The 10 Essentials to Profitable Urban

Farming Tweet! @greencityacres

with Curtis Stone

The 10 Essentials to Profitable Urban

Farming Tweet! @greencityacres

with Curtis Stone

1/3 acre (15K SF) Kelowna, BC

1. Follow your ideology, but keep it in your back

pocket

A small compromise

Small compromise with a huge effect!

2. Be an early adopter!

3. Start small, keep your overhead low!

4. Source high grade information

5. Focus on the tasks that pay

Harvesting Planting

Marketing

Avoid weeding! Be pro-active!

Tarps

Flame weeding

Landscape fabric

Stale seedbed

Stream line processing tasks

Accurate crop densities

Optimize harvest time

by harvesting on multiple days

to spend less time processing

Appropriate technology

6. Measure everything!

Crop Crop Type

Quick or

Steady

Avg DTM from seed date

DS/TR

Bed Size

Walkway widt

h

When to DS When to TRN Jang Roller

EW Plate

Rows/

Bed

TRN in row

spacing

inches

Plugs/25' bed

Plants/Foot

Seed per 25' bed ML

Seed per 25' bed Grm

Avg Yield/

25' bed total

Avg Yield/

Ft.

lbs or Bunch

# of cuts / bed

greens

Profit per 25’ bed

Profit per ft.

Mtd. of

Hrvst

Market stream

Rest. Price per lb

or unit

Wgt/unit (lbs)

MRK price

MRK unit wgt

Units sold in

Arugula greens Q 35 ds 25 6"+ mar-oct - F24 - 9 - 30 21 20 0.8 lbs 1 - 3 $200 $8.00 QGH rest $10 1 $3 0.25 lbsBok choy veg Q 50 ds/tr 25 6"+ june apr-may, aug-

sep- - 5 4 375.00 15.00 5 5 100 4 lbs - $300 $12.0

0knife rest/

mark$3 1 $3 1 lbs

Cilantro herbs Q 50 ds 12 6"+ apr-sep - G12 - 9 - 225 78 300 12 bunch 1 - 3 $600 $24.00

razor rest/mark

$2 0.125 $2 0.125 bunch

Dill herbs Q 60 ds 12 6"+ apr-aug - MJ24 - 9 - 24 200 8 bunch 2 - 3 $400 $16.00

razor rest/mark

$2 0.125 $2 0.125 bunch

Hakurei roots Q 38 ds 25 6"+ apr-sep - YYJ24 - 9 - 5 5 100 4 bunch - $300 $12.00

pick rest $3 0.5 $3 0.5 bunch

Lettuce greens Q 45 ds 25 6"+ mar-oct - F24 - 9 - 55 28 60 2.4 lbs 2 - 4 $540 $21.60

QGH rest/mark

$9 2 $3 0.25 lbs

Lettuce Salanova greens Q 45 ds 25 6"+ mar-oct - - - 4 6 200.00 8.00 55 28 60 2.4 lbs 2 - 4 $540 $21.60

QGH rest/mark

$9 2 $3 0.25 lbs

Mizuna (for mixes) greens Q 35 ds 25 6"+ mar-sep - F24 - 9 - 30 22 30 1.2 lbs 2 - 4 $270 $10.80

QGH rest/mark

$9 - - - -

Mustard (for mixes) greens Q 35 ds 25 6"+ mar-sep - F24 - 9 - 70 46 30 1.2 lbs 2 - 4 $270 $10.80

