Murphysranch - Bank blues and garage sale thoughts

[TanksHill]

Wow, good for you!!! That is a great idea. Such a profit margin. The only thing that comes to mind with the soap is that if they return their bottle they get a small discount on the next one??? So which bar soap are you using and do you add scents or anything?

Sorry about the weather. I'm afraid from what I am hearing it's only going to get worse. Everyone is saying it's going to be really cold this winter.

I wish I could find a niche at my farmers market. They tell me I have to list what I will sell and they sill see if I fit in. That's what I think about that.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

WOW!!!! great work!!!! and how fun is all of that!?!? call around to 4H clubs for milk - somewhere out there is a barn full of milking does and the owner is just dumping the milk in the woods. seriously.

you could also advertise on craigslist with "delivery possible to the farmers market" and then folks could meet you there.

check the Dollar Stores for containers - you might get lucky

great work!!!

 

[freemotion]

Personally, I would go with the recycled containers if possible, and use that as a selling point. You can spin almost anything! But you don't have to spin recycling, just point out that you are saving the planet and they can help. I do believe that you have to completely obliterate the previous label, though, to be legal.

If you can do this, you can ask people to save containers for you. When I've done this in the past, I have to ask people to stop, as the containers just keep on coming! People want to help and want to recycle in a way that they KNOW it is really being recycled.

Doesn't almost every family buy milk in gallon jugs?

But if you have to buy containers, that is ok, too. Ya gotta do what you gotta do, paying the mortgage comes first!

 

[Farmfresh]

... Or two liter drink bottles! A splash of paint on the lid and peel off the wrapper and you are in business.

 

[Bettacreek]

Try posting on freecycle. Add an ad to the local classifieds as well (like craigslist), looking for bottles. Figure out which ones you can get the most of, and go with them for consistency, then use the other ones for sales at the farmer's market and other places. Maybe even contact your local borough and see if they can save specific ones from their recycling? I'm not sure if they can or will do it, but it's only a phone call, and the most they can say is "you're weird!" and I'm sure we all get that enough to be immune to it, lol.

 

[FarmerDenise]

My grandmother would have loved a little store like that, when she lived there. It is definitely a nice addition to the community. I also think you have a wonderfull opportunity selling your laundry soap!!!

I like the idea of using recycled liter bottles. They would be uniform and still wouldn't have to cost you anything.

 

[murphysranch]

Excellent advice as usual, all. I like Free's comment about starting with the recycled ones. See how it goes. DH also mentioned the liter bottles like you all did.

I spent over 2 hours on line looking at plastics. In lots of 100 - 500, the cheapest milk type 64 oz jug, will add $1.25 to the 64 oz price. Since I've got it priced at $4.00 per gallon, that would be about $2 more per gallon for consistent looking containers.

They always say that the packaging is the most expensive part of most items we buy.

Gonna go talk to them today, and take them a free sample.

 

[murphysranch]

I SOLD ABOUT 3 GALLONS of liquid laundry soap today, at that store, within 3 hours. Thats alot of ocean spray, simply orange, milk jugs, soda bottles worth! And they want me back on Saturday! Gotta go dumpster diving again this weekend for containers!

As for the goats milk sourcing....no response to two different county freecycle wanted requests. No response to Craigslist Gold Country request. I did find a goat farm nearby via someone trying to sell some goats on CL.

"Hi Barbara,

Thank you for contacting me. I have a doe right now that is in milk. I am not sure how you would like it stored or what a fair price would be for milk; But I would love to make some money back on all my animal expenses by selling milk also. So maybe we could work something out. Feel free to email me back or call me."

So friends with goats!! What is a fair price for a gallon of goats milk? Can I freeze it? Does one goat even give a gallon of milk a day? Newbies wanna know...

 

[Blackbird]

Yes you can freeze it, and then use it in baking etc. I'm sure you could drink it, but I'd rather not, personally..

Depends on the goat! Many do give a gallon or more a day.

We usually sell our raw goat milk $4 per half gallon.

 

[Farmfresh]

Score! and DOUBLE Score!!

I love hearing about things paying off for you. A friend with a goat could be MOST valuable. Perhaps you could learn how to milk and be help to her when she needs it as well.