| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 01 2012 : 09:59:45 AM
This morning I went to market. I did not have a whole lot, just some bell peppers, sweet banana and hot peppers, green beans and some kale. I worked all day yesterday (I am a caretaker on Fridays) and came home and picked and mowed. Then loaded the car. Got up at 6 am and fed animals in the dark with a flashlight. They weren't even up then. Left the house at 6:58. Got to market at 7:25. Set up. Waited for the open horn. People came in I was the only vender on the one side next to the corner. The lady beside me was selling plants. Not many people want plants right now. All the other people on the opposite side had tomatoes and squash ans peas and such.
So people came by and looked. And they'd talk. But didn't buy anything from me. I also sell soap and had that there. They'd pick up some soap and smell it. So about 8:50 I started packing up. I am not going to pay $5.00 for nothing.
The people that sell at this market practically give stuff away. Most of them are older people with nothing else to do but garden and sit at market. They might as well save the gas and put out a sign in front of their house and give it away. I mean, $2.00 for a big basket of pretty squash, $3.00 for a huge basket of huge tomatoes and $5.00 for a bigger basket. $2.00 for a basket of peas. Really??
I am not doing this as a hobby. I am not a retired teacher or factory worker drawing SS or retirement money. THIS IS MY JOB! I am not doing this as a hobby. I am doing this to make money. This is what I do now. I cannot afford to drive 25 miles one way to just sit in the sun and talk to people about the high price of a tomato. I like talking to people. Really, I do. But please buy something from me too. Wed. I made $12.00 from soap. I lost money because it costs $5 every time I set up there. Plus 50 miles round trip. I lost money big time this week. Not good at all.
I guess I am just frustrated and really need to rethink what I am going to do. I do believe that this particular market is not for me anymore. I need to make money and there are other markets in Chattanooga where people are actually making money selling produce. That's where I need to be.
Sorry for the rant here. But I need to holler and scream right now! My garden is growing lots more veggies and I need to figure out what I should do. I know next year I will be doing a CSA for sure. And getting my application in early for the Main St. market in Chatt. I hope I can go there.
Thanks for listening. And any suggestions or advice would be great.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Dorinda |
Posted - Nov 08 2012 : 5:09:10 PM
Hey Kris, I have not been on in a while. I see things are looking better for you. I am so happy to hear that. Keep up the good work. Spring will be here before you know it and your garden will be blooming big time.
Seize The Day!
Dorinda |
| Marigold |
Posted - Oct 30 2012 : 3:42:15 PM
Have you looked into selling to a local co-op grocery type store? You could look to sell your soap online at places like etsy.com as well. I have a friend who sells there. http://gonudesoap.com/ |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 07 2012 : 4:32:31 PM
http://kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com/2012/10/market-day-and-its-cold.html
Here's my market day update for yesterday. It's so fun! I love it there so much.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 05 2012 : 06:01:16 AM
My fingers and arms are ruined! They itch so bad. I need to get some of those thin plastic gloves and wear long sleeves now to pick turnip greens. They just kill me! My arms are all red and rashy and so itchy. I hate picking turnip greens but I love them! Green beans and okra do the same thing to me. And my legs too, since I wear shorts to pick. But not anymore. Long sleeves and gloves from now on.
I get to bring my soap to market tomorrow! There are 2 or 3 others that have been there all summer that sell soap, but usually one is there all the time. So I just got an email saying the other one won't be there so I could bring mine. I have been making more soap every week, getting ready for the Holiday Market in Dec. I love making soap. It's always a guessing game to see if it turned out and hardened. Yesterday, I used a plastic container that had cinnamon rolls in it. NOT a good idea to pour hot lye soap into a thin cheap plastic container for a mold. When I checked on it last night, it had came out of the melted mold, but was hard. So I will have some rustic Pumpkin SPice soap. Ya live and learn, right?
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| laurentany |
Posted - Oct 04 2012 : 11:21:08 AM
Hope the sign out front brings in a bunch of business too Kris! Sounds like things are on the upswing!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
View my New Blog:
http://simplesuburbanpleasures.blogspot.com
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 04 2012 : 08:40:56 AM
After the rains we had earlier this week, my greens are growing like weeds! They look so good now. I am hoping I won't have to pick beans for much longer. I went back to the Battlefield market yesterday because most of my veggie customers on Wed. were going out of town or just didn't need anything. So took a lot of things. I could only stay 1 1/2 hours. But most people come within that first hour anyway. I sold a lot. And put some greens in the freezer and am cooking some collards now.