QGH rest/mark

$9 - - - -

Parsley herbs Q 70 ds 12 6"+ june-aug - MJ24 - 9 - 15 235 9.4 bunch 3 - 4 $470 $18.80

razor rest/mark

$2 0.125 $2 0.125 bunch

Pea shoots (6' bed) micros Q 14 ds 25 6"+ may-sep - - - - - 2660 10 0.4 lbs - $150 $6.00 razor mark $15 1 $3 0.125 lbsPea shoots (flat) micros Q 14 ds 25 6"+ any - - - - - 332 0.85 0.034 lbs - $13 $0.51 razor mark $15 1 $3 0.125 lbsRadish roots Q 28 ds 25 6"+ mar-sep - F24 - 7 - 30 20 80 3.2 bunch - $200 $8.00 pick rest $3 0.5 $3 0.5 bunchRadish shoots (6' bed) micros Q 12 ds 25 6"+ may-sep - - - 12 - 700 532 8 0.32 lbs - $160 $6.40 razor rest/

mark$20 1 $3 0.125 lbs

Radish shoots (flat) micros Q 12 ds 25 6"+ any - - - 12 - 80 56 1 0.04 lbs - $20 $0.80 razor rest/mark

$20 1 $3 0.125 lbs

Red Russian Kale (baby) greens Q 40 ds 25 6"+ apr-sep - F24 - 9 - 25 17 40 1.6 lbs 4 - 6 $320 $12.80

QGH rest $8 1 $3 1 lbs

Spinach greens Q 45 ds 25 8"+ mar-oct - - chard 5 - 100 54 35 1.4 lbs 1 - 3 $245 $9.80 knife rest/mark

$7 1 $3 0.375 lbs

Sun shoots (6' bed) micros Q 12 ds 25 6"+ may-sep - - - 12x3 - 1360 10 0.4 lbs - $150 $6.00 razor mark $15 1 $3 0.125 lbsSun shoots (flat) micros Q 12 ds 25 6"+ any - - - 12x3 - 170 1 0.04 lbs - $15 $0.60 razor mark $15 1 $3 0.125 lbsTatsoi (for mixes) greens Q 35 ds 6"+ mar-may, sep-oct - F24 - 9 - 25 17 30 1.2 lbs 2 - 4 $270 $10.8

0QGH rest/

mark$9 - - - -

Basil herbs S 70 tr/ds 25 1'+ july-aug apr-jun YYJ24 - 4 4 300.00 12.00 6 6 25 1 lbs - $250 $10.00

pick rest/mark

$10 1 $3 0.25 lbs

Beet Greens (for mixes) greens S 40 ds 25 8"+ may-aug - - chard 7 - 180 83 30 1.2 lbs 4 - 6 $240 $9.60 pick rest $8 - - - -Beets (Golden) roots S 72 ds/tr 25 8"+ june-aug apr-may - chard 4 3 400.00 16.00 196 90 150 6 bunch - $450 $18.0

0pick rest $3 0.75 $3 0.75 bunch

Beets (Red) roots S 68 ds/tr 25 8"+ june-aug apr-may - chard 4 3 400.00 16.00 180 84 150 6 bunch - $450 $18.00

pick rest $3 0.75 $3 0.75 bunch

Carrots (baby-medium) roots S 70 ds 25 1'+ apr-aug - XY24 - 7 - 15 7 75 3 lbs - $200 $8.00 fork rest $4 1 $3 0.75 lbsKale greens S 80 tr 25 1'+ - apr/aug - - 3 10 90.00 3.60 - 115 4.6 lbs - $575 $23.0

0pick market $5 0.5 $3 0.5 lbs

Summer Squash veg S 60 tr 25 18"+ - may - - 1 18 16.67 0.67 - 80 3.2 lbs - $320 $12.80

pick rest $4 0.75 $3 0.75 lbs

Scallion veg S 70 ds/tr 25 6"+ may- apr F24 - 3 0.00 0.00 35 15 75 3 lbs - $600 $24.00

fork rest/mark

$8 1 $2 0.25 bunch

Swiss chard greens S 65 tr 25 1'+ - apr - - 3 10 90.00 3.60 - 65 2.6 lbs - $325 $13.00

knife rest $5 1 $3 0.5 lbs

Tomatoes (Cherry) veg S 145 tr 25 18"+ - may - - 1 10 30.00 1.20 - 180 7.2 lbs - $720 $28.80

