of CSA, anything that involves people in the growing of their own food can really…add value to the small farm and everyone involved with it. I find the approaches have to be quite simple and straightforward, at least, starting out. Too complicated or gimmicky the idea, and it's likely you'll spend lots of time explaining stuff, possibly worrying about extra things, have high turnover and be finding new members all the time. All of that can really knock off a lot of energy.

The renting concept sounds like it would work best with fairly stable, perennial crops, like with fruit trees. It's easy to see what state they're in at all times, everything is observable and upfront and easy to explain, kinda almost self-explanatory. IOW, it's easy to SEE the risks as well as the rewards! It would seem harder to rent annual crops, too many growing condition variables, especially with our new crazy weather, too much uncertainty and ongoing explanation if the renters aren't familiar with veggie gardening. Still, I'm sure every possible approach to local food can succeed in the right place and time!

NOTE: I started a new topic for Jules' when to start CSA question in the post above, so it'll be easier to find (I'm tending the forum like a neat little garden…? ;).

No Tags

Page: 1