There are a lot of regulations that cover farm products, and running afoul of them can be costly or even put you out of business. Alexia Kulwiec, Executive Director of the Farm-To-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is on the podcast this week to talk about how her organization protects the rights of farmers to sell directly to the public. This is especially important since, with a patchwork of state and federal regulations, sometimes the wrong regulations have been applied to farmers, or been applied improperly.

The FTCLDF is helping farmers proactively, by working to influence state and local policy to ease the regulatory burden placed on farmers, and they also help farmers who are facing inspection and other regulatory issues. In this interview with host April Parms Jones, hear what the legal issues are that farmers have been facing, how FTCLDF is helping, and why this can help decentralize of our food system.
 

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://www.farmtoconsumer.org

Instagram: @farmtoconsumer
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

Do you have more tasks on your farm than you have time? Stop interruptions and focus on what matters most. Delegate repetitive duties in your tunnel to Orisha, get rid of diseases for good and get the most out of your tunnels. Sleep better, knowing that they’ll call you if anything goes wrong in your greenhouse. For tips and tricks on how to simplify your farm activities, check out their free ebooks at orisha.io/tools and sign up to Orisha’s newsletter at orisha.io/newsletter.

Farmhand is the only ready-to-ride assistant made by and for farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take one of our many time-saving tasks for a test drive to see firsthand how Farmhand can help you earn more, and work less at farmhand.partners/gfm.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Jeff Poppen, longtime farmer and owner of Long Hungry Creek Farm in Tennessee, discusses his farming journey and the principles of biodynamic farming which led to his new book, Barefoot Biodynamics. Jeff shares his approach to farming, including the use of compost, cover crops, and crop rotations. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific needs of the soil and the benefits of incorporating diverse elements into the farm. He shares how he got started in farming and the transition to organic and biodynamic methods.

Jeff emphasizes the importance of paying attention to the accumulated wisdom of farming and studying pre-chemical farming practices. He also talks about the unique aspects of his farm, including the diverse landscape and the role of animals in maintaining fertility. Jeff explains the climate in Tennessee and how he manages without irrigation. He delves into the philosophy of biodynamics and Rudolf Steiner's teachings, highlighting the importance of observation, consciousness, and the connection between humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Throughout the conversation, Jeff's down-to-earth and accessible style shines through.
 

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://barefootfarmer.com
Instagram: @barefootfarmer
Facebook: Barefoot Farmer
Jeff's Book: https://chelseagreen.biz/product/barefoot-biodynamics/

Podcast Sponsors:
Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Do you have more tasks on your farm than you have time? Stop interruptions and focus on what matters most. Delegate repetitive duties in your tunnel to Orisha, get rid of diseases for good and get the most out of your tunnels. Sleep better, knowing that they’ll call you if anything goes wrong in your greenhouse. For tips and tricks on how to simplify your farm activities, check out their free ebooks at orisha.io/tools and sign up to Orisha’s newsletter at orisha.io/newsletter.

Discover innovative packaging solutions at A-ROO Company, your one-stop destination for customizable and eco-friendly packaging, including floral, produce, and specialty packaging. Enjoy an exclusive 10% discount with code "GFM10" for Growing for Market Podcast listeners at shop.a-roo.com.

Farmhand is the only ready-to-ride assistant made by and for farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take one of our many time-saving tasks for a test drive to see firsthand how Farmhand can help you earn more, and work less at farmhand.partners/gfm.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Subscribe To Our Magazine - FREE 28-Day Trial:
Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

The good news is that local farms are reaching more customers than ever through their websites, email, text messaging, search engine optimization and more. The rub is that most small farmers already wear so many hats, it’s unlikely they’re making the most of all those platforms for finding and communicating with customers. That’s why founder and CEO Ari Memar created Farmhand- so their team can handle the digital side of the business, and you can stay outstanding in your field.

With his background in tech, Ari knew the potential these new technologies could have to elevate local farms and how to maximize it. But from his hobby farm in California and seeing the farms around him, it was clear most market farms were not getting the most out of these new technologies. Which is why Ari created Farmhand- to take care of the digital side of the business for farmers. Hear how Farmhand can streamline operations for farmers with website design, SEO, email newsletters, text messaging, CSA management, communications with wholesalers, and more in this week’s interview with host April Parms Jones.
 

Connect With Guest:

Instagram: @gofarmhand

Website: gofarmhand.com

Email: hello@gofarmhand.com
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Ball Seed and Ball ColorLink are your complete source for quality cut-flower seeds, plugs, liners, and bulbs. We work closely with the world's top breeders to bring you a wide selection of all the best genetics in the top-selling classes. Connect with Ball Seed today at ballseed.com/cutflowers or call 800-879-BALL.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

It's a new host special episode! We’re so excited to be welcoming April Parms Jones to the podcast as one of our co-hosts, we wanted to make sure and record an episode to properly introduce everyone to April. She has a wide range of agricultural experiences and interests that inform her perspective as an interviewer. In addition to founding a farmers market, April has contributed to publications including Growing for Market, Mother Earth News, The Natural Farmer, Grit and more.

