Gardening in general was one of the hobbies that blossomed during the pandemic. As travel and social restrictions came into force, and lockdowns fell into place, many people took up new hobbies.
Gardening was one of the most popular activities that people got involved in during 2020, and the pattern continues into this year too. There is the great attraction of growing a garden and then seeing it come to fruition.
However, there is more to gardening than just flowers and plants. Many people have also taken to growing their own produce. This is a practical and inexpensive way to grow vegetables, herbs, and fruit and be more environmentally friendly, and self-sufficient.
Some people are taking this further with market gardens. What is a market garden though? How does it differ from a vegetable garden, and how can you clear the land to create one?
What is a Market Garden?
If you are one of the many people growing vegetables in your backyard today, then you are probably doing it mostly for yourself and your family. Perhaps you give some of your produce away to neighbors or friends, and maybe some of the pleasure is purely in the growing and tending of the vegetable patch.
A market garden takes the idea of a vegetable patch and expands on it to make a commercial interest. Market gardens are small enterprises, perhaps only 1 acre in size. However, they are highly profitable.
By 2019, 32 million households in the states were growing vegetables for themselves. This number has now risen, and along with it, the number of commercial market gardens as individuals realize there is a demand for fresh local produce.
Can You Start a Market Garden?
If you are enjoying building up your garden and have a healthy vegetable patch, you might perhaps consider taking it further and look to make a small commercial concern out of it.
There are many tips online to help with making a thriving vegetable garden but to commercialize it would need a lot more considerations.
Firstly, you would need land. Although many market gardens are only 1 acre, the average size of a residential lawn is only a quarter of that. So, your first concern is going to be renting a suitable area.
The next concern before you even start thinking about what you will grow will be how to clear the land. It is highly possible that affordable land will come with shrubs, roots, and other unwanted plants. This will need to be cleared first.
How Do You Clear the Land for a Market Garden?
Assuming you have found a good area of land you will then have to find the best way to clear it. That means land that is protected from the wind, has fertile soil and has no drainage issues. Ideally, your new land will only be around 15 minutes from your home as you will be traveling there and back a lot.
One way to clear land is to do it by hand. This is the least invasive way to get your new land ready for becoming a market garden. However, this is hugely time-consuming.
Chemicals can be used to clear land, but these are toxic and can linger in the soil for long periods. Ideally, all chemicals would be avoided as you are looking to grow your produce soon after.
Other methods include mulching, raking, burning, grubbing, and dozing. Hiring a professional land clearing company will give you more options to prepare the area for a market garden.
What Can a Professional Land Clearer do?
A land clearing company will come in and do an inspection and survey the area. They will then come up with a plan to clear your land and make it ready for the purpose that you intend it for.
Often these companies are called in to clear land for residential purposes, such as creating space for a swimming pool, or a building site.
They will remove roots, concrete, any debris left behind, fell trees, and burn where permitted. These services can be important as many are difficult for a non-professional to achieve.
For instance, you may need a burn authorization from the local Forest Service. A land clearing company will have experience in this area, whereas you may find it harder to receive the required permit.
Summary
Starting a market garden is a very feasible way to turn a hobby into a serious business. They can return a 40% profit rate, and one acre can produce up to $100,000 annually.
With no distributors or wholesalers to worry about, you could have a thriving vegetable garden. However, you will need to find the right land first.
Once you’ve located your land, clearing it and getting it ready is the next objective. The easiest way to do this is with a land clearing company that can remove all the unwanted debris and roots that will only hinder your future success.