A Sweet small plot

               In July of 2014 a resident of Livingston County ask for help in expanding his blueberry patch from a hobby to a commercial patch. He had a working knowledge of blueberries but needed help in commercial varieties and marketing. Over the last four years Livingston ANR has worked with this producer to accomplish his goals for his operation. Not only has his hobby blueberry patch grown into a working commercial blueberry patch, but has thrived and expanded. In 2016 our client wanted to even do more with his small plot of land and operation. He again looked to Extension for help to accomplish his goals.

               First thing Livingston ANR did was ask him how he was wanting to diversify his operation.  After our client set a clear direction that he wanted to take his operation in, Livingston county ANR help him map out some steps and time frames that his operation need to achieve. First he added black berries and raspberries.  Livingston ANR continues to help him with soil test for Fertility and PH test. The second step was that he added a maple syrup operation. Livingston ANR has helped him develop a marketing plan that has worked well.  The third step was he added a bee operation to sell honey and help with pollination of his crops. Livingston ANR helped with this aspect of his operation with our monthly bee keepers meetings.

Our client’s attempts to diversify his operation has resulted in a fun and profitable small farm operation that continues to evolve. In 2018 our client has sold his second crop of maple syrup and is starting on his second crop of honey.