Post on 16-Dec-2014
description
1
Essential Online for Farm and Food VenturesNOFA –VT WINTER CONFERENCEFEBRUARY 15, 2014
Rob FishVERMONT DIGITAL ECONOMY PROJECT
HTTP://WWW.VTRURAL.ORG
2 Digital Tools Are Game-Changing Practitioners & Advisors
Eric Rozendall, Rockville Market Farm
Amanda Andrews, Tamarack HollowsFarm
Carl Russell, Earthwise Farm and Forest
Heather Darby, UVM Extension& Darby Farm
Suzy Hodgson, YourFarmStand.com
Websites Social Media Other Tools Using Technology to Network Q & A
AGENDA
3
“I only started using email in 2007, but . . . “
CARL RUSSELL - EARTHWISE FARM AND FORESTHow digital tools have changed his farm and forest
businesses
http://bit.ly/1c1kVGG
4ERIC ROZENDAALROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
1) Budgeting and Accounting
2) Note Keeping & Staying Organized
3) AgSquared
4) Farmigo
5) Farmers To You
6) Good Eggs
5ERIC ROZENDAALROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
BUDGETING AND ACCOUNTING
http://www.youneedabudget.com/
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/
6ERIC ROZENDAALROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
https://evernote.com/
https://www.wunderlist.com
https://mindnode.com/
NOTEKEEPING AND STAYING ORGANIZED
7ERIC ROZENDAAL ROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
http://www.agsquared.com/
FARM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
8ERIC ROZENDAAL ROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
http://www.farmigo.com/
CSA MANAGEMENT
9ERIC ROZENDAAL ROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
A Regional PartnershipFarmers To You creates a regional partnership by enabling Boston area families to reconnect to the land through the food they eat and benefit from the delicious and nutritious bounty of Vermont. This partnership supports Vermont area farmers and producers, who create superior food, lovingly steward their land, and enrich their communities.http://farmerstoyou.com/
ACCESSING NEW MARKETS
10ERIC ROZENDAAL ROCKVILLE MARKET FARM
http://www.goodeggs.com/nyc
USING TECH TO CONNECT DIRECTLY
11AMANDA ANDREWSTAMARACKHOLLOWSFARM.COM
1) Kickstarter
2) Square and/or Paypal Here
3) Quinciple
12AMANDA ANDREWSTAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tamarackhollow/get-this-farm-off-the-floodplain
It’s running a small business in miniature
Process is very demanding: creating the video, balancing the rewards with your financing goals, really nailing your talking points, lining up publicity, and organizing your network.
KICKSTARTER – CROWD FUNDRAISING
13AMANDA ANDREWSTAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM• Requires networking for months ahead of the campaign.
At every market we've been letting our close friends and core customers know that we will be running a Kickstarter campaign, and asking if they have any advice, not if they will donate.
• Folks that are genuinely interested and want to follow through will instantly offer their help whether that be their social media network, assistance with creating your rewards after the campaign, creating the video, or reaching out to someone who ran a successful campaign.
• With most of our immediate network, their words have been more valuable than their wallets. Sure, some of them have donated, but it's getting to that second or third ripple out where you're going to make your goal.
14
http://paypal.com/
https://squareup.com/
Easy Online PaymentsAccept credit cards at markets
AMANDA ANDREWSTAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
http://paypal.com/
ONLINE AND MOBILE SALES
15AMANDA ANDREWSTAMARACK HOLLOWS FARM
Quinciple is a weekly subscription service that creates a balanced box of groceries each week, including meat, fish, cheese, bread, produce, eggs and pantry staples. Every box contains enough ingredients to make at least two different dinners for two people.
“combine the quality and seasonality of your local farmers' market with the convenience and flexibility of online ordering to bring fresh, local produce right to your door, to your neighborhood and to your workplace.”
http://www.quinciple.com/
CONNECTING WITH NEW CUSTOMERS
16CARL RUSSELLEARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
• Adobe Acrobat and Word to Go
• Hours Keeper App
• Mapping and Soil Apps
http://bit.ly/1oNOGmX\
CARL RUSSELL - EARTHWISE FARM AND FORESTHow digital tools have changed his farm and forest
businesses
17CARL RUSSELLEARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
NRCS Web Soil Surveyhttp://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm
http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/gmap/
http://anrmaps.vermont.gov/websites/anra/
SOIL TYPE SURVEYS
Hours Keeper - Time Tracking, Timesheet & Billinghttps://
itunes.apple.com/us/app/hours-keeper-time-tracking/id563155321?mt=8
18
MAPPING
Ushahidi by Ushahidihttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ushahidi/id410609585?mt=8 Geo Measure - Map Area / Distance Measurement by ObjectGraph LLChttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geo-measure-map-area-distance/id451326903?mt=8
GPS Kit HD by Garafa, LLChttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gps-kit-hd/id418662204?mt=8
ArcGIS https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/arcgis/id379687930?mt=8
GIS Kit by Garafa, LLChttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/gis-kit/id429688355?mt=8
CARL RUSSELLEARTHWISE FARM AND FOREST
19HEATHER DARBYDARBY FARM & UVM EXTENSION
Vermont Farming App available now
in iTunes!
