|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on May 1, 2009 13:06:18 GMT -6
I have 35 varieties this year if anyone is interested. I just kind of do this as a hobby and try to keep our prices below Home Depots.
Here is why I consider it a hobby. Last year I sold $5,100 worth of hostas. My expenses were $4,300. Not much of a return for all my potting, weeding and watering but relaxing and enjoyable.
I would also consider the bartering if anyone has something unusual that I need or want.
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on May 1, 2009 13:08:41 GMT -6
This followup will serve as a warning. Al Martin lives very close to us. Sew the pockets up on your pants where you keep your wallets and check books if you plan on visiting us. Otherwise there might be some wealth distribution.
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on May 24, 2009 7:44:26 GMT -6
My hobby just got more absurd. I purchased 14 more varieties of hostas on this past Thursday (an additional 14 varieties). That will make 49 varieties that we have. Call me a glutton for punishment.
Have a nice day!
|
|
|
Post by mndapa1 on May 26, 2009 19:04:23 GMT -6
So what would you like to barter for? Keeping you price below Homedepot is good, but they have been high on a lot this year. We went there for Apple Trees and they sold out and they were way too expensive. We got ours for a discount, but I know the manager where we bought them.
I am a jack of all trades...and a master of some. Need a hand with anything...just give me a shout.
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on May 26, 2009 19:42:58 GMT -6
Hey, I am always open to trading for plants. As far as Home Depot goes, two years ago I paid them a visit and they were selling apple trees that were not meant for our zone 3 hardiness zone. Be very selective. If you can wait until next spring I can get them wholesale from a grower in Lakeville that has wonderful stock. I have never gotten bad plant materials from them.
Take care
|
|
|
Post by mndapa1 on May 26, 2009 20:08:42 GMT -6
I agree about the Zones. So many of the local box stores are selling things that are not meant for the sub arctic..jk...like Minnesota. People do not look before they buy. We have a small apple orchard that is doing well and added to it this year.
When we expanded out garden last fall, we ended up taking out a few apple trees that were in the way of the expansion...it was a hard loss, but the results gained were worth it. This fall we are again going to expand, probably double the size to 100' x 100'.
WE were going to plant 5 acres of sweet corn this year, but had to put that on the back burner as well, as taking care of my dad took precedent. Next year hopefully. We will still have a huge harvest, but nothing near what we had planned. We also added strawberries and blueberries this year. I think we have the largest plantation of rhubarb in N. Central Minnesota...and will be expanding that as well.
Missed out on timeline to transplant our Norways, Spruce, and Red Pine...but we can do that in the fall as well.
Someday all sixty acres will have some purpose....just takes time and money. And a lot of sweat. We spent a lot of time on clean up this year and thinning out our plum plantation. Wont have to do all that again for a long time.
Things we are looking into are...pears, northern grape varieties, and cherries. So hopefully we can work something out on that, or look into it for me. If i had to prioritize...it would be cherries first, then grapes, and finally pears.
We are looking for a bigger tractor as well...so if you hear of a good deal...let me know.
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on Jun 7, 2009 7:53:53 GMT -6
When we lived in Mankato we had the North Star Cherry. They are a sour cherry but fantastic for jellies and pies. They are also small for easy picking.
I am so tired today and very sick of hostas. We had people pouring in here all day Friday and Saturday. The sale was only advertised for Saturday but we didn't turn anyone away on Friday. We started out with well over 40 varieties and we are down to about 29 now and not a lot of quantity left either.
|
|
|
Post by jesusfreak on Jun 7, 2009 10:40:37 GMT -6
That is excellent. I went to mndapa1's wifes sale and they did very well as well. People were showing upbefore the sale...after the sale...it was crazy.
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on Jun 9, 2009 13:42:36 GMT -6
Here we go again. Mrs. Robely ordered ten new varieties today (100 plants) from Green Mountain Hosta wholesalers in Vermont. I guess we have to keep working. I guess we will never get to relax this summer. What else is new?
What plans do the rest of you have for your summer?
Buck
|
|
hasset
Master Member
Posts: 633
|
Post by hasset on Jun 9, 2009 15:42:34 GMT -6
We have a dinky yard and we aren't going to do a thing with it until the other house sells. I never did have any Hostas but you have me curious. We saw an ad in the paper today about a Nursery that does mostly hostas so we will go take a look. What I want when I start fixing up my yard are Paw Paw trees. That is my favorite fruit and you can rarely find any. Someone at Iowa State U. is growing a bunch near here and I am going to go have a look. The fruit and bark is being used to make cancer fighting medicine so a lot of universities are starting to grow and research them. They used to grow wild in this area but people dug them up because they would spread all over. They are a pretty tree and the flowers are pretty. I live so far south in Iowa that I am almost in Missouri and it is much warmer here than in Cedar Rapids. I don't think they grow much farther north than Iowa City but I don't know for sure. Eventually, my dinky back yard will be mostly garden and fruit trees and grapes, etc.
|
|
hasset
Master Member
Posts: 633
|
Post by hasset on Jun 13, 2009 8:25:12 GMT -6
You should see the huge hostas around the trees at the Henry County court house in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. If I had known how gorgeous and large they are, I would have had them around all my Maple trees at the old house. Where have I been all these years?
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on Jun 30, 2009 10:26:17 GMT -6
Hasset, hostas are absolutely beautiful and best of all you have to try very hard to kill one. It is virtually impossible.
Mrs. Robely just ordered 70 more (7 new varieties) from Green Mountain Nurseries in Vermont. Our goal is to have at least 75 varieties next spring for sale.
|
|
|
Post by colonelbuckrobely on Jul 3, 2009 15:23:36 GMT -6
It was a wonderful day at the Crosslake flea market today. I sold a truckload and left by 12:30 even though it ran until 3:00. I met so many nice people and the weather was perfect. I sold a bunch to a couple from Algona, Iowa several weeks ago and they were back up. I swear I spent 30 minutes chatting with them. At least there are still some terrific people left in America. It gives you hope. Of course politics popped up since I can't leave that subject alone.
|
|
|
Post by nobama on Jul 8, 2009 9:12:20 GMT -6
Buck,,have you thought about selling at the flea market north of Pequot ? It is just south of the American Inn and Co. Rd 16 on 371 on the east side of the road. Its been pretty busy there.
|
|
hasset
Master Member
Posts: 633
|
Post by hasset on Jul 8, 2009 10:24:49 GMT -6
Buck,I am glad you are meeting people whom you consider worth spending time with. My husband always gets into politics where ever he goes and I keep telling him to use tact so he doesn't drive anyone away. We have found some people who will listen and who have not paid attention to the real issues. We work on them so they will be fired up enough to vote and to vote correctly and have reasons for doing so. "Making history" is not a good reason to vote!
|
|