pick rest $4 1 $3 0.625 lbs

Tomatoes (Oxheart) veg S 165 tr 25 18"+ - may - - 1 10 30.00 1.20 - 330 13.2 lbs - $825 $33.00

pick rest $2.5 1 $3 1 lbs

Tomatoes (San Marzano) veg S 172 tr 25 18"+ - may - - 1 10 30.00 1.20 - 138 5.52 lbs - $414 $16.56

pick rest $3 1 $3 1 lbs

Spread sheets

F. Market & Restaurants

Crop Product Category Value Unit Mar 30-Apr 5 6 - 12 13 - 19 20 - 26 Apr 27 - May 3

# $ Lbs. # $ Lbs. # $ Lbs. # $ Lbs. # $ Lbs.

Ancient Blend (MRK) sprouts $2.50 0.25 20 $50.00 20 $50.00 20 $50.00 20 $50.00 20 $50.00

Arugula Arugula greens $10.00 1 0 $0.00 20 20 20 30

Arugula Spicy Mix (MRK) greens $2.50 0.25

Arugula Spring Mix (Rest) greens $9.00 1

Arugula (MRK) Arugula greens $2.50 0.25 0 36 36 36 36

Basil herbs $10.00 1 0

Basil (MRK) herbs $2.50 0.25 0 0 0 0 0

Beet Greens (for mixes) Spring Mix (Rest/MRK) greens $2.50 0.25 0

Beet Greens (for mixes) (MRK) Spring Mix (Rest/MRK) greens $9.00 1 0

Beets (Red) roots $3.00 0.75 0

Beets (Golden) roots $3.00 0.75 0

Beets (Red) (MRK) roots $3.00 0.75 0

Beets (Golden) (MRK) roots $3.00 0.75 0

Bok choy veg $1.25 0.25 0 100

Bok choy (MRK) veg $2.50 0.5 0 40

Broccoli Sprouts (MRK) sprouts $2.50 0.1875 20 20 20 20 20

Carrots (baby-medium) roots $4.00 1 0

Carrots (baby-medium) (MRK) roots $3.00 0.75 0

Carrots (rainbow) roots $4.00 1 0

Carrots (rainbow) (MRK) roots $3.00 0.75 0

Crop Plan (Base plan)

Planting dates

Date (M/D)

Crop Location (plot/sg#/bed

#)

Crop Variety

Bed Size

NS, PT, DS, TR

TRN Date (M/D)

DOE (M/D)

DTH (M/D)

DTM Bed Rows

Plug #

Seed Vol.

Seed Wgt.

notes

2015/03/04 arugula tunnel 2 50 ds 2015/03/06 2015/04/06 2015/05/07 64d 11 jang f-242014/03/04 hakurei tunnel 1 50 ds 9 jang-xy-24.2014/03/04 lettuce tunnel 2 25 ds 9 jang f-242014/03/04 lettuce tunnel 2 50 ds 9 jang f-242014/03/04 mizuna tunnel 2 25 ds 9 jang f-242014/03/04 mustard tunnel 2 25 ds 11 jang f-242014/03/04 radish ee tunnel 1 50 ds 4 jang mj-242014/03/04 radish fb tunnel 1 50 ds 3 jang mj-242014/03/04 red russian tunnel 2 50 ds 11 jang f-24

Date Crop Location (plot/sg#/bed#)

Yield lbs./bu

n

Area/Flats Hrv.

Yield Ratio (fl/ft)

Crop #

Date Planted DTH Notes

2014/04/10 arugula mels 2/5 7.25 25 0.29 2014/03/05 36d

2014/04/10 crunchy bean 7

2014/04/10 kale 14.25

2014/04/10 lettuce 24

2014/04/10 spicy mix 7

2014/04/10 sun shoots 17 15 1.13

2014/04/17 arugula tunnel 2/1 25.25 25'

101.75

Yields

Date Customer Items Order

Units Short

Unit Oz's

Unit Wgt Lbs.

