Market Gardening Setup: Planning, Land, and Commercial Success

This document provides practical guidance for aspiring market gardeners based on interviews with 18 active market gardeners, five former practitioners, and nine agricultural advisors. It covers essential aspects of setting up a small-scale market garden—defined as less than one hectare, with low mechanization, high crop diversity, and direct or short supply chain sales. Key topics include securing land with long-term access, ensuring water and infrastructure availability, selecting appropriate equipment, financial planning for start-up costs, and aligning production with distribution channels. The guide emphasizes balancing production with sales efforts, managing time effectively, and considering the mental and physical demands of self-employment. A testimonial from a former market gardener highlights the challenges of irregular schedules, administrative burdens, and lack of free time, suggesting that salaried roles may be more suitable for some. The insights are part of the MiMatio project (2017–2022).