I wish you all lived closer! I have a sign out front now with what I have growing and ready. Hopefully I'll get some people to stop.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| crittergranny |
Posted - Sep 29 2012 : 5:44:00 PM
So glad things are going better. What a big lovely garden you have! Wish I lived closer I would buy from you!
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 5:32:43 PM
Thanks, Laurie! I can just see me getting arrested and thrown in jail and paople asking me why I'm in. Selling raw milk goat cheese. They's laugh. Laws in Ga. are tough when it comes to raw milk.
It's warm in this house but really cool outside right now. I might have to sleep outside tonight!
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| laurentany |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 2:39:09 PM
Yay Kris! I love reading this post and seeing that things have turned around a bit for you and are going in a positive direction. As I said- you certainly deserve it with all of the hard work that you do. I laughed when I saw your comment about bootleg feta cheese and was glad when I saw you post that you made it back home safely! LOL
Enjoy the rest of the weekend and I pray that the weather cooperates there for you so that you get the rain you need and cooler (but not TOO cool) temps to make those fall crops flourish!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
View my New Blog:
http://simplesuburbanpleasures.blogspot.com
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 22 2012 : 10:58:20 AM
Well, sold all the Blue Lake beans, most of the Roma beans, some radishes, kale, Kombucha and some marinated feta cheese (under the table bootleg cheese!). So did rather well today. Lots of people interested in chickens and lamb and goat meat. And even my 2 does for sale. Lots of people took my business cards. Got to put my soap out and had lots of people looking and smelling but no sales yet. So all in all, a greta market day.We will go to the 3rd week in November. So I hope we don't get any frost just yet. Although it won't hurt the greens. Thanks for the prayers, Marly! Prayer works!
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 7:48:26 PM
Thank you, Marly! I will. I am going to bed now. Good night!
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 6:52:22 PM
Good luck at the market tomorrow morning, Kris. Let us do how you do. I'll say a prayer for you.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 6:23:56 PM
Thank you, Janice. That's my favorite too. I have a mint-sage I just made with fresh ground sage leaves. It smells good too. I have got to get busy making more. My hubby drives a truck. He was supposed to be home this weekend. But they are upset with him for going over 15 minutes on his 10 hour break. He drove to a safe place to park his truck and so he might get a cup of coffee and a bathroom in the morning. So now they want to have a meeting with him. I sure hope he tells them how he feels. And as far as Heather goes, she owes me big time! Heck yeah, she's pickin' some green beans!
Going to the market in the morning with a bushel od Blue Lake beans, some Roma beans, radishes and kale. And I am taking some boot leg marinated feta cheese too! So if y'all don't see me on here for awhile, I could be in jail.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Sep 21 2012 : 05:28:53 AM
Good girl, Heather! I used to have to bribe my son to help me weed my rose garden. He always wanted to go back in the air conditioning. That's a lot of work, Kris. One of our best friends is a retired truck driver and I know what a hard road that is, too. Love your soap! Had the dh mail the check on Monday. The mint is my fave so far. :) Your prices are very very affordable!
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 20 2012 : 6:53:46 PM
Lorena, I hope I didn't come across as being too selfish. I have goven food away but this is my business and the way I make money to keep my farm running. I don't have retirement money or SS coming in. And my husband is a truck driver. Not much there these days. And we have bills. So this is my job right now.
Wanted to share a picture of my farm hand. My daughter Heather helping pick green beans. It sure is nice to have help. Beans take so long to pick. Longer than anything else. So we picked this afternoon for Sat. market. I'll pick the rest tomorrow when I get home from my other job I have on Fridays. I sit with a 95 year old lady all day on Friday. So can't do anything til I get home. Only have a few hours of daylight anymore.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Sep 17 2012 : 6:04:25 PM
Maybe they couldn't afford to. So you would be doing the Lords work as well.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - Sep 17 2012 : 6:02:03 PM
If the farmers markets don't work, set up your own roadside stand or just a sign with what you have available and their prices. Here in Maine, many stands are based on the honor system. Though, there are some that just take.and not pay, but most do. And think of it this way, if someone didn'tpay
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 16 2012 : 06:23:22 AM
Well thank you, Laurie. It is exciting to see people who actually are concerned and want to buy healthy fresh produce and aren't concerned with the prices. I do want people to be able to buy my produce and I do not price as high as some there do. I had a lady yesterday that wanted big turnip greens and she said she will be coming back for mine when they are bigger. Mine are small still because of no rain and it's been hot. But we are supposed to be getting rain and much cooler temps this week! So my fall things should take off now.
I have my name on the waiting list for the Main St market too. There are about 30 others on the list. I hope I get in there. If not, I will be doing a CSA on Wed. then. I am doing that now with about 10 people. I like doing this too. That way the garden gets picked 2-3 times a week.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| laurentany |
Posted - Sep 15 2012 : 5:01:11 PM
Kris- I am so happy to hear that you have something to look forward to in the new market! That positive energy will shine through and you will be creative and do very well!
