Maine

[Jazor]

I'm not qualified to give legal or professional financial advice, but the way it works with most laws is all about the articulation.

How you word what you're doing dictates what the State of Maine labels your operation (most of the time). If you are simply selling excess produce and eggs from your land the odds of it being an issue are quite slim. Applying for a Homestead Exemption may also be something worth looking at.

If you are worried about taxes, laws, or other implications you might just check with the Town Office and ask them if you would be required to get a business license for the type of thing you're aiming to do. It's possible there are some guidelines of how to (or how not to) run a farm stand in your area. Things like: size, refrigeration, labels, inspections, etc. could come into play--but the odds are pretty good you wouldn't need to subject yourself to that.

All else fails, you could set up an LLC and get a business license and claim it all (feed, coop supplies, etc.) for taxes and use it as a small business.

 

[buckabucka]

I've been meaning to tap the collective wisdom here, but me being the airhead I am....

I'm looking for info as to what gummit hoops I may have to hop through if I was to sell my excess eggs, garden produce, etc from an on site farm stand/shop kinda deal.

Appreciate any insights you all may have,
Tim

I sell eggs and a little produce to people I work with, neighbors, and friends. I know if I want to sell anything to the farmer's market for them to help fill CSA orders, I must have proof of liability insurance. I contacted my insurance company just to see if it was worth it, and they are supposed to call back with a quote.

 

[lazy gardener]

Saw my first cucumber blossom today!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tnic]

GRATZ LG! Soon you'll be giving cukes, zukes and maters away and feeding them to the girls as fast as ya can.

Thanks for the replies bucka & Jazor. I did a little lookin into it a couple weeks ago and do recall something about the Ins and also that small on site farm stands didn't need any permits, etc. I really wanna just fly under the radar and help my neighbors here rather than make a business out of it.

The property I'm looking to settle on is right on a town line and I could end up on either side, depending on which lot I choose. Both town offices tell me there are no zoning restrictions to fuss over so roos will be in the mix.

 

[MustardTiger]

I sell eggs at work and have never had an issue. I also had an LLC for a while and that was a good lesson in accounting and taxes. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to go beyond selling a few dozen eggs here and there. Now I am back to just bartering and selling to friends.


My mama hen has two babies now! The third egg never hatched. I braved it and opened it and there was nothing but a rather large blood spot in it. They are doing well! I moved all the teenager chickens into the coop and moved mama and babes into the tractor and set up a cozy nest area for them. Anyone who watched me moving all these critters was probably laughing their A** off!

Here are all the teens and mom and chicks. Technically foster mom. She looks a little ragged from being broody for months and wearing an apron for so long. This was a chicken that we had to nurse back to health after the roo put a 5 inch gash in her side!

 

[buckabucka]

Great photos MustardTiger! So glad she had two hatch! My only experience involved the hen raising a solo chick, which was hard on him when she decided she was finished at 6 weeks. I gave him other brooder-raised youngsters his age, but he was terrified! We later kept him as our flock rooster, and he is still obsessed with that hen.

 

[MustardTiger]

yikes. that is weird and creepy in a very Freudian way! haha

 

[buckabucka]

I think it is a color fixation. There were two identical hens. I actually think the one that raised him is the one that died, so he became obsessed with her twin instead. His second favorite hen is a different breed, but similar color. It may be just coincidence, but that is my theory.

 

[The100AcreWood]

I have a question. We have 3 what we assumed were leghorns. One has just started to lay ( eggs so far) they have been varying shades of color but usually a light tan. I thought leghorns laid white. We got them at THE this spring. Just curious what's going on I guess. In the end it doesn't matter what they are, really.

 

[The100AcreWood]

4 eggs so far* typing on my cell phone!