I’m lucky to own/operate a small farm I live on. It doesn’t produce almost any real money for me but it serves as a good collection of hobbies/food. My primary income is industrial and doesn’t scratch that itch. But, it pays the bills and affords me a schedule that let’s me maintain the farm. So, what would your ideal small farm setup look like?
Fennel, it grows well for me and is a premium crop, and maybe Stokes Purple sweet potatoes and okra.
But really, fennel because it is reasonably well compensated and the only thing I grow the bugs ignore. Hong Tsoi is vigorous for me but doesn’t cost as much.
If you have room for animals, figure out what people will pay for and raise those. I have no idea on that.
Yeah I currently have chickens, goats, sheep, a llama, pigs, ducks and bees. I don’t really operate for money more as a hobby and for food. I do sell and donate my products regularly, pretty much breaks even, which is okay by me.
If you have cottage industry laws (where I live if you are a small producer selling locally you aren’t subject to the same regulations as a bigger producer) you could also think about making soap from the goat milk, people seem to be successful with that here. Candles from beeswax too.
It’s fine to make a living. As my midwife said, you need to value your own knowledge and labor fairly, as you would for someone else.