To all who have been following this thread-
While I consider some of the comments moving around this thread downright abusive rude, unrelenting and biased ( and should not even be considered) I still feel compelled to put in one last post. I also want to clarify before I do that I have been deleting an awful lot instead of reading. You know spring is here, time is of the essence and practical matters like growing become an issue.
Clarifications need to be set out though. I have written in benignly stating micro-farming is possible. I am an example of it. I've been doing it for a little over ten years. Sometimes I make more, sometimes I make less. It has never been an issue to make a certain amount until last year, but of course I want to make as much as I can. I didn't put out a dollar amount in my post, but I will now. I make more than 30,000 an acre gross. I try to spend very little so my net is very good.
Last year I used just shy of two acres growing FOOD. I have done this by myself. Now I CHOOSE not to, rather I have an intern to pass along the knowledge I've accumulated. I don't HIRE help. I arrange things so that what I do is time effective, and cost effective. I know of other people around me that do the same thing. It can happen and I am not the exception to the rule.
What does need to happen for this to work is to be very aware of your market, your climate, your culture. OF course raising mushrooms and rabbits in the Philippines probably isn't going to work, and it seems rather senseless to be debating such a trivial issue. What is valuable is the concept. Knowing the benefits you can derive from your environment is the first step towards self-sufficiency.
I also would never try to put a large animal on my acreage, only because dollar per square foot doesn't put enough money in my pocket, but I am very appreciative of those who raise these large animals that I eat. The animals that are on my property are part of a comprehensive plan to enhance both my soil and our nutrition and my pocketbook. However if I had to survive with what I raise and not import other "necessities" my family and myself would be adequately fed. I CHOOSE to buy from others.
My advice to anyone wanting to do this is to work slowly toward it. Don't jump in all the way. Test as you go, fine tune as you go. Learn your market. Be creative. Be persuasive, assertive and committed. Know what your are doing is good.
Now with all that said. I also CHOOSE to not leave this as my only income. The amount of money I make is a contribution to a two income family. We can and have lived off my earnings solely, but I don't want to.
It's spring, time for farmers to be doing what they do best. Leave this be and grow your crops.
Respectfully,
Michaele Blakely
Growing Things
Carnation, WA.
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