Based in Akron, Ohio, April grows a variety of crops, is a member of the Ohio Farmers Union, and was a delegate for Ohio at the National Farmers Union Convention. In this interview she shares her passion for and activity in the movements for seed sovereignty and creating a more just food system. Much of her work focuses on the intersectionality of food, culture, and sense of place. There’s so much more than we have space for here, you’ll just have to listen to get to know your new podcast host!

Ball Seed and Ball ColorLink are your complete source for quality cut-flower seeds, plugs, liners, and bulbs. We work closely with the world's top breeders to bring you a wide selection of all the best genetics in the top-selling classes. Connect with Ball Seed today at ballseed.com/cutflowers or call 800-879-BALL.
 

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. BCS @bcs_america has select tractors and attachments on sale now through the end of the year. Visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.
 

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at site.localline.ca/claim-your-offer-growing-for-market

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Connect With Guest:

Instagram: @pinehurstfarmersmarket

Alex Ball started his farm when he was 14, so he’s had a lot of opportunities to refine the model over the years! He shares how and why he has moved the farm many times, and how he landed on the flexible CSA model he’s now using. This model allows for flexibility for the farmer by sourcing some of the produce from other growers. Plus, the credit-based system allows a wider group of people to participate, who might not otherwise be able to commit to a full box of food every week.

We also talk about what last mile logistics is, and how Alex has used it to make CSA drop off efficient for him with out-of-home delivery, and efficient for the customer as well by finding dropoff sites in high-traffic locations. He tells us how he has made extensive use of plugins in a Wordpress website to get a customized CSA interface that lets his customers choose exactly what they want from week to week. Alex is also one of the hosts of the No-Till Market Garden Podcast, and we talk about how he found his voice as a podcaster interviewing fellow farmers.  

Connect with Alex:

Website: https://www.oldcityacres.com

Instagram: @oldcityacres

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support!

Ball Seed and Ball ColorLink are your complete source for quality cut-flower seeds, plugs, liners, and bulbs. We work closely with the world's top breeders to bring you a wide selection of all the best genetics in the top-selling classes. Connect with Ball Seed today at ballseed.com/cutflowers or call 800-879-BALL.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. BCS @bcs_america has select tractors and attachments on sale now through the end of the year. Visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at site.localline.ca/claim-your-offer-growing-for-market

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Cole Jones tells us how he went from selling potatoes from local farmers out of his car for chefs to founding Local Line, which now helps thousands of farmers sell food and flowers online. Though Local Line was founded in 2015 as a matchmaking service connecting local farms with chefs, we discuss how the COVID-19 Pandemic accelerated their business overnight as farmers tried to cope with disrupted markets. Cole tells us how most of the farmers who went online during the pandemic have maintained their online storefronts post-pandemic, because selling online has opened up so many more opportunities for local farmers.

We discuss how one of the highest-profile opportunities for local farmers to sell to a large chain exists with Chipotle, who uses Local Line to buy from farmers close to their restaurants. Whether you’re already selling online or thinking about it, this interview is a must-listen for local growers to understand the full range of opportunities for selling to other businesses and directly to consumer. As it has grown, Local Line has developed a wide range of services that are customizable to an individual farm’s needs, including online sales, marketing, and multiple price lists to serve customers from individuals who want local delivery, to grocery stores and restaurants.

Connect With Guest:

Email: info@localline.ca

Website: www.localline.ca

Instagram: @locallineinc

Facebook: Local Line

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Ball Seed and Ball ColorLink are your complete source for quality cut-flower seeds, plugs, liners, and bulbs. We work closely with the world's top breeders to bring you a wide selection of all the best genetics in the top-selling classes. Connect with Ball Seed today at ballseed.com/cutflowers or call 800-879-BALL.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Jaymie Michelle Thurler tells us how she went from a dairy farming background to start Rutabaga Ranch, a certified organic bio-diverse market garden in Brinston, Ontario. At Rutabaga Ranch, they have a farmstand, sell at two farmers markets, have a CSA and sell to local restaurants. Jaymie conveys a lot of farm wisdom with humor, including advice on how to find a farm, how to stay married, and how some peculiar local ag laws led to them starting their on-farm store in a silo, which ended up being much more successful than they ever imagined.

