Step 2

Ouff!  I'm officially caught up in my cheese and goat notes and I feel just a little bit lighter. 

So I think I can say that I've successfully accomplished Step 1 of "Plan to Farm" (title made up on the spot and mostly irrelevant) and that I can move on to Step 2; Step 1 being: Go to France to learn as much as possible about cheese and goats and farming and such, and Step 2 being: Farm.  It would probably be best to break down Step 2 into sub-steps or to add altogether new steps so as to avoid utter confusion and despair, perhaps into Step 2: Decide where to farm, Step 3: Build support network, Step 4: Finance purchase of farm, Step 5: Farm, and Step 6: Succeed!  Or execute exit strategy.  Yes, this seems manageable.

Thus, my next task is to tackle the financials section of my business plan and consider the opportunities present in Québec, Vermont, Maine and perhaps the rest of the New England states.  I'm daunted by both jobs and will turn to the internets for all sources of information and support because I've never seriously written a business plan and I think I could be happy farming anywhere. 

If, however, you readers out there have an opinion or a suggestion for my decision making and number crunching, I would love the tip.  The uncertainty and the learning in this whole process is so exciting and any information you'd like to throw at me will be very welcome.  Also, I plan on farming/making cheese/writing in my chosen area of residence prior to purchasing land, so if you hear about someone looking for a cheesemaking-goat herding-writer, I would love to hear about it, too. 

Happy autumn (the best season of the year, it's true)!