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We missed you too T Hi!! I hope you can make Monroe???
We missed you too T Hi!! I hope you can make Monroe???
Washingtonians
- Thread starter Napalongtail
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Heres what I think. First, if I were just a club member or showing birds and walked in the door I never for a second would think the potluck was for me the way it was situated. The show catalog said 'your on your own for lunch'. I may have brought fast food or something. I would not have helped myself to a potluck if the show catalog did not mention one.
Second, there was lots of good, specially prepared food there that people brought to share with BYC'ers. If all were invited it wouldn't have gone far and some BYC people may have been left out with the food gone. We planned the potluck to meet BYCers.
Third, if the show people and WFF members want potluck they obviously can plan their own. I'm not trying to sound like I wish to exclude them but we should be allowed to have our potluck without feeling guilty. We can encourage people to join the BYC Washingtonian forum. That way they will know about the potluck and not feel left out. Maybe after seeing our potluck and how fun it was future shows will plan their own for their members. If non BYCers and non WFF members show up to show maybe it will encourage them to join one or the other or both. If we get a few imposters, so be it. Not a big deal with me. I agree, we should come up with some kind of signage. JMHO.
They tried the potluck at a Stevenson show but because a bunch of exhibitors are from WAY out of area they also accepted donations, well, a bunch of people who were walk-throughs may have given donations, but they ate without contributing food and they ran out of food. This is why I signed up early for silverware, because I drive 4.5 hours on Friday to get to the show and I couldn't fit much more in my car if I tried, much less keep it at safe temps until Saturday. It's hard when many people are driving down Friday from quite a distance to show and might not have a place to keep food,a nd the club certainly doesn't. It's a lot of work to organize a show, and a potluck adds to the burden. I'm always grateful that the show comes off so well, sometimes things seem to pull together last minute, but it always works out. I am very grateful to everyone in WFF who helps out.
Me too! I felt like a bum cause I was so concerned about finding a buyer for my birds and getting them moved and packing my truck, that by the time I could help, everything was done!! Not a good thing for a new club member!!!
Heres what I think. First, if I were just a club member or showing birds and walked in the door I never for a second would think the potluck was for me the way it was situated. The show catalog said 'your on your own for lunch'. I may have brought fast food or something. I would not have helped myself to a potluck if the show catalog did not mention one.
Second, there was lots of good, specially prepared food there that people brought to share with BYC'ers. If all were invited it wouldn't have gone far and some BYC people may have been left out with the food gone. We planned the potluck to meet BYCers.
Third, if the show people and WFF members want potluck they obviously can plan their own. I'm not trying to sound like I wish to exclude them but we should be allowed to have our potluck without feeling guilty. We can encourage people to join the BYC Washingtonian forum. That way they will know about the potluck and not feel left out. Maybe after seeing our potluck and how fun it was future shows will plan their own for their members. If non BYCers and non WFF members show up to show maybe it will encourage them to join one or the other or both. If we get a few imposters, so be it. Not a big deal with me. I agree, we should come up with some kind of signage. JMHO.
They tried the potluck at a Stevenson show but because a bunch of exhibitors are from WAY out of area they also accepted donations, well, a bunch of people who were walk-throughs may have given donations, but they ate without contributing food and they ran out of food. This is why I signed up early for silverware, because I drive 4.5 hours on Friday to get to the show and I couldn't fit much more in my car if I tried, much less keep it at safe temps until Saturday. It's hard when many people are driving down Friday from quite a distance to show and might not have a place to keep food,a nd the club certainly doesn't. It's a lot of work to organize a show, and a potluck adds to the burden. I'm always grateful that the show comes off so well, sometimes things seem to pull together last minute, but it always works out. I am very grateful to everyone in WFF who helps out.
Me too! I felt like a bum cause I was so concerned about finding a buyer for my birds and getting them moved and packing my truck, that by the time I could help, everything was done!! Not a good thing for a new club member!!!
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It's funny,.. Calesta and I brought a lot of chicken etc, but by the time I got over to eat and waited in line there was hardly anything left! Somehow I survived until the banquet (with the shall-not-be-mentioned cornish game hens- blech!). You think this derriere is self-maintaining? Gotta juice the caboose- just saying.
That wouldn't be Calesta from the Spokane area??? If it is, she's the one I got my first silver hen,(the one I sold at the show) and the pied hens I sold this summer, and I had gotten a silver drake, but, he was being a turd, so I sold him too, now that I think of it, she had silkies in her car!! She met us in Kennewick and said she had a friend she was meeting there! She was a very nice person!! She is the one that told me about Stevenson and showing ect!!! Good peeps!!!
