| system | initial cost ($ + hrs) / unit | annualized cost ($ + hrs) / unit | sqft building | acre land | revenue | market cost | benefits | | ---------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | -------------------------------- | ------------- | --------- | ------- | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Integrated Community Agroecosystem | $2.1M + 12000 hrs | $550k + 16488 hrs | 15000 | 300 | $342k | $1.9M | Food security, soil regeneration, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, community integration | Purpose: Establish a regenerative food production system integrating livestock, forest gardens, and orchards to feed 1000 people while building soil health and ecosystem resilience. Silvopasture: Combining trees, forage plants and livestock in the same area creates a self-reinforcing system that maximizes land use while reducing costs through natural synergies #### Assumptions - 1000 person community - 300 acre system within 640 acre (1 sq mile) plot - 140 acres dense food forest (heavy tree/shrub focus) - 100 acres savanna silvopasture (more grass/grazing focus) - 40 acres orchard silvopasture (fruit/nut production focus) - Multiple animal species rotating through - Guard animals integrated into grazing patterns - Smart gates managing rotations - System design prioritizes: - Natural forage over prepared feed - Weather-protected grazing areas - Multi-species rotational grazing - Seasonal production cycles - Strategic placement of water/shelter - Minimal handling requirements - focus on livestock hardiness over production with heritage breeds that: - Birth easily without help - Forage effectively - Handle weather extremes - Have natural parasite resistance Climate & Environmental: - USDA zones 4-7 compatible - 30-60 inches annual rainfall - Moderate topography (<15% slopes) - Existing soil quality not critical (will build) - Year-round grazing possible with management Resource Dependencies: - 50,000 gallons/day peak usage - Gravity-fed preferred, pumped backup - Rainwater capture supplements - Power from community grid: - 25kW baseline load - 75kW peak capacity - Solar backup for critical systems #### Animals & Production | Animal Type | Quantity | Products/Year | Notes | | ------------- | -------- | --------------------------------- | ------------------------------ | | Dairy Cows | 30 | 105,000 gal milk, 17,500 lbs meat | Includes culls and male calves | | Chickens | 1500 | 360,000 eggs, 4,000 lbs meat | Follow grazing rotation | | Sheep | 30 | 9,000 lbs meat, 900 lbs wool | Integrated grazing | | Pigs | 15 | 4,500 lbs meat | Process excess dairy | | Guard Animals | 6-8 | Security service | Mix of dogs, donkeys, llamas | #### Land Use Distribution | Zone Type | Acres | Purpose | | ------------------------- | ----- | ------------------------------ | | Primary Forest Garden | 140 | Dense food forest with grazing | | Secondary Forest Garden | 100 | Less dense, more grass-focused | | Orchards | 40 | Fruit/nut production | | Infrastructure/Processing | 20 | Buildings, roads, handling | Note: All areas include grazing integration. Secondary forest garden has more open areas but maintains tree/shrub components. #### Labor 15600 Hours/year | Task Category | Hours/Year | Notes | | -------------------------- | ---------- | ----------------------------- | | Animal Care | 5200 | Daily health checks, milking | | Grazing Management | 2600 | Rotation, forage assessment | | Forest Garden Maintenance | 2400 | Pruning, harvesting, planting | | Infrastructure Maintenance | 1800 | Fencing, water systems | | Processing/Distribution | 2400 | Milk, meat, egg handling | | Guard Animal Management | 400 | Training, care | | Emergency Response | 800 | On-call coverage | #### Operating Costs $380k/year | Component | External Cost ($) | Internal Cost ($) | Notes | | ---------------------- | ----------------- | ----------------- | ----------------------------- | | Animal Feed Supplement | 120k | 0 | During low production periods | | Veterinary Care | 45k | 0 | Regular checks, emergencies | | Equipment Operation | 85k | 0 | Fuel, maintenance | | Infrastructure Repair | 60k | 0 | Fencing, water systems | | Processing Supplies | 40k | 0 | Packaging, storage | | Breeding Program | 30k | 0 | Genetic diversity maintenance | #### Initial Costs $2.1M + 12000 hrs -> $170k + 888 hrs/year | Component | Initial Cost ($ + hrs) | Lifespan (Years) | Annual Cost ($ + hrs) | Notes | | --------------------------- | ---------------------- | ---------------- | --------------------- | ----------------------------- | | Perimeter Fencing | $400k + 2000 hrs | 15 | $27k + 133 hrs | Predator-proof system | | Internal Fencing/Gates | $300k + 1500 hrs | 10 | $30k + 150 hrs | Smart gates, paddocks | | Water Systems | $350k + 2000 hrs | 20 | $17.5k + 100 hrs | Distribution, storage | | Processing Facilities | $450k + 2500 hrs | 20 | $22.5k + 125 hrs | Milk, meat, egg handling | | Animal Acquisition | $250k + 1000 hrs | 5 | $50k + 200 hrs | Initial breeding stock | | Forest Garden Establishment | $200k + 2000 hrs | 25 | $8k + 80 hrs | Trees, shrubs, infrastructure | | Equipment | $150k + 1000 hrs | 10 | $15k + 100 hrs | Tractors, tools | | Total Initial | $2.1M + 12000 hrs | - | $170k + 888 hrs | | #### System Outputs | Output Type | Daily Units | Annual Units | Internal Cost ($/unit) | Notes | | -------------------- | ----------- | ------------------ | ---------------------- | ----------------------- | | Milk | 290 gal | 105,000 gal | $1.65 | Raw milk for processing | | Eggs | 1000 | 360,000 | $0.45 | Fresh eggs | | Meat | 96 lbs | 35,000 lbs | $3.20 | All species combined | | Fruit/Nuts | 250 lbs | 45 tons | $1.80 | From forest garden | | Wool | - | 900 lbs | $4.50 | From sheep | | Soil Building | - | 300 acres enhanced | - | Continuous improvement | | Carbon Sequestration | - | 450 tons CO2 | - | Annual capture | #### Revenue Analysis $342k/year | Product | Total Production | Community Need | Available for Sale | Revenue | | ---------- | ---------------- | -------------- | ------------------ | ------- | | Dairy | 105,000 gal | 52,000 gal | 53,000 gal | $212k | | Eggs | 360,000 | 180,000 | 180,000 | $90k | | Meat | 35,000 lbs | 60,000 lbs | 0 | $0 | | Fruit/Nuts | 90,000 lbs | 80,000 lbs | 10,000 lbs | $25k | | Wool/Fiber | 900 lbs | 300 lbs | 600 lbs | $15k | #### Infrastructure Layout - 200-250 ft tree perimeter around system - Main access roads every 1000 ft - Water points every 800 ft - Central processing hub - Mobile milking/handling facilities - Solar-powered smart gates - Wildlife corridors integrated #### Management Systems - RFID tracking for animals - Automated gate control - Health monitoring tech - Rotation management software - Emergency response protocols - Breeding program tracking - Production metrics system