Friday 3 November 2017

Farm Gate Sales


Yay ... we're in business :-)

We have sold eggs since we first got chickens and continued selling then when we moved here over four years ago, but we have always been a bit haphazard with the 'farm gate sales'.  A box would be put out in fair weather, mostly in Summer when the eggs are plentiful, vanishing with rain or wind (before the wind made it vanish) and selling regularly in bulk to our lovely neighbour who runs a B&B.  But now we are in the farm gate sales business properly with this lovely smart box set against our wall and with the contents well protected from the elements.


It was designed by me and then hand made and painted with numerous coats of our favourite colour by Alan in his workshop, and then it spent a day or so drying out on the Aga.


It should last us a while, especially now it's got it's also got corrugated top on to protect it in even the worst of the weather.


There's lots of room inside for eggs, and anything else that we decide to sell in the Summer months.   I decided to decorate the back with some photos of the ladies that supply the eggs for a bit of added  interest.  We also have a couple of new larger signs for the wall and the fence on the opposite side of  the drive advertising that we sell eggs, which will go up when Alan has the time to mount them on wood, a new supply of green egg boxes that will tie in with the sales box and brand new labels with all of our details on them, but we are just running down supplies of the ones we already had first.


And as you can see although it's resting on the wall it is firmly anchored to the ground at the back.

Sales are already going really well, with people stopping on their way to and from work to pick up a box or two of eggs ... thank goodness we have the 'Welsh girls' who really are good layers all year round and should keep us in business though the Winter months. 

The money raised by the sale of the eggs goes straight back to the chickens to pay for their feed, bedding, more egg boxes etc and any other things they may need, but of course we also get eggs for our own use.  Any that are weak shelled, very small or very big stay in the kitchen for Alan's breakfast or to pop into quiches and cakes when I'm baking, and visiting family never go home empty handed if they like eggs.


Open for business.

Sue xx

25 comments:

  1. I think putting photos of "the girls" in your sales box is perfect!!Is it common for eggs to be sold 6 at a time? Here, we buy a dozen at a time, even boxes of 18 are available (in the stores). When we had hens, I would sell to some people at work. It helped out with the cost of feed. -Jenn

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    1. Half a dozen is the usual amount. There are a few places that sell four, and you can even get tens as well as dozens .... but 6 is the usual :-)

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  2. That is good thinking. The convenience of it will bring you customers. I am one that wouldn't stop just for a sign but if the product is out there I will.

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  3. The new box looks lovely and it would certainly attract me to buy from you. Wish I was nearer :)

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  4. I wish you every success with this cracking new venture (sorry) couldn't help myself. x

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  5. I love the photographs of your ladies on the back of the box. X

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  6. I live in Switzerland and I have just paid GBP 2.75 for 6 free range eggs. Mind you, I can buy the eggs individually as well.

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  7. Very reasonable price and the box looks very welcoming to customers.

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  8. WE DO NOT BUY ANY OTHER EGGS , SUE KEEPS ME AND HER BROTHER SUPPLIED THEY ARE LOVELY EGGS . I HAD TO FIGHT HER TO LET ME PAY FOR THEM, SHE HAS TO BUY THE FEED ETC.. FOR THE CHICKENS ; Joan SUE'S mum ;;

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  9. It all helps make the pennies go further. The box looks lovely, do you live on a main road?

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    1. Yes the main A road, busy all day and night.

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  10. Yes!

    I came across a corn on the cob one the other day, while out on the road!

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  11. Very attractive in white and green, and the pictures of the ladies are a great addition. I would buy your eggs in a heartbeat. I get free-range eggs in the grocery store, but it's hard to be sure they really ARE free-range or what that definition really means in large egg-producers' operations. Maybe I'm just being cynical about it, but I'd rather be able to see the operation with my own eyes!

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  12. You take such good care of your chickens Sue and it's lovely to see. If I was your neighbor, I guarantee I would only buy my eggs from you. The new roadside box is perfect. Best of luck!!

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  13. All the best for your enterprise!

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  14. Awesome - I love that the chickens pay for their own room and food.

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  15. That looks a great little shop you have there. Well designed and well made.

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  16. That looks lovely. I wish I lived nearer so I could buy some. Well done :)

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  17. I love this !
    The shop is pretty but the Ladies photos in back make it FABULOUS !.
    I miss seeing eggs for sale by the side of the road like I used to in Japan. This brings back some nice memories.

    Here in Tucson we just by them at the market not as fun.
    Our super hot summers would boil them in the carton before you could get them home.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I just looked at the comments and you had four J names in a row.
      How fun is that.

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  18. What a lovely way to sell your eggs. The pictures of the girls is just the perfect touch.

    God bless.

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  19. The box looks brilliant and I love the pictures at the back. Also love your mother's comment. Can Joan have her own blog too?

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  20. I like the idea! I was walking around London recently and there were a few houses that did the same, one with jams and other one with crafted little decorations, it was quite interesting to see that even in the city people are quite disciplined and will not steal stuff just because they can. i love your new egg box and the pictures of your chickens. I always find that the "weird" eggs are the most interesting. I really hope I can have chickens in the future, lots of my friends do and it seems like an amazing experience.

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  21. Your hubby done a good job on that box, Handy too for selling vegetables or Jams etc., Just wished I lived nearer. but if I'm ever passing will defo buy some.

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