"Baby Me"

Today, I have sprayed roundup on all of the stacks and the ground cover.   It was a lot of hot and sweaty work.  All the time, I am trying to come up with a viable idea for making money off these 6000 stacking pots. 

Marketing is always my downfall, whether it is selling books or vegetables.

Today, I thought of this name for selling baby vegetables at the markets.  What markets, I do not yet know. 
I could grow baby squash, baby spinach, baby greens, baby beets, baby lettuce...

Love,
Betty

Several flea markets around here have sizeable vegetable stands. We often buy from them. I assume they get their produce from farmers and peddlers who deliver to them in their small trucks. You might look into that.

My father-in-law had a route. He went from house-to-house in adjacent towns and delivered produce and eggs. He went out every Saturday morning. I used to go with him. He had a lot of fun visiting with his customers. Small towns in the coal region of Pennsylvania.

Betty, why not grow ornamental grasses? Florida is the perfect climate, you have experience of growing different grasses from your landscaping work and dried grasses sell year round. Also, you could grow the green stuff for floral bouquets and arrangements. You might find this interesting:

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep233

Supermarkets here are starting to sell more local produce.  Nutritionists are saying that it is more important than eating organic, since the food is fresher for not being shipped so many miles.  I don't know what arrangements are made with local farmers, but the baby vegetables might be especially salable to a chain store that wanted to offer something special.  You could contact the managers with a proposal: Local! Fresh baby vegetables!

I would definitely take advantage of that if I were shopping there.

What Ann said.

How about doing a market survey first?  Get some help online from the SBDC (free) associated with local universities.  Line up your market before starting production.

Good advice DK, especially when the service is free.

I also think the Department of Agriculture has some business assistance - maybe you could get a grant...

Dear DK,
I would love to get a grant.  I know abosolutely nothing about how to try to get one for growing hydroponic vegetables.  When I look at the Department of Agriculture's Grants page, I am very confused about the process of application.

I found this:  http://www.freshfromflorida.com/News-Events/Press-Releases/2011-Press-Releases/Agriculture-Commissioner-Adam-Putnam-Announces-4.3-Million-in-USDA-Specialty-Crop-Block-Grants

Does a person submit a kind of business plan?  Are there people who write up the application for the grant for me?

Love,
Betty

Betty, I have had experience writing grant proposals.  I feel sure DK has, too.  We could probably give you some advice.  I would imagine that there are professional grant proposal writers as well.

Looks like those grants have already been funded, but they usually offer more in following years.  The grants are public knowledge.  You may request a copy of a funded grant proposal.  They are usually complicated; however, there is a formula.  You take them one line at a time and just start filling in answers as the questions are asked.  They are usually online today making them shorter.  You have the right source.  Send them an email, tell them you missed the competition for this round but want to be on their mailing list for future grants.  Usually when they are released, they will have a training session.

DK and Ann,
You are the best!   I will do the email forthwith!  I love the part about the training session.  Ann and DK, your help is wonderful.  Do I use the "contact us" link for the email.?
Love,
Betty

Sometimes you can contact grant recipients and get a piece of theirs - they may need growers, etc.

That web site had a place for you to put your email address to get future information.