Sobering Article about Small Farming

I came across an article on Rodale’s website, New Farm, written by farmer Mark Lichtenstein, called “The end of farming for me, for now.” Contained in the article are some very sobering realities about farming, organic farming, and small entrepreneurship in general.

Mr. Lichtenstein writes about his effort to become an organic dairy farmer and his subsequent liquidation of his entire assets in order to keep from going bankrupt. He offers some points worth reading for anyone entering an entrepreneurial enterprise, and especially farming. To boil the lessons he learned down to a few items I would say:

• Stay grounded; don’t be become overly idealistic.
• Choose you location carefully; don’t be too far away from your source of supplies and market.
• Keep your overhead low.
• Do not over invest.
• Minimize or incur no dept.
• Keep things simple.
• Take small steps, especially at the beginning, until you are truly making a profit.

The article is very sobering and the mistakes I hope not to make. Also, this is one article that needs to be read by any future homesteader. I would also recommend reading Joel Salatin’s book “You Can Farm.” Many of the lessons learned by Mr. Lichtenstein are prefigured by Mr. Salatin.