$$ tilling gardens?

[MESSMAKER]

I do some tractor work but it's just grading spreading and some bush mowing. I'm getting calls wanting to know if I till gardens. I am considering buying one but it's tough to justify. Looks like about $1500 for new or $900-1000 for good used. At $50 a garden it will take a long time to get to even and it is a short season. Am I missing something?

 

[deputy11]

No, you are not missing something, you pretty much nailed it. Now, in my case, I have a LP tiller for our own use. When I got it I did a couple of others' gardens, then the next year a couple more to where now I do 20-25 besides my own. Do I make money?, probably not really but the cash flow makes a couple tractor payments sometimes. Also have gotten to meet some nice people in my community that I otherwise may not have and get all kinds of gardening tips from older people who have been gardening for many more decades than I have.

 

[whistlepig]

I do some tractor work but it's just grading spreading and some bush mowing. I'm getting calls wanting to know if I till gardens. I am considering buying one but it's tough to justify. Looks like about $1500 for new or $900-1000 for good used. At $50 a garden it will take a long time to get to even and it is a short season. Am I missing something?

I used to do brush mowing and finish mowing and had a lot of requests to till or plow gardens. The requests for tilling gardens always came at the same time the mowing business demand was at the highest. I would have had to put off my mowing customers to do the gardens. The tilling business is only a couple of weeks in the spring. The mowing business is all summer long. It was better for me long term to pick up more mowing jobs than to look for the garden business.

 

[firemanpat2910]

and if you hit a buried transmission, concrete missle silo, or some other hidden treasure in the nice little old lady's, (that you charged $20.00)garden and destroy your brand new tiller on the second day you own it, its not a real good R.O.I

 

[bjr]

I'm doin' the same in my neighborhood. The area is mostly sandy/loam so equipment damage is minimal. My tiller is a resurected rice tiller that I put some Kingkutter tines on and heavier draft arm lugs. I tell them I don't fix busted PVC sprinklers and pipe. If they ask to me to till them pipes better be buried deep enough to tilll over. I charge enough for fuel and a equipment mostly $75-$100. I just don't do it for free. If I need to disc first the price goes up to change implements. The people I help are greatful too, that helps. I do see other tractors in the area but no tillers. bjr

 

[bdog]

I used to do this and the tilling never paid out. I was always spending time driving back and forth hooking up a shredder and a tiller and no one ever wanted to pay more than $50 for a garden to be tilled. By the time I unloaded the tractor from the trailer, unhooked my shredder, hooked up the tiller, loaded back up on the trailer, drove there, tilled it, loaded up, drove home, unloaded, unhook tiller, hook up shredder, load tractor again I had spent a lot of time and effort for $50.

 

[Botabill]

Where I live few will pay to have their garden tilled. If it's a small garden they have their own tiller or can rent one. There are few gardens that require a tractor sized tiller... accept mine and I can get away with my BCS walk behind even though I'd like a tiller for my tractor.

 

[taborekle]

and if you hit a buried transmission, concrete missle silo, or some other hidden treasure in the nice little old lady's, (that you charged $20.00)garden and destroy your brand new tiller on the second day you own it, its not a real good R.O.I

I have upgraded my tiller from shear bolts to slip clutch, and I think that that would take care of much of the issue.

I would have just about anyone sign a 'release from harm' to cover any damage that you might do.

I own a reversing tiller and think it's great. The soil comes out very light, airy and ground up fine.

I'd want some very clear directions on what to tiller up.

I use it mostly on my in-laws guarden. It's my small way of paying them back for all that they have done for me. They love what it does for their guarden though.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I used to do this and the tilling never paid out. I was always spending time driving back and forth hooking up a shredder and a tiller and no one ever wanted to pay more than $50 for a garden to be tilled. By the time I unloaded the tractor from the trailer, unhooked my shredder, hooked up the tiller, loaded back up on the trailer, drove there, tilled it, loaded up, drove home, unloaded, unhook tiller, hook up shredder, load tractor again I had spent a lot of time and effort for $50.

I have thought about just buying a decent rear tine for $500 or so. I could throw it on the trailer with tractor,box blade and middle buster and be good to go. It would also let me do smaller gardens with limited access.

 

[coobie]

I have thought about just buying a decent rear tine for $500 or so. I could throw it on the trailer with tractor,box blade and middle buster and be good to go. It would also let me do smaller gardens with limited access.

I have a 65 inch rear tine tiller and charge $50 per garden.Not alot of $$ to be made but you meet some nice folks.coobie