It's funny,.. Calesta and I brought a lot of chicken etc, but by the time I got over to eat and waited in line there was hardly anything left! Somehow I survived until the banquet (with the shall-not-be-mentioned cornish game hens- blech!). You think this derriere is self-maintaining? Gotta juice the caboose- just saying.
That wouldn't be Calesta from the Spokane area??? If it is, she's the one I got my first silver hen,(the one I sold at the show) and the pied hens I sold this summer, and I had gotten a silver drake, but, he was being a turd, so I sold him too, now that I think of it, she had silkies in her car!! She met us in Kennewick and said she had a friend she was meeting there! She was a very nice person!! She is the one that told me about Stevenson and showing ect!!! Good peeps!!!
- Apr 9, 2011
- 3,974
- 17
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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".
So, there's this joke: a farmer wins the Powerball lottery, and they interview him on the nightly news:
"So, what are you going to do with your winnings?" asks the reporter.
"Oh, I figure I'll just keep farming until they're gone."
Part of it is having sufficient stock that the tiny bit you make on each sale mounts up. I'm not sure what that number is: most years we have a conversation this time of year as to whether we need half as many cattle, or twice as many. The bookkeeping is slippery: there's the general rule that farmers buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay the freight both ways, and then there's the axiom that you have to be psychic to know what prices you'll be paying for the fuel you have to buy and what you'll be paid for your crop- although in the age of craigslist that latter is getting more predictable and controllable for animal raisers.
The best time to start having a commercially viable herd of any quadruped is two generations ago.
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".
So, there's this joke: a farmer wins the Powerball lottery, and they interview him on the nightly news:
"So, what are you going to do with your winnings?" asks the reporter.
"Oh, I figure I'll just keep farming until they're gone."
Part of it is having sufficient stock that the tiny bit you make on each sale mounts up. I'm not sure what that number is: most years we have a conversation this time of year as to whether we need half as many cattle, or twice as many. The bookkeeping is slippery: there's the general rule that farmers buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay the freight both ways, and then there's the axiom that you have to be psychic to know what prices you'll be paying for the fuel you have to buy and what you'll be paid for your crop- although in the age of craigslist that latter is getting more predictable and controllable for animal raisers.
The best time to start having a commercially viable herd of any quadruped is two generations ago.
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".
So, there's this joke: a farmer wins the Powerball lottery, and they interview him on the nightly news:
"So, what are you going to do with your winnings?" asks the reporter.
"Oh, I figure I'll just keep farming until they're gone."
Part of it is having sufficient stock that the tiny bit you make on each sale mounts up. I'm not sure what that number is: most years we have a conversation this time of year as to whether we need half as many cattle, or twice as many. The bookkeeping is slippery: there's the general rule that farmers buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay the freight both ways, and then there's the axiom that you have to be psychic to know what prices you'll be paying for the fuel you have to buy and what you'll be paid for your crop- although in the age of craigslist that latter is getting more predictable and controllable for animal raisers.
The best time to start having a commercially viable herd of any quadruped is two generations ago.
Hmm I've heard some of this!! If it isn't your soul source of income tho, is it possible to do well? Don't get me wrong, not wealthy just doable??
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".
So, there's this joke: a farmer wins the Powerball lottery, and they interview him on the nightly news:
"So, what are you going to do with your winnings?" asks the reporter.
"Oh, I figure I'll just keep farming until they're gone."
Part of it is having sufficient stock that the tiny bit you make on each sale mounts up. I'm not sure what that number is: most years we have a conversation this time of year as to whether we need half as many cattle, or twice as many. The bookkeeping is slippery: there's the general rule that farmers buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay the freight both ways, and then there's the axiom that you have to be psychic to know what prices you'll be paying for the fuel you have to buy and what you'll be paid for your crop- although in the age of craigslist that latter is getting more predictable and controllable for animal raisers.
The best time to start having a commercially viable herd of any quadruped is two generations ago.
Hmm I've heard some of this!! If it isn't your soul source of income tho, is it possible to do well? Don't get me wrong, not wealthy just doable??
pips&peeps :
I love the Stevenson Potluck!!!! They should put a sign up though that says lunch for exhibitors only so there is more food for me.
At the spring Stevenson show I had several people pointed out to me that I was told were just locals and they just came because there was free food ! How sad. but this is what makes it hard to do a (private) pot luck. Ya gotta know everbody ! !
I love the Stevenson Potluck!!!! They should put a sign up though that says lunch for exhibitors only so there is more food for me.
At the spring Stevenson show I had several people pointed out to me that I was told were just locals and they just came because there was free food ! How sad. but this is what makes it hard to do a (private) pot luck. Ya gotta know everbody ! !
Quote:
glad your here!Very NICE girls!!!
Welcome! GORGEOUS fluffy birds you have!!
Welcome! GORGEOUS fluffy birds you have!!
