In the past week I have begun gathering information on what other farming families in this region are doing. There are probably better resources for this, but I have been using the web. I got a listing of all of the farms, orchards and farm markets in the lower peninsula and have been browsing their sites one by one.

I have to say that I have really enjoyed this exercise and have learned quite a bit. The websites range from very professional business sites that are little more than sales brochures to quirky, chaotic and personal glimpses into the lives and philosophies of the families. The best sites have left me charmed, feeling that I actually had a brief visit, kicked the tractor tires, patted the horses and peered behind the barn. There are a couple of families that I am going to have to find an excuse to meet and at least one that I plan to approach to discuss a potential business arrangement.

True to my own tendencies, I have created a number of files for compiling the information that I ran across on these sites. I have recorded all of the particular varieties of each vegetable and fruit that they mention growing. I also have been adding lots of items to my listing of potential products that I could produce and have noted all of the prices that I saw advertised for them.

It will take me a while longer to get through this task and even longer to actually turn the effort into some useful decisions on which of the thousand directions that I would like to go are wise choices.