Washingtonians

[AriLovesChickens]

Quote:
I don't think there was enough space in the venue for people to have lunch. There should have been a designated eating area. Without your space, we would have been...SOL. Is Monroe better set up for this?

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
I don't know what kind of goats you have, or your plans for them, or the ducks/chickens. Having had mine for a few years now, I do know (good record keeping) that we do not break even. We DO eat our own meat, and raising our own has brought the cost down to about $2 per lb, and we know what good quality we are eating. I am not even taking into account the building materials, fencing costs, electricity, labour etc, only feed costs, and costs for stock (I didn't include the cost of the goats though).

I have a good market for free range eggs, Muscovies ducks and ducklings, and a few chickens here and there. The goats we are raising for our own food, same for the rabbits. Our income (from the "farm") comes from sales of eggs in the spring/summer, and sales of ducks. It covers our feed bills in the summer but not winter. We also trade some meat for fresh veggies.

We knew starting out that it would never be completely self supporting - we simply wanted better food, at a better price. We have made a niche market with some good customers who also want quality eggs and meat.

I'm not trying to make it sound like you can't make a go of it - but the area you live in, probably doesn't have the kind of customers (wealthy) who can afford the higher prices that would make this a good going concern for you. (We have a lot of wealthy people in our area, who willingly pay the high prices I put on my products)

If others have got a method for being totally self sufficient, I hope they can share their "secrets" with the rest of us. I would certainly like hubby to be able to give up his day job and we could "live off the land".

I get that, and yes that is a big part of it, knowing where our food comes from and yes I understand where I live is not necessarily conducive to getting rich by any means!

But, here are some factors to consider, I live in the Yakima Valley..... in Wine country, we have more wineries per mile than probably any where in the state. I raise or am starting to raise, Nubians, part of why I got them is to furnish my own milk, meat and cheese, and learn how to make soap. My initial thought was to raise farm fresh eggs, lots of people do that here, but then, I found the Muscovy, a bug eating machine! Along with a good meat source as well. There are a small handful of people who have learned the cheese business and have taken their goat cheese to the wineries, farmers markets ect. It does take certification, which I would be willing to do, and learning to make soap to sell at some of these places as well. I don't know that I ever intended to be totally self sufficient, as in my husband would quit his job? He likes it too much. My intent was to make the land pay for itself. My thought was if I raise well bred goats, chickens and ducks, I could maybe make enough to pay for feed, irrigation, up keep. I could be dreaming, or way out in left field, because I am not an accountant nor am I good at numbers. I have tried to keep records of feed and supplies so that I knew what I was spending this year. We get a lot of people through this area that do have money. So, I wanted to tap into part of wine industry, as well as the specialty cheese market. We don't have the high property taxes ect that you have over there, I would consider it reasonable for the amount of land we have. I just know that I want to do something I love and be good at it and make enough to make it work???

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
perhaps, to keep the "peace" -- since there were some rumblings of discord about our friendly group in the days before the show -- we could put signs on the TABLES instead, that .... "this is a potluck, so BRING FOOD and COME JOIN US ..."

better to be INclusive than exclusive ... and there certainly was enough food to have fed another army ...

what do you think ?

This was a bit of an issue and NOT with the club. See the guy with the burger stand just out side hasa rock solid deal that prohibits things that may basically hurt his business. That is (I was told) Why this club has no food. But WEwere just a group of friends sharing our lunch privately with each other and couldn't help it if others snuck in and got food too! I feel we had plenty and I didn't have any issue sharing. But I did tell those who ask what the deal was. I don't know of ANYBODY told they couldn't eat. That's MY BYC BUDDIES caring and sharing.

It's all good!! NO Worries!!! I didn't mean to start anything, just wanted to make suggestions for a more cohesive potluck!! (not sure if that's the right term) I'm excited about Monroe!!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
That's kinda cruddy?? If they said we could bring our own lunch, why can't it be as big as we want???! LOL Do you really think your business was affected by the potluck?? hmm, I would think people would say, wow that guy must have some great stuff, look all the people over there!!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
I realize few of you met my DH who was there and probably didn't introduce himself to anyone, but later when I asked him again after several times saying, "Why don't you go get some food?" he finally told me "I had some veggies and then I went out and bought a sausage from the guy outside. It was really good." So the guy outside did get at least one customer and it was even a BYC spouse.

We have a little time to make a BYC banner before Monroe which would probably help define who is welcome to help themselves to the potluck. It does not bother me to share, but I would just hope that if there were any leftovers that our BYCer's felt free to help themselves and take them home at the end of the day.

I think there were a couple who snacked well all the way home. Now I don't wanna mention any names but thier initials are ...never mind I am skeert of one of em. DaFat Kid got the best of the left overs. The cheese cake and choc pie.

Oh SERIOUSLY?? Who could YOU be skeert of??? lol The cheesecake and pie were probably the best part!!!

Well, I don't know there was a lot of good stuff, some of course I missed cause I was running around like a crazy person, but, it's all good!! I felt bad there was so much stuff left that people could have taken back home to their families!! ?

 

[jbear]

Quote:
I can certainly relate. At the March show I took way too many birds and was so busy taking care of them that I barely got a chance to talk with anyone else. I had several nice conversations with folks at this last one and met some new folks I hadn't before. Some were first timers and I had a few lengthy discussions with them. Unfortunately, the longer I talk with somebody the less time I have to do so with others.

Oh well, there's always March. Look forward to meeting a previous neighbor - so to speak - and another ex-Idiot Out Walking Around.

God Bless,

Royce, you goofball! You've met me several times. I'm the silkie exhibitor from SE WA that also has SLW. Jen/Jenni/Jennifer. Was wearing the ASBC apron for a good bit.

NOT the Jen with the Calls.. that's me. Just to add to the confusion!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Royce, you goofball! You've met me several times. I'm the silkie exhibitor from SE WA that also has SLW. Jen/Jenni/Jennifer. Was wearing the ASBC apron for a good bit.

NOT the Jen with the Calls.. that's me. Just to add to the confusion!

Hey J! If you see Mark, can you tell him another BIG THANK YOU! for what he and his father did for me before I left the show?? For a newbie to the club, they both treated me like I had been there forever!! I really do appreciate it!!!

 

[jbear]

Quote:
NOT the Jen with the Calls.. that's me. Just to add to the confusion!

Hey J! If you see Mark, can you tell him another BIG THANK YOU! for what he and his father did for me before I left the show?? For a newbie to the club, they both treated me like I had been there forever!! I really do appreciate it!!!

I will tell them.. They are great guys.

 

[Cowgirlgrace]

Quote:
Ohhh, I knew there was a bit of a discussion with the club initially concerning our desire to have a potluck but in the end we were welcomed AND were allowed a space. Thanks Rustler for sharing and hope you won't be paying a price for it.

Thanks WFF for letting us be there. It was your show and very nice. I think we all had a lot of fun and were educated as well. By letting BYC in and have a potluck it brought more people to the show to learn and hopefully join the club and start showing! It's a win win!

 

[pettec63]

Quote:
Ohhh, I knew there was a bit of a discussion with the club initially concerning our desire to have a potluck but in the end we were welcomed AND were allowed a space. Thanks Rustler for sharing and hope you won't be paying a price for it.

Thanks WFF for letting us be there. It was your show and very nice. I think we all had a lot of fun and were educated as well. By letting BYC in and have a potluck it brought more people to the show to learn and hopefully join the club and start showing! It's a win win!

x2!! very well said!!!