What you see
grows from…
don't.
Recently updated
- Oct 212026Competitive AnalysisMarket · 27 income-producing farms near Durham, ranked on strength and overlap with Tree Top, plus price benchmarks and what it means for us.From Competitive Analysis rev0
- Oct 212026Financial ConsiderationsFinance · Land and equipment financing, running costs, ownership and entity choices, hiring the kids, taxes, a decision matrix and a roadmap.From Financial Considerations rev0
- Oct 212026Site HostingSite Hosting · How to put the Tree Top Farm internal site online behind a login for a few reviewers, what it costs, and how it grows into the public site.From Tree Top Farm Hosting rev2
- Oct 182026Implementation PlanImplementation Plan · Strategy, land and water, layout, crop and animal roles, startup cost, revenue, timeline and risks.From Implementation Plan rev1
- Oct 182026
- Oct 182026BeesAnimals · 4–8 hives for pollination and honey: learn this winter, install in April, watch varroa, harvest honey from year 2.From Bees Care Guide rev0
- Oct 182026ChickensAnimals · 75–100 laying hens on rotated pasture: chicks in February, eggs from July, and egg-law rules that change at 30 dozen a week.From Chickens Care Guide rev0
- Oct 172026
Dates come from the source document revision each page reflects.
Prepare
Write the business plan and set up financing. Take the Durham County beekeeping short course (Jan–Feb) and NC State Extension / CEFS courses. Grow a trial season at home, get the kitchen inspected to test-sell sourdough, and get on farmers-market waitlists now. Money steps for now: line up a farm CPA, an attorney and two lenders, and price family health insurance (financial roadmap).
Next: Spring–Summer 2027 — buy the land: due diligence, close, NC Farm ID, apply for NRCS EQIP. See the full timeline
Still to decide
- Land and startup budget, and how they'll be financed.Implementation Plan rev1
- Will one income continue through 2029?Implementation Plan rev1
- Target acreage, and buy land with an existing house or raw land?Implementation Plan rev1
- Main sales channel for 2028: CSA, markets, or both?Implementation Plan rev1
- Laying hens only, or add meat birds?Implementation Plan rev1
- Whether to pursue organic certification (affects label wording).Logo and Brand Guide rev0
- Web address and social handles.Logo and Brand Guide rev0
- Final products and label sizes (jar, bag, egg carton).Logo and Brand Guide rev0
Where things stand
Brand
Logo, colors, type, voice and how the brand is used.
Growing
Planting and growing guides for each crop we plan to harvest.
Animals
Care guides for the animals on the homestead.
Kitchen
Baked goods and value-added products from the farm kitchen.
Implementation Plan
Land, layout, crop and animal roles, cost, revenue and timeline.
Market
Who else farms for income around Durham, what they charge, and where Tree Top fits.
Finance
Buying, equipping, running, owning and staffing the farm: the money options side by side.
Site Hosting
Putting this site online behind a login for invited reviewers, what it costs, and how it grows into the public site.
Placeholder pages
These pages exist so the site has a place for each topic. Add a document to the project folder and ask for a rebuild to fill one in.