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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.
And I might add, the best way to succed, is to have enough land to raise the feed for your animals.
When you have to BUY the feed, you are loosing money.
Absolutely. One of the reasons we're still farming is that we have hay that gets fed to cattle and pigs (that's ground with grain). I'm trying to come up with some small grain or pulse I can grow on the well-acre for chicken feed/supplement next winter. Although I suspect, from the way they buzz through mint, lavender and lemon balm seeds, that I maybe should just cut the invasive oregano and feed that.
