Danielle S

Counties of interest

Anaconda-Deer Lodge, Beaverhead, Big Horn, Blaine, Broadwater, Butte-Silver Bow, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Garfield, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis & Clark, Liberty, Lincoln, Madison, McCone, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Musselshell, Park Livingston, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sanders, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Toole, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone

Planned Operation

Small Animal (pigs, rabbits, poultry), Vegetable, Fruit/Orchard

Check all experience and education that apply to you and your farming partners

Agriculture-related college degree, Farm/Crop management (over 3 years), General farming (over 3 years)

Land Tenure

Buy/Sell, Cropshare, Lease, Partnership, Open to other arrangements

Briefly describe your current occupation(s) and responsibilities and list previous agricultural employment and experiences. If you are currently farming or ranching, please state the size, type(s), and location of the operation.

I have been farming consistently for the past three years, and on and off for 9. Currently, I am helping manage a farm located on Sauvie Island based out of Portland, OR called Vibrant Valley Farm. This farm's working land size is approximately 7 acres and we use strictly organic practices. We grow vegetables, flowers, and indigo. I manage and delegate the vegetable harvest for our restaurant markets and CSA, as well as send out the weekly list of available produce and am in constant communication with our vendors. I then relay the orders to the crew and they harvest the produce as I wash and pack the orders. It is also my responsibility to create the produce list for our CSA, making sure the members are receiving a diverse mix and reasonable quantity of produce based on what's available. Additionally, I am responsible for direct seeding crops, and also help with maintaining the other aspects of the farm including seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvest, curing, storage, and general maintenance necessary to the farm.
My past farming experience includes my role as Farm Manager for 47th Ave Farm in OR, along with other prior farm positions based in Western Montana.

Acreage

1-5, 6-10

Farming Practices

Organic

Please elaborate on the type(s) of agricultural operation you plan on running.

I envision my agricultural operation as a biodynamic and diverse living entity. The capacity is obviously based on the available land; however, I plan to grow diversified vegetables for diversified markets including CSA, restaurants, grocery stores, and a farmer's market stand. I plan to use only organic practices, as well as maintain a closed circuit system. This means limiting inputs and outputs, which comes down to consistent, high functioning systems management. As time goes on, I also plan to incorporate cut flowers, medicinal herbs, and value-added products to sell. Eventually, I would love the farm to be a place for community to visit and learn about all the aspects of growing food and land management. My dream is to be able to be successful enough to offer CSAs at a sliding scale to allow people who experience food insecurity to have access to affordable, fresh, and local food.

Onsite Housing

Yes

Please elaborate on the kind of additional training/information that would help you:

Seeing as this is my first time starting or owning a business I feel that small business management training/information would be really helpful, which I have already looked into. I also don't have the amount of money necessary for start up costs, so figuring out how to earn grant money or take out loans with a plan for accelerated pay off would be ideal. The tax management guidance I need I believe would fall into the category of general business management training.