Jonathan Thompson

Overview:
 My business plan is a multi-site, multi-enterprise agricultural venture  designed to support intentional living, land stewardship, and generational  legacy. Our family-run farm will operate across strategically selected  parcels to optimize growing conditions, forestry, and livestock needs.
 
 Note: Some components such as sugaring, woodlot, and livestock may operate on  separate nearby parcels to accommodate terrain, zoning, or forest cover.
 
 Core Enterprises
 Blueberries: 12 acres for U-pick and pre-packed sales through the farm stand  and wholesale.
 
 Market Garden: 1/2 acre of mixed vegetables sold via CSA and  direct-to-consumer.
 
 Cut Flowers: 1/4 acre of seasonal blooms sold in bouquets, weddings, and  workshops.
 
 Apples & Cider Orchard: Heirloom cider trees for U-pick, fresh cider, and  future hard cider.
 
 Maple Sugaring: Boutique small-batch syrup operation based in a forested lot.
 Livestock: Grass-fed beef and lamb sold directly, with potential breeding  stock.
 Farm Store & U-Pick: Retail barn or roadside setup to sell all goods and  support seasonal traffic.
 
 Multi-Site Infrastructure Plan
 Main Farmstead: Includes farmhouse, barn, market garden, flowers, and the  store serves as the retail and operational hub.
 
 Forested Lot: Hosts maple stands, syrup shack, and potential trails.
 Livestock Parcel: Fenced pasture with water access for rotational grazing.
 Orchard Plot: Well-drained and sloped land for apples and future cider  production.
 
 Family Roles & Legacy
 Daughters (24 & 22) lead events, flower operations, and digital  storytelling.
 Sons (14 & 11) manage livestock, harvests, and U-pick engagement.
 Parents oversee infrastructure, operations, and long-term strategy.
 The legacy goal is to hold all sites under an estate LLC or trust structure  to ensure generational transfer and
 stewardship continuity.
 
 Agricultural Plan
 Sales & Marketing
 CSA shares and on-farm pickup build predictable income.
 Instagram, YouTube, and Substack tell the farm story and reach broader  audiences.
 Pop-up participation in seasonal farmers markets extends reach.
 Flagship events include Maple Day, Apple Fest, Cut Flower U-Pick, and Harvest  Dinner.
 
 Startup & Capital Estimate
 Multi-site land (50-1000 total acres): $200K$500K
 Infrastructure (barns, fencing, irrigation, sugaring): $100K$200K
 Livestock, tools, and starter trees/crops: $25K$50K
 Estimated Total (phased): $300K$750K
 Funding from USDA EQIP/Microloans, FSA, or crowdfunding options.
 
 Timeline: 5-Year Plan
 Year 1: Secure 12 parcels, begin fencing and soil preparation.
 Year 2: Plant blueberries and garden; begin maple syrup tapping.
 Year 3: Launch farm store, add livestock rotation and flowers.
 Year 4: Orchard begins producing; CSA and community events grow.
 Year 5: Launch cider and maple shack; farm reaches full multi-site maturity.
 
 Next Steps
 Finalize land search with zoning and water access analysis.
 Obtain USDA Farm Number and assess funding eligibility.
 Prioritize infrastructure: Main site, woodlot, orchard, livestock.
 Start phased planting and market development  

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