Sound like you're on the right path with a compact plant. Are you planning to can your pickles? I have found it a bit problematic to have enough pickling cukes ripen at the same time to run a full load through my canner. It would, however, work well for making refrigerator pickles and you could try various recipes until you land on one you really like. I usually make a big load of dills in August, and this past year I made a couple pints of sliced sweet pickles that kept well in the frig without being processed.
