Business thoughts.

[WhiteWolfReloaded]

Just wanted to get some opinions on a simple business idea. I've done landscaping before and it's one of my favorite hobbies. I'm thinking about restarting my business now with a new angle. Victory gardens. I'd price out the gardens by lot size and set up maintenance services for future clients. A major plus is I have most of the equipment I'd need already and I can plant pretty much year round. I'd also like to target HOA's for community gardens, but I don't want to put the cart before the horse.

Thoughts?

[JohnyMac]

I think its a GREAT idea!

A way to price it is to think what you would put in a 20'x30' plot like:

> 5 tomato plants
> 5 Cucumbers
> 10 Bean
> Etc, Etc...

Then figure out what your yield will be per plant.
Then go to the supermarket and figure out what the going price is for your yield. Once you have that (The starting price) you can adjust your price.

You could offer three levels of service:

Silver = You plant the garden in the spring and the owner maintains the garden
Gold = You plant the garden in the spring and maintain the garden
Platinum = You plant the garden in the spring and mid summer and maintain it year round.

Great idea and have fun!!!

[thatGuy]

don't you already have a fucked up back?

[JohnyMac]

TG wrote:

don't you already have a fucked up back?

To funny!  [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

[Kentactic]

Let me know if you want to contract out the irrigation installs  [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

[thatGuy]

Ken is right on the money, you can do all the dirt work you want but smartly done automated drip systems are where its at.

You don't need a big truck, a half ton with some spools set up in the back for your t-tape, 1/2" poly and a port-a-spool for the 1/4" add a couple of tackle boxes of emitters, a shovel or two and your in business!

[WhiteWolfReloaded]

Yeah, my back's pretty fucked, but it is getting better. Honestly though, the gardening and even some hardscaping would be easier on my back than what I was doing. I mean I was unloading a full size trailer of unpalletized  furniture 2 to 3 times a week with no equipment other than a hand truck working in a stock room with numerous OSHA violations. My back welcomes the lighter work load lol.

As far as the irrigation  If you feel like trucking out to NC Ken I'd be happy to help ya out. I'm thinking about working out a 55 gallon barrel roof top gravity fed irrigation system. I can get the barrels dirt cheap down in SC.

Thanks for the input guys. If you think of anything else in the mean time PM me since the switch should occur any minu.........

[Kentactic]

Yeah if there was enough work coming in id seriously consider the move. Im transitioning out of government as of now. Im doing irrigation new installs, repairs and upgrades on the side. The money can be good if you can keep the customers coming in. People are still willing to pay big bucks for green grass.

[thatGuy]

As far as the irrigation  If you feel like trucking out to NC Ken I'd be happy to help ya out. I'm thinking about working out a 55 gallon barrel roof top gravity fed irrigation system. I can get the barrels dirt cheap down in SC.

2.31' of head= 1psi..

Most drip systems need 10-15psi or 23.1'-34.65' of head. Not to be a parade pisser but that is mighty high.

A gallon weights 8.34lbs x 55g= 458.7lbs gotta be pretty substantial at that rate.

I am behind you all the way, if there is anything I can do to help you toward that goal just ask. I'm down.

[WhiteWolfReloaded]

As far as the irrigation  If you feel like trucking out to NC Ken I'd be happy to help ya out. I'm thinking about working out a 55 gallon barrel roof top gravity fed irrigation system. I can get the barrels dirt cheap down in SC.

2.31' of head= 1psi..

Most drip systems need 10-15psi or 23.1'-34.65' of head. Not to be a parade pisser but that is mighty high.

A gallon weights 8.34lbs x 55g= 458.7lbs gotta be pretty substantial at that rate.

I am behind you all the way, if there is anything I can do to help you toward that goal just ask. I'm down.

Yeah I know the irrigation idea is a tad ambitious, but it's definitely more of an after thought than what I'm primarily going for. It'll definitely work in certain areas around here and I'm trying to work out something in my own yard currently to see how it goes. I only have about a 10' difference to work in, but I'm researching options. The other thing is I don't plan on remaining in this hilly hell for much longer. The mountains call. 