Total Weight Lbs

Price Value Unsold Produc

t

Units sold

Profit Loss Total Sold

Category (LO,TR)

Notes

2015/4/5 resto sale spinach 4 4 0 6 2.5 10 $17.50 $70.00 $70.00

2015/4/5 resto sale spring mix 6 5 1 6 2.5 12.5 $22.50 $112.50

$112.50

2015/4/5 resto sale radish 40 34 6 8 0.5 17 $2.50 $85.00 $85.00

2015/4/5 resto sale arugula 2 2 0 6 2.5 5 $25.00 $50.00 $50.00

2015/4/5 resto sale total sale $317.50

$317.50 short on spring mix and radish

2015/4/1 farmers market 1 spinach 50 6 0.35 17.5 $2.50 $125.00

13 37 $92.50

$32.50

2015/4/1 farmers market 1 spring mix 100 4 0.25 25 $2.50 $250.00

20 80 $200.00

$50.00

bringing too much

2015/4/1 farmers market 1 radish 40 8 0.5 20 $2.50 $100.00

10 30 $75.00

$25.00

2015/4/1 farmers market 1 arugula 65 4 0.25 16.25 $2.50 $162.50

5 0 $0.00 $162.50

bring more next week

2015/4/1 farmers market 1 total sale $367.50

$367.50

123.25

$270.00

$685.00

Date Customer Items Order

Units Short

Unit Oz's

Unit Wgt Lbs.

Total Weight Lbs

Price Value Unsold Produc

t

Units sold

Profit Loss Total Sold

Category (LO,TR)

Notes

2015/4/10 farmers market 2 (plan)

arugula 80 4 0.25 20 $2.50 $200.00

$0.00 $200.00

2015/4/7 resto sale on order

arugula 2 2 0 6 2.5 5 $25.00 $50.00 $50.00

2015/4/10 farmers market 2 (plan)

radish 40 8 0.5 20 $2.50 $100.00

$0.00 $100.00

2015/4/7 resto sale on order

radish 40 40 0 8 0.5 20 $2.50 $100.00

$100.00

2015/4/10 farmers market 2 (plan)

spinach 50 6 0.35 17.5 $2.50 $125.00

$0.00 $125.00

2015/4/7 resto sale on order

spinach 4 4 0 6 2.5 10 $17.50 $70.00 $70.00

2015/4/10 farmers market 2 (plan)

spring mix 90 4 0.25 22.5 $2.50 $225.00

$0.00 $225.00

2015/4/7 resto sale on order

spring mix 6 6 0 6 2.5 15 $22.50 $135.00

$135.00

2015/4/10 farmers market 2 (plan)

total sale $205.00

$205.00

2015/4/7 resto sale on order

total sale $410.00

$410.00

130 $650.00

$615.00

Weekly Orders

Voice memos,

video and digital

photography

7. Focus on high yield crops and market

streams

Crops better suited for the city should have at least 3 of these

1.DTM (85 or less)2. Yield (high per square foot)3. Price (higher per Lb. or unit)4. Season (longest harvest period possible)5. Popularity

Crop Value Rating(CVR)

High Value market streams

1.

2.

3.

4.

8. Organize crops and land by zones

The Land HierarchyHi-Rotation Bi-Rotation

2 rotations / season Average $400 / bed

3-6 rotations / season Average $800 / bed

$20,000 in 2000 square feet.On average $10 / square foot of area.

More constant labour.

$10,000 in 2000 square feet.On average $5 / square foot of area.

Far less constant labour.

Zoning your farm

9. Diversify your products and or market streams

10. Develop systems that can be easily

replicated and taught

Photo credit Andrew T. Barton

www.profitableurbanfarming.com$50 off the online course

if you purchase a $35 PUF data package.

Course launch price $497email

curtis@theurbanfarmer.co for your discount

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