[treesmiths]

Hi, I'm a retired timber farmer and for the fun of it I've been planting some stock on a whim that I may be able to sell it at a farmers market in a few years. This year I planted 1,000 rhodies, 300 western redcedar and some other things. The nice thing is that I'm able to do this under our tree canopy and grow a second crop. I have also been thinking about putting the backhoe to work and hire out on a partime business. Are G.C.s good customers, or retail consumer types? Is $65.00 an hour fair? Any suggestions on new plants I might try? thanks

[Lanelle]

Welcome to GTX!
Where are you located? It's hard to generalize about types of customers, partly because there are good ones and bad ones. Much has to do with your ability to sense what you are dealing with and your expertise with handling contracts and difficult people or situations. For starters, do what you feel comfortable doing and then reach and stretch from there. I have no idea how lucative your farmer's markets are. Here, the produce is sold at prices comparable to the grocery stores---with the benefit being that its fresher/better.

[Dale Wiley]

Where are you located?? Your in the same zone and I am in the heart of nursery country. I have a wholesale nursery, container and field stock.

The time Iwork for a general contractor will be the day my family has me committed to an insane asylum.

In my area a backhoe and operator would go for at least $ 75 an hour with 4 hour minimum charge.

[treesmiths]

Hi Dale,
We are north of Seattle about an hour and a half. On Port Susan at kayak point. Puget Sound helps moderate our weather. We dont get the heat in the summer so some things (like tomatoes) are tough. But we can always count on a bumper crop of slugs!
thanks,
Prentice
Kayak Point Farms

[Dale Wiley]

Hi Prentice:

Good to see another west coaster in here and a PNW guy too...

We sell a lot of nursery stock through the farmers markets...we go to 2 different ones May through July and then again in late Sept and October. All cash money.......