Everything You Need to Know to Convert Your Farm into a Thriving Social Enterprise

Social farms are powerful, community-building enterprises that can help nourish society in a number of ways. Whether you’re looking to start an animal sanctuary, are interested in sustainable farming practices, or are merely looking for new ways to bring in an income to your farm while also supporting your community, this guide is for you.

Discover everything you need to know to shape up your current acreage and make it into a thriving social enterprise right here.

Outline the Scope of Your Social Enterprise

One of the first steps to creating a social enterprise is to clearly define it. You can always build on your idea and expand on it, but first start with a single core. This could be saving a single breed of animal (or sub-type, like pets); it could be sustainable farming; it could be social farming. Either way, define your niche, outline your parameters, and create a comprehensive business plan. You’ll need this to start recruiting others, even if it’s just volunteers, and also if you intend to operate as a non-profit.

Improve the Amenities

If you plan on inviting in the public to your farm, even if it’s just for the purpose, of, say, having pick-your-own days or you plan on renting out small allotments, then you need to ensure the property is up to code and safe. This even applies if you plan on rescuing animals.

If you plan on taking in retired race horses, for example, you’ll need a stable large enough to accommodate them. If you don’t have one already, or your current barn isn’t up to snuff, then know you can often quickly rectify this with custom Amish pole buildings. These buildings use less materials and labor, so they can be put up faster and at a more attractive price-point.

Make Key Partnerships

The entire purpose of a social enterprise is to engage with the community. If the community does not know you’re there or what you do, then your enterprise has failed. That’s why you need to make key partnerships. You can and should start, for example, with your local government and any nearby (even state-wide) universities and colleges. An animal rescue, for example, should partner with local vets and vet colleges.

If you’re looking into developing new sustainable farming practices, you’ll want to get in touch with relevant departments at the university-level. You will also want to consider joining a cooperative model. The one used by Payoga/Kapatagan MPC, for example, helps farmers earn by selling fertilizer to the cooperative, allowing them to further sustain their development.

Make Your Social Enterprise Sustainable

For any social enterprise it’s imperative that your operations are sustainable, and not jsust in an environmental sense. You need to continually have the funds to manage your operations, and even be able to put money aside. With that in mind, try to increase your income streams by:

• Hosting paid workshops, pick-your-own-days, festivals, events, or tours
• Partnering with donors, relevant organizations, or the local government
• Using the latest technology to improve productivity and streamline operations, to minimize overhead costs
• Join value chains that enable direct business transactions between suppliers and buyers to eliminate markups.
• Market your social enterprise on social media to gain more volunteers, donations, and business.

There are so many ways you can increase your income, establish sustainable and ethical practices, and improve your community. Above all, however, remember that you cannot, and should not do it alone. To succeed as a social enterprise, you need to be social.