Hear how Jaymie started the farm after burning out on her first career, which involved the huge task of rehabbing a very old house and removing 17 chest freezers from the property! She talks about what they learned from big box stores that has helped make their farm store a success. An important part of their focus as a farm is on spring season extension, since they heat their farm exclusively with waste wood from Jaymie’s husband’s arborist business. As Jaymie says, “We love great grub and having a great time growing it!”

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://rutabaga-ranch.com/

Instagram: The Rutabaga Ranch

Facebook: Rutabaga Ranch

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Ball Seed and Ball ColorLink are your complete source for quality cut-flower seeds, plugs, liners, and bulbs. We work closely with the world's top breeders to bring you a wide selection of all the best genetics in the top-selling classes. Connect with Ball Seed today at ballseed.com/cutflowers or call 800-879-BALL.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

We cover a lot of ground in this interview, including how Sarah and Tom decided to leave their careers to start a flower farm, how Grateful Gardeners is the only cut flower farm we know of to be incorporating aquaponics, and what the heck aquaponics even is. We talk about the ups and downs of raising money from investors to help establish a farm- and how this is routine in Silicon Valley but in farming, not so much. We discuss how outside investment could accelerate the development of local farms; however one of the barriers to attracting investors to farming is that the returns are not typically as high as from the tech sector. So investors have to have a desire to help advance regenerative farming in addition to the capital to get investment to work in farming.

We also talk about how the Grateful Gardeners’ business and markets have changed as their farm has grown, and their work to incorporate aquaponics into the farm. Aquaponics is a soilless growing system, where the fertility is provided by fish living in tanks connected to the water for the plants. Instead of adding fertilizer, the fish provide the fertility through their natural biological processes moderated by bacteria that naturally occur in the environment, though there is an art and a science to managing the system. Hear all about it on this week’s pod!

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.gratefulgardeners.co

www.floraponics.co

Instagram: @grateful_gardeners

Facebook: Grateful Gardeners

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Ball Seed and Ball ColorLink are your complete source for quality cut-flower seeds, plugs, liners, and bulbs. Ball works closely with the world's top breeders to bring you a wide selection of all the best genetics in the top-selling classes. Connect with Ball Seed today at ballseed.com/cutflowers or call 800-879-BALL.

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

This week we hear from Joshua Hughes, who is the Fresh Moves Logistics Coordinator for the Fresh Moves Mobile Market, one of the many programs of the non-profit Urban Growers Collective in Chicago. Host Katie Kulla talks with Joshua about the UGC and their work in general, but more specifically about how the organization is working to “close the food access gap.” Expanding access to food is something we’ve talked about before on this podcast and it’s something that motivates many farmers and organizations to think outside the box when it comes to marketing and distributing produce — UGC and the Fresh Moves Mobile Market represent some truly innovative thinking on the part of many people committed to evolving food systems.

As the manager of UGC’s Fresh Moves Mobile Market, Joshua works to further assist the development of food security in Chicago as a continued action in social justice. Joshua has worked in food access with UGC since late 2019 through the height of the pandemic and emergency food distribution. He has helped lead the Fresh Moves Mobile Market to create new sustainable systems to better serve Chicago’s South and West Side communities.

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://www.urbangrowerscollective.org

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Growers have long used deposits from ancient seas as a source of micronutrients- and over 50 years ago, Dr. Maynard Murray started researching the use of minerals- naturally dried and derived from mineral-rich seawater- as a source of micronutrients. Today on the podcast we talk with Chief Mineral Officer Michael Sileck about how Sea-90 Ocean Minerals continues the work of Dr. Murray today, through their naturally-dried, unprocessed and unrefined soil amendments.

We talk about how the benefits of sea minerals were discovered and established, where SEA-90 is made in the original location in the Sea of Cortez identified by Dr. Murray, and how the natural drying process preserves the natural minerals and trace elements that can help feed soil bacteria, enzymes, and fungi, and ultimately your plants. Find out why SEA-90 is combined with organic humate, what micronutrients it provides, how to apply it and more!

Here's a link to a GFM article about how fungi can help improve micronutrient availability-

Understanding the basic ecology of mycorrhizal fungi to benefit your farm

https://growingformarket.com/articles/20190729_1

Connect With Guest:

Email:

hello@sea-90.com

Websites:

https://www.bajagoldsaltco.com

https://www.sea-90.com

Instagram:

@sea90

@bajagoldsaltco

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Farmhand - Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

Johnny's Selected Seeds - Johnny’s Selected Seeds has provided superior seeds, tools, information, and service since 1973. Consider us your trusted growing partner when you need proven varieties you can count on and detailed guidance from seeding to harvest. Turning to Johnny’s means you can plant high-quality, trial-proven varieties with confidence, knowing that our expert staff is ready to help with first-hand knowledge—because we’ve grown them ourselves. We’re here to help you grow good food.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Neptune’s Harvest is a family company that makes organic fertilizers from the by-products of the fishing industry, in Gloucester, MA. Products from the cold, mineral rich, North Atlantic Ocean contain all the nutrients to make your soil and plants healthy. Available in retail and bulk sizes at neptunesharvest.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

REKO rings gained popularity during the pandemic as a way to keep selling direct to the public when markets were shut down. One of the obstacles to more widespread adoption of the REKO system- reliance on closed Facebook groups to communicate with customers- has been eliminated by Tyler Taggart and REKO Hub. They have developed software to facilitate REKO rings without using Facebook, plus the software is free for producers to use. Instead of charging producers, a small fee is charged to customers when they place an order through REKO Hub.