Quote:
You think Mr. Dooms is trying to get her into other call colors? I hope not,.. I love those butters (although I have to say the pastels were cute too)
lol~ no WAY.
You think Mr. Dooms is trying to get her into other call colors? I hope not,.. I love those butters (although I have to say the pastels were cute too)
lol~ no WAY.
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!!
Can't be as big as we want because of space issues. They get charged to rent the building (I believe it is $1200, or maybe $900, a day? Something like that) and as you can see they didn't have a huge amount of extra space that wasn't used for showmanship or vendors, nor were there extra tables just sitting around. I think having it with Rob's stuff worked well,.. and I hope it didn't affect sales. Was so nice to see all of you there!
This is one reason some folks want the show moved to Elma--bigger, nicer space...
just sayin'
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!!
Can't be as big as we want because of space issues. They get charged to rent the building (I believe it is $1200, or maybe $900, a day? Something like that) and as you can see they didn't have a huge amount of extra space that wasn't used for showmanship or vendors, nor were there extra tables just sitting around. I think having it with Rob's stuff worked well,.. and I hope it didn't affect sales. Was so nice to see all of you there!
This is one reason some folks want the show moved to Elma--bigger, nicer space...
just sayin'
- Apr 9, 2011
- 3,974
- 17
- 188
Quote:
So, there's this joke: a farmer wins the Powerball lottery, and they interview him on the nightly news:
"So, what are you going to do with your winnings?" asks the reporter.
"Oh, I figure I'll just keep farming until they're gone."
Part of it is having sufficient stock that the tiny bit you make on each sale mounts up. I'm not sure what that number is: most years we have a conversation this time of year as to whether we need half as many cattle, or twice as many. The bookkeeping is slippery: there's the general rule that farmers buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay the freight both ways, and then there's the axiom that you have to be psychic to know what prices you'll be paying for the fuel you have to buy and what you'll be paid for your crop- although in the age of craigslist that latter is getting more predictable and controllable for animal raisers.
The best time to start having a commercially viable herd of any quadruped is two generations ago.
Hmm I've heard some of this!! If it isn't your soul source of income tho, is it possible to do well? Don't get me wrong, not wealthy just doable??
Somebody (Grace?) linked to the WSU Small Farms site- they're really good at providing ag econ information. For what you're talking about, I'd also recommend getting in touch with whoever is already selling stuff in your area: one thing with is absolutely true about the kind of specialty products you're talking about is that more vendors in a locality is good for all of them, up to a very high number. People still come from out-of-area to the Oly Farmers Market for garden annual starts, nursery plants, perennials, bulbs, and cut flowers because there are sufficient vendors for there to be a choice among a wide selection; having three butcher shops and two seafood ones has increased sales for all of them.
Most people who are making a living from their small farm have at least one family member working a job with benefits or they are young retirees with a pension and health coverage. If you're trying to sneak up on quitting your day job, you need to have a whole lot of information from people who know your area, your proposed products, and your suppliers. The Extension Service is always the first place to ask.
So, there's this joke: a farmer wins the Powerball lottery, and they interview him on the nightly news:
"So, what are you going to do with your winnings?" asks the reporter.
"Oh, I figure I'll just keep farming until they're gone."
Part of it is having sufficient stock that the tiny bit you make on each sale mounts up. I'm not sure what that number is: most years we have a conversation this time of year as to whether we need half as many cattle, or twice as many. The bookkeeping is slippery: there's the general rule that farmers buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay the freight both ways, and then there's the axiom that you have to be psychic to know what prices you'll be paying for the fuel you have to buy and what you'll be paid for your crop- although in the age of craigslist that latter is getting more predictable and controllable for animal raisers.
The best time to start having a commercially viable herd of any quadruped is two generations ago.
Hmm I've heard some of this!! If it isn't your soul source of income tho, is it possible to do well? Don't get me wrong, not wealthy just doable??
Somebody (Grace?) linked to the WSU Small Farms site- they're really good at providing ag econ information. For what you're talking about, I'd also recommend getting in touch with whoever is already selling stuff in your area: one thing with is absolutely true about the kind of specialty products you're talking about is that more vendors in a locality is good for all of them, up to a very high number. People still come from out-of-area to the Oly Farmers Market for garden annual starts, nursery plants, perennials, bulbs, and cut flowers because there are sufficient vendors for there to be a choice among a wide selection; having three butcher shops and two seafood ones has increased sales for all of them.
Most people who are making a living from their small farm have at least one family member working a job with benefits or they are young retirees with a pension and health coverage. If you're trying to sneak up on quitting your day job, you need to have a whole lot of information from people who know your area, your proposed products, and your suppliers. The Extension Service is always the first place to ask.
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