FARM MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING
http://gocrop.com/
20HEATHER DARBYDARBY FARM & UVM EXTENSION
http://gocrop.com/
RECORD KEEPING
21How it worksSUZY HODGSON
YOURFARMSTAND.COM
A network of interlinked locally managed on-line local food markets
Suzy@yourfarmstand.comNOFA Winter Conference 2014
22People can Buy what they want,
when they want Avoid long term contract
or commitments Move between markets See transparency in
pricing Understand farming
practices
23Farmers/Vendors can Use a new channel to
complement farmers’ markets, CSAs and farmstands
Update inventory and prices at any time
Sell in multiple markets Withdraw money electronically Have access to historical
transactions and reports
24Yourfarmstand Innovations
Real time ordering & inventory management
Historical Records One account - multiple markets Different payment options – credit/debit Automated transactions & labels Local market customization
25
26
27We work with Communities Institutions Workplaces Wholesale Markets Food Hubs
Suzy@yourfarmstand.com
28WEBSITE BASICS
http://rockvillemarketfarm.com/
Be able to manage it yourself
Contact information
Hours and Locations
Simple, Intuitive Navigation
Integrate Social Media
Images
Responsive – works on smartphones and desktop web browsers
http://wordpress.org/
29SOCIAL MEDIA
• Social media is “the next generation of word-of-mouth marketing,” - gateway for their friends or family to get to know more about your farm.
• Farmers can use social media to inform people about agricultural issues that matter to them.
• Social media also is used to keep farmers engaged with other farmers – sharing ideas about crops, pest control and marketing strategies.
• Social media aids customer service.
• Social media opens up conversation. The users of your farm or experience are the best people to learn from when it comes to making things better.
30Components of a social media
strategy IDENTITY: Define who you are, what you stand for, and what you do best.
VALUES and MISSION: Communicate your values in a way that is meaningful and relevant to your audience.
AUDIENCE: Identify your audience(s).
SOCIAL MEDIA OBJECTIVES: What do they gain from engaging with you? What do you have to gain from engaging with them?
Entertain
Educate/Inform/Alert
To be a part of something bigger
To make human connections
Express feelings or beliefs
Have a voice
Planning is the key to success
Don’t try to do everythingRemember it is not all about you.
31Funny and Thematic
OTHER SUGGESTIONS• Facebook Events• Tag other producers (@)• Complete “about”• Contests• Crowd-source info – recipes• Ask Questions
Share info from other sources
Interact: Respond to comments.Photos & Video
FACEBOOK CONTENT
32
Facilitate sharing of content“Like or “Follow” from website
Schedule posts Unique Facebook Address
Make use of Facebook Insights – Know Your Audience
Using Apps, integrate MailChimp, Instagram, Twitter, Maps, etc into your Tabs.
Build your audience
Like and then Tag (@__) other organizations, farms
or businesses)
33
Email NewslettersKeep in touch with consumers or CSA members
Google Places – aka Google Plus LocalFarms will appear on google maps and be searchable on google map by name. Also enhances search listings
Dropbox.com Cloud Backup and sharing big files
NEWSLETTERS, ETC
http://frontporchforum.com/
Front Porch Forum Reach your neighbors
http://mailchimp.com/
https://www.google.com/business/placesforbusiness/
https://www.dropbox.com/home
34
USING FACEBOOK TO CONNECT
Looking to put Farmers and Homesteaders in touch with one another for the purpose of selling or trading livestock, farm equipment, and supplies. Likewise, you can use this group to post Wanted Ads too!
Using Facebook, over Craigslist removes anonymity, provides a live feed so you have better chances of finding what you're looking for without having to search, and removes the Nigerian scams and email phishers. No more SCAMS!
NETWORKING https://www.facebook.com/groups/NekFarmSwap/
35FREE ONE-ON-ONE ADVISING
http://vtrural.org/programs/digital-economy/services/farm-forest/survey
36
Essential Online for Farm and Food VenturesNOFA –VT WINTER CONFERENCEFEBRUARY 15, 2014
ROBERT FISH
VERMONT COUNCIL ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT
VERMONT DIGITAL ECONOMY PROJECT
HTTP://WWW.VTRURAL.ORG
ROB@VTRURAL.ORG
???