Good for you- after all of your hard work you most certainly deserve this!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
View my New Blog:
http://simplesuburbanpleasures.blogspot.com
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 13 2012 : 10:32:41 AM
Thank you, Laura. I do know that buying from the man who has eggs for just $2 a dozen is way cheaper than me buying laying feed for my chickens. I buy enough from him to make $1 on each dozen. A friend has lots of egg customers and her chickens have slowed down too. SO I buy from him til ours start back with more eggs. I sell mine for $3 a dozen too.
I have zinnias on my table at the market and pretty colorful quilt tops. Lots of people have told me my tables are really pretty and colorful and get people's attention.
I really like the Brainerd Mkt and am already looking forward to this Sat. I wish it was twice a week. It's actually fun there.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| crittergranny |
Posted - Sep 13 2012 : 08:13:45 AM
One thing I have learned is that it pays to get others involved. I have a lady take my eggs to her Bible study group and sell them for $3 a doz and she gets to keep $1 of it. Or some things I sell I give 20% to someone for selling it for me. Also there is easier money in other peoples critters sometimes than your own. We do pretty well sometimes with horse training, rounding up cattle for people and critter sitting. I get to enjoy playing with the animal and get paid too. They get to pay the food bill. My daughter also does well with dog grooming. Usually when I sell a food product I use the price in the store as a base price. Then go a little higher or a little lower. The thing with marketing is that you must always keep in mind who your target market is and what their needs are. Here in NM we usually have to sell for a little less to locals because they haven't survived here in remoteness and harshness all these years by overpaying for stuff, but one may be able to sell for more at a hotel lobby or somewhere that there are tourists. Maybe you can find a spot to sell your veggies where people are hungry and sort of on the go. Maybe you could make some burritos or something out of that wonderful food. In our area we start to get hunters this time of year and with them comes a chance to sell certain things like paintings of elk or photos of them with their trophy and most of all prepared food. I also get some trail rides from the bored wives that come with them sometimes...lol You just have to think it over. Problems are sort of like puzzles to figure out, and keep in mind 2 other things. People are 70% more likely to buy something they have picked up and handled. I used to sell Christian books at tables and we were taught to always put the price on the bottom so the person has to pick it up and look at it and... 2 Also 70% of the decision to buy something is emotional. You have to learn to read people and see what touches their emotions. Sounds manipulative but I have had to survive like this and feed 4 children at times, besides I have never cheated anyone and believe me I could have many times if I was that type of person. If I didn't care what happens to my horses once sold I could have made so many sales through the years just by playing on people, but I do not cause at the end of the day I have to still live with myself. One more thing is that positioning of your table is a big factor. In some instances it is the first table in the center that gets the customers and in others it is further on. Eye level and appealing. I went to a craft fair and had fresh eggs out and I was selling my eggs for $3 when the lady across had eggs for $2 because I was in a better spot for the flow of traffic and the eye rested on me when they came around the corner and I also had a couple of goose eggs sitting out as attention getters. Thing is once you draw someone over they want to buy something so you just have to figure out how to give them the opportunity that they feel good about.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Sep 10 2012 : 08:07:35 AM
Thanks, Kris. I think I'll read up on that. Interesting.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 09 2012 : 4:07:35 PM
Thank you, Laurie. I had a good time too and that makes all the difference. I really liked this market and the people were great.
Marly, kombucha is like a mushroom but it's actually a yeast that is fed by sugar. It has a "mother" like apple cider vinegar that's real. The mother has babies every few weeks. I make a pot of regular black tea with sugar and pour the starter and scoby in and it sits on the counter for up to 2 weeks fermenting. It's great for all kinds of ailments like heartburn, arthritis, digestion, blood pressure and blood sugar. It's a probiotic. I love the stuff and have had mine going now for over 4 years. Kombucha has been around for over 2000 years. From ancient China.
Kris
Happiness is simple.
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com |
| Bear5 |
Posted - Sep 09 2012 : 09:19:36 AM
Kris, what is kombucha scoby? I'm sure if my buddy, Teri, reads this, she'll be giggling. I'm learning by asking.
Sounds like you have a good new plan, Kris. Keep us posted.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| laurentany |
Posted - Sep 08 2012 : 9:13:01 PM
Kris,
Read on your blog that you did pretty well today at the new farmers market! Good for you! I am so happy that it worked out for you.
Keep pluggin along 
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
View my New Blog:
http://simplesuburbanpleasures.blogspot.com
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
