Survey and Analysis
Two sites were available at the time I set out to design the business. The home site - the existing vegetable garden of our rented house - and the fieldscale site - a part of our ten acre Farm Business Tenancy plot which was once home to my vegetable box scheme.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the plots
The home site was secure - unlike the FBT which was under threat - but as a rental, there is always the possibility that we would have to move. We were looking at shared ownership houses at the time, and have again since - on both occasions we've failed to win the house, but one of our overall aims is to get out of the big rent trap, so when we do get the chance we will have to move.
The field site had a threat to the tenancy hanging over it (since resolved) but once a tenancy is signed, it is ours to work with as we please, and we have a known period of five (or now three) years to work with.
The home site advantages:
and disadvantages:
The field site's advantages:
and disadvantages:
On balance, the home site is the better site for the start up. Ease of access and 24 hour presence, coupled with facilities like the greenhouse and polytunnel, ready access to water and electricity, the office, safe and secure storage, not to mention warmth, food and toilet facilities, mean that the initial start up must be put in place at home.
As there is reason to believe that we might move in the short to mid term future, designing in succession is going to be important. Looking at the future of the herb and salad enterprise in conjunction with plans for the CSA market garden should help when ensuring the two projects integrate but do not conflict.
The field site had a threat to the tenancy hanging over it (since resolved) but once a tenancy is signed, it is ours to work with as we please, and we have a known period of five (or now three) years to work with.
The home site advantages:
- Very close to home - can pop out and do half an hour when ever there's chance
- Good soil, well drained and in good heart
- Access to home office, internet etc.
- Economically strong area with some contacts.
and disadvantages:
- little or no passing trade
- some tension from neighbours
- a lot of weeds, as it adjoins organic farmland
- not an area known for its enthusiasm for new projects.
The field site's advantages:
- fantastic passing trade (opposite the school)
- no neighbour problems, good access
- more residents in village - more open to new projects
and disadvantages:
- following flooding, soil is in very poor state
- not at home, so travelling involved, have to work in bigger blocks, can't make use of odd half hours
- complicated as end view for field site is as CSA market garden - could become confusing.
On balance, the home site is the better site for the start up. Ease of access and 24 hour presence, coupled with facilities like the greenhouse and polytunnel, ready access to water and electricity, the office, safe and secure storage, not to mention warmth, food and toilet facilities, mean that the initial start up must be put in place at home.
As there is reason to believe that we might move in the short to mid term future, designing in succession is going to be important. Looking at the future of the herb and salad enterprise in conjunction with plans for the CSA market garden should help when ensuring the two projects integrate but do not conflict.
SWOT Analysis
My strengths : I love the job, and have a certain amount of knowledge - I've done similar things before and learned from mistakes!
Weaknesses : I'm disorganised, not good at accounts and paperwork, and fearful of approaching people sometimes.
Opportunities: Plenty of local restaurants, some with proprietors known to us, Country Market of which I am a member, and Farmers Markets nearby.
Threats: Salads - A lot of local competition - Village Veg, Bromham Growers, Five a Day. Herbs -Limited market with some famous names.
Weaknesses : I'm disorganised, not good at accounts and paperwork, and fearful of approaching people sometimes.
Opportunities: Plenty of local restaurants, some with proprietors known to us, Country Market of which I am a member, and Farmers Markets nearby.
Threats: Salads - A lot of local competition - Village Veg, Bromham Growers, Five a Day. Herbs -Limited market with some famous names.
What works
The site has almost year round access and - as noted above - good well drained soil and semi constructed paths. The green house and polytunnel are ideal for propagating. There is reasonable vehicular access via the drive.
What needs to change
Water collection and storage is a bit woeful, and as a lot of water will be needed for salads and herbs, this needs to be addressed. Weeds are rampant and need overcoming. Polytunnel is not in a good state of repair and by rights should have a new cover this year but will probably have to be patched up and go one more year.
Office facilities are spread around the house and very disorganised. While I am reasonably good at social networking and online marketing, I am not good at realtime face to face marketing and that will need to be addressed.
Office facilities are spread around the house and very disorganised. While I am reasonably good at social networking and online marketing, I am not good at realtime face to face marketing and that will need to be addressed.