In case you aren’t already familiar with REKO rings, REKO took the farmers market model and moved the advertising and ordering to a closed Facebook group. Rings correspond to producers in a given geographic area, so during the pandemic, growers from a farmers market that was shut down might have started their own REKO ring to duplicate the farmers market, but in a prepaid format. Buyers perused grower offers and placed orders through the Facebook group, the transactions took place online, and the group of producers in any given REKO ring show up at a predetermined place and time to deliver the pre-ordered goods (think of it like a pre-order farmers market).

For more on the REKO model, click here to read the article from Growing for Market Magazine about REKO rings. And to hear more about how REKO Hub has taken much of the friction out of the REKO model for producers and customers, listen to our interview with Tyler Taggart! We talk about how the model is paid for by customer fees, how making a product posting is as simple as making a social media post, and how REKO Hub can help customers find local food and flower growers.

Here's a link to the GFM article about REKO rings mentioned in the podcast-

Reko Ring: A new way to pre-sell online

https://growingformarket.com/articles/reko-ring-new-way-presell-online

Connect With Guest:

Email: tylert@thefoodapp.org

Website: www.RekoHub.com

www.RekoNow.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TylerTaggart1

Text: 801.404.4307

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Johnny's Selected Seeds - Johnny’s Selected Seeds has provided superior seeds, tools, information, and service since 1973. Consider us your trusted growing partner when you need proven varieties you can count on and detailed guidance from seeding to harvest. Turning to Johnny’s means you can plant high-quality, trial-proven varieties with confidence, knowing that our expert staff is ready to help with first-hand knowledge—because we’ve grown them ourselves. We’re here to help you grow good food.
 

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Farmhand - Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM
 

Neptune’s Harvest is a family company that makes organic fertilizers from the by-products of the fishing industry, in Gloucester, MA. Products from the cold, mineral rich, North Atlantic Ocean contain all the nutrients to make your soil and plants healthy. Available in retail and bulk sizes at neptunesharvest.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

This week we talk with Hannah Rose Weber and Nate Lada, two of the owners at Green Things Farm Collective in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Green Things is a majority women-owned farm business that has evolved out of several businesses. Nate and his wife Jill first started Green Things farm in 2011 at a local farm incubator program. Then they purchased 64 acres where the farm is now settled. In 2020, Green Things joined with Ann Arbor Seed Company and the Land Loom to expand production, share management of running a diverse farm business and develop a model of sustainable, cooperative, and responsible farming. They offer seasonal vegetables and flowers to their local markets through various channels as well as beef.

Hannah takes the lead on market, sales and personnel development. Nate leads vegetable production, infrastructure and production systems innovation. They are joined by a crew of dedicated farmers, including Jill Lada and Michelle Brosius who are also co-owners.

Often on this podcast, we like to discuss people’s personal farming journeys as much as the business side of the discussion, but in this case, it feels like the Green Things Farm Collective almost has a soul and spirit of its own that far transcends what the individual owners and farmers bring to it. So, we get the chance to hear more about the farm itself, how it has evolved, how the people involved are working to meet their goals of sustainability and more!

Connect With Guest:

Facebook: Green Things Farm Collective

Website: www.greenthingsfarm.com

Instagram: @greenthingsfarmcollective

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Johnny's Selected Seeds - Johnny’s Selected Seeds has provided superior seeds, tools, information, and service since 1973. Consider us your trusted growing partner when you need proven varieties you can count on and detailed guidance from seeding to harvest. Turning to Johnny’s means you can plant high-quality, trial-proven varieties with confidence, knowing that our expert staff is ready to help with first-hand knowledge—because we’ve grown them ourselves. We’re here to help you grow good food.
 

Farmhand - Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

A-Roo - Discover innovative packaging solutions at A-ROO Company, your one-stop destination for customizable and eco-friendly packaging across various industries, including floral, produce, and specialty packaging. Explore stylish and eco-friendly Kraft Paper Sleeves and sheets at shop.a-roo.com today and enjoy an exclusive 10% discount with code "GFM10" for Growing