Weekend Farmers
I am very interested in the cost of food. Not only from the point of view that I am a consumer of said goods but also form the point of new ways of generating the same amount of food for less. Most say that food cost comes from the shipping from far off destinations coupled with environmental concerns. Food shipping also has a huge impact on the carbon footprint.
There has been a lot of press about grow/eat local. This concept is very appealing to me. While there are tons and tons of ways to do this, urbanites have started to buy small plots of larger land tracks to grow and maintain there own food supply. This is also accruing in large city's on rooftop gardens and city parks. Would this idea be appealing to fellow Horry County citizines? I don't really think so but it may.
I have at my disposal about 8 acres of land located off 701 S right outside of Conway. What if I made a urban farming location where people could rent out smaller plots and plat there own crops? Have it where all tools, water, fertilizer are all supplied. Also have on a hand a "real farmer" who could coach folks the ways of growing crops properly. You could charge for the service and make it as easy as possible for people to become "Weekend Farmers." As long as you make the place nice, free of backbreaking work and give growing advice you could make it work. I think people are scared off from the up front cost of equipment, the thought of loosing their crops due to inexperience and actually doing back breaking work. If you supply the knowledge, the equipment and a helping hand people would be more inclined to join up. {You could possibly create it like a co-op where all crops are put into the overall pool of crops and each family gets there own share. (But I haven't thought this idea out fully so I will hold off for now. Too many negative thoughts as far as "Share Cropping" is concerned.)}
Taking it one step further you could also have live stock where each" Weekend Farmer" has his/her own cow, hog and chicken. You would then get the eggs from the chickens and each season get the beef from the cattle and the pork from the pig.
The idea is not that far of a stretch. You already have people renting out horse stables and while this is for recreation the same principals apply except now the recreation is "gardening." You are making it fun, enjoyable, family time and eco-friendly.
What do you think? Would you become a "weekend farmer?"
