1. Planning your
sustainable far m
enter prise
Tony Kleese
The Earthwise Company, LLC
www.earthwiselife.com

2. What is a sustainable
farm enterprise?
Environmentally sound
Economically viable
Socially just and equitable
Triple bottom line results that sustain the
farm and its inhabitants

3. Environmentally sound
Must enhance the natural resource base
now and in the future
Certified Organic

4. Economically viable
Plan and operate your farm as a profitable
business

5. Socially just and
equitable
 Community based
 Fair wages and decent conditions for
labor
 Time off for focusing on family and self

6. Farm = Food system
Components of a food system
1. Land
2. Water
3. Farmers/labor
4. Inputs
5. Infrastructure
6. Consumers/markets
7. Waste

7. Land
 High quality soils or at the minimum good
drainage.
 Moderate to no slope.
 Facing south with good air flow.
 Within 1 hour of good markets
 Resources
 NRCS/Web Soil Survey
 Soil testing labs

8. Water
 Clean and sufficient source, preferable a well with a
minimum of 10 gpm. Surface water is unreliable and
often contaminated.
 On average, one acre of crops with a full canopy use
about one inch of water a week, which equals 27,154
gallons or about 4,000 gallons of water a day.
 Drip systems are designed to apply water daily without
splashing disease spores onto leaves or compacting
soil.
 Resources:
 Neighbors well drilling results
 Local well drillers
 Dowsers

9. Farmers/Labor
1. Why do you want to farm?
2. Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
3. How much income do you need now and in the
future?
4. What skills do you have?
5. What skills do you need?
6. How many people do you want to manage?
Resources:
 Farmer occupational profile
http://growingnewfarmers.org/index.php
 Other local growers

10. Inputs
 Quality seeds/plants for SE conditions.
 Breeds of livestock that thrive on pasture
based systems.
 Slow money
 Resources:
 ATTRA
 Southern Exposure Seed
 Organic Seed Alliance
 American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

11. Infrastructure
 Roads
 Fencing
 Hand tools
 Tractor
 Truck and other vehicles
 Buildings
 Equipment shed
 Washing, packing, and cooling
 Human and animal housing
 Resources:
 ATTRA Market Gardening Document

12. Consumers/markets
Start your planning process here because it impacts all
other decisions.
1. Who are they?
2. Where are they?
3. What do they want?
4. When do they want it?
5. How much and in what form?
6. How much will they pay?
Resources:
 Sell What you Sow by Eric Gibson
 CFSA and Local Harvest
 ECO, Farmers Fresh Market, New River Organic Growers

13. Waste
 Aim for zero waste
 Cycle nutrients
 Carbon footprint
 Green packaging
 Resources
 Composting Council
 Responsible Packaging Project

14. Business plan outline
 Cover sheet
 Executive summary
 Organizational plan
 Marketing plan
 Financial documents
 Supporting documents