Please pardon if I didn't read carefully enough. Emily, did you ever figure out your license issue?
Have you seen this publication?
http://agr.georgia.gov/data/sites/1/media/ag_marketing/the-farmers-market-guide.pdf
See page 5. #4 Manage the regulations - page7
I think another valuable resource for learning about the process is other sellers at farmers markets. If you think they might feel they don't want to help "the competition," go to a market in another town. Just make sure they are instate sellers who are dealing with Georgia laws. Make sure they aren't running a huge operation selling at multiple markets.
As for what will help you make a profit or at least break even the first year, when you are at your local market, look at what is selling. Ask other market goers what they are unable to find that they would like. Is there a large number of other ethnicities and do they have to travel to other markets to get the vegetables they use? I have a market farmer friend and we live in an area with a large Hmong community, but many of them grow their own gardens and share/barter within their community; so cross off that idea. There's a small store offering natural products and some organic produce, but they are unable to get some of the more perishable produce very easily. My farmer friend found this out and was able to grow what that store owner would come to the market to buy at pre-agreed upon discount price and he does not offer that on his stand. But he also found out there are several large senior living apartment building within walking distance of the market. He bought an ad for $25 for a whole page in one building's monthly newsletter and talked with employees and residents and learned many of them want to be able to cook basic organic vegetables and few were into some of the more "exotic" ones. They understand the time and money that foes into certification for organic and will accept his word of honor to provide non-certified organic. He has also started talking to the social events director about providing some free or low-cost cooking classes for some of the less used produce that is convenient in easy to prepare meals. His wife is an avid cook and baker, so that brings that idea full circle. Be creative!
Many farmers are going no till by simply building raised beds. They don't have to be structures, but building up rows with top soil and compost. I do have a friend who decided to do intensive planting in 12" raised beds (he did use wood) and is sort of following the square foot method. He has 16 4x8 beds and most are for single product but he also adds in companion planting and some cut flowers for the market. He has a great plan where is does succession planting and also no bed sits empty very long as another crop goes in right behind the last. He also does have some sort of rotation in there but the whole plan blows my mind. I think he was a wiz kid and also is very adept at using spreadsheets. Anyway, there are tons of books available through your local library and sometimes they can get books from colleges and universities. All I know is, Georgia has one of the best cooperative extension services in the country with lots of research going on in the field of agriculture at many levels of higher education. A lot of that gets filtered down to the agents and there are many programs that are able to share that valuable information in a way that makes it applicable in the field, literally. And don't think that is all too much for you. The agents are there to help and there are many programs to help small, and very small, farmers, even sometimes financial assistance. Please do check it out.
https://extension.uga.edu/ there's probably an office for your county, as well as statewide resources.
Finally, check out this book: Square Foot Gardening High-Value Veggies: Homegrown Produce Ranked by Value, Paperback – March 15, 2016, ISBN-10
1591866685 or ISBN-13-978-1591866688
I am seriously envious of your growing zone 7b or 8b?
I am in 3b
Very Best of Luck!!
Mary