[WhiteWolfReloaded]

So believe it or not I've already got two possibly clients. I mentioned it the other day to a family friend and she mentioned it to her husband and he loved the idea. Then she mentioned it to a friend relative here who's a prepper and she wants to get me to do something for her as well. Which is exactly what I was hoping for. A little word of mouth. I've been doing some research on the business concept itself. A lot of people, except for those who've tried it, seem to think it's unsustainable. Which I get, but I've already decided I'll be selling seeds and grown plants once I get started, but without going in to how I'm thinking of charging I'm curious for some input.

What would you guys pay for someone to till a 10'x10' lot? Using this as a general size.

What would you pay for someone to till the same lot, plant organic non gmo seeds (multiple varieties), fertilize, and set up a fence for rabbits?

Heirloom organic seeds I'm figuring I'd charge about $1 to beat back the competition of pricks like Walmart. However, grown plants I'm figuring about $5 to $10 depending on the plants and quality. No one in this region is supplying grown organic plants anymore.

I'll also likely rent some space at the farmers market to sell plants, seeds, and possibly teas as I grow them.

I'm figuring a basic sale would consist of a tilled lot, planting seeds, fertilizing, and I'll be including a fact sheet about the plants along with tips on growing, feeding, harvest, and gathering seeds for the next season. That part kind of bites my sustainability in the ass, but I'm betting on my green thumbs and this being Yuppieville, USA. Though I won't be planting inter-seasonal crops. So if they want a fall garden ......   

Anyways, as always, feedback appreciated.

[Kentactic]

10'X10' lot starting at bare rock hard dirt with weeds and all and ending with fresh tilled fertilized soil with seeds planted... Id say around $150-$200 if it were CA.. not sure how that translates where you are. The kicker will be no one under 60 will religously go hand water it daily. So they either need to have irrigation setup or they will need you to install it. Thats obviously not included in the $200 though. But i can picture lots of clients who like the idea of growing their own and they have that bare dirt in their yard. But no way to irrigate it. If $200 sounds high to said customer, remind them they are paying for knowledge not just hard labor. Also they will have a way to contact you with future issues (that benefits you of course with return customers). Possibly give them an email. You could get a monthly email letter going. When you do a job, collect their email address and send them tips or seasonal information. build a relationship with the customer.

Back to the irrigation thing i think your onto something and irrigation will be where you make a good chunk of your money. If your pedeling self-reliance then doing the whole gutter water collection system could be good. Im sure there are other products out there aswell if the customer dosent have gutters... dosent mean you cant install gutters to though 

Also if your now their goto guy you can do yearly or seasonal water collection and irrigation system maintanance. Clear the leaves out, check for leaks in the system. Whatever the system your using needs

I dont know what your contracting laws are out there. In commiefornia anything over $500 total cost requires a contractors license. Just keep that in mind if you havent already looked into it.

Seems like i typed more then you asked for sorry lol. Long story short is you can totally get return customers 

[JohnyMac]

IMO,
> Use an hourly rate when giving an estimate to a future client. Don't under-cut your time as it is the most
    valuable asset. For NC I would think it should be between $35- to $50- per hour. So if the patch of dirt needs
    less prep the price would be lower Vs. a patch that has foot high weeds.
> Don't always undercut the Walmarts or Home Depot's of the world. You will be using top quality non-GMO
   seeds/plants. If I knew (That's me mind you) I would pay $3- per plant if I knew they were non-GMO /
   heirloom plants.
> I still think you offer three levels of service:

   

Silver = You plant the garden in the spring and the owner maintains the garden
   Gold = You plant the garden in the spring and maintain the garden
   Platinum = You plant the garden in the spring and mid summer and maintain it year round.

   People like choices.
> Last, your best advertising is word of mouth PLUS your booth at the farmers market.
 
 

[WhiteWolfReloaded]

Much appreciated guys. I'm still kind of torn on the by lot or hour pricing. I'm leaning more towards by the square foot. Like you said John, lots vary. I don't want people to think "His back's hurt so he'll take forever and this'll cost me a fortune."    We'll see.
Ken, thanks for the novel  Just messing. I never though about installing the gutters too.