I'm looking for some creative suggestions -- have y'all got your thinkin'
caps on?
One of the members of our marketing co-op, Tim Derstine, owns a house which
has been used to raise broiler and breeder chickens for a large processor
around here (south central Pennsylvania). His contract with the processor
will be up soon, and (for several reasons, too complicated to explain here)
he'd rather not renew. He's trying to explore alternative uses for that
house, and his first idea is to bring in some laying hens and go into the
organic egg business. We're trying to crunch some numbers to evaluate that
idea, but I'm not too optimistic about its potential.
My question for all you clever people: got any other ideas about how he
could use this building? Here's a brief description:
- Dimensions: 42' x 256'
- Temperature Controlled (with large fans that can be set on a timer or a
thermostat system, and gas heaters -- which are currently not vented)
- The house has lights on a timer, and is totally "blacked out" when the
lights aren't on
- The house has a mechanized feeding & watering system
Opportunity: our marketing co-op currently sells a wide range of
organically-grown fruits and vegetables to retail and restaurant
establishments in Washington, DC. We're always looking for new specialty
crops to try, and we're particularly interested in trying to find items
that can be harvested and sold in our less-busy months (December to April).
Some kind of produce item (like mushrooms, for example) would be ideal,
but we haven't ruled out livestock. We have a pretty good customer base of
folks willing to try new things, so I'd be optimistic even about something
unusual or "cutting-edge."
We're willing to consider any and all ideas, even the wackiest and most
experimental -- but we'll probably pay special attention to anyone who can
describe a proven production system that could be applied to the existing
building with only a minimum amount of renovation/experimentation. Tim
doesn't have a lot of free time, and he needs to find a way (sometime soon)
to make his investment in this building continue to bring in farm income.
Now, I know someone out there in cyberspace has exactly the right
suggestion for Tim. I'll be waiting for your reply.
(If you know of other lists or individuals who might have a creative
response to this question, please feel free to forward this message in that
direction).
Thanks.
Chris
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Christopher D. Fullerton
Manager, Tuscarora Organic Growers Cooperative
HCR 71 Box 168-B Hustontown, PA 17229
voice (814) 448-2173 fax (814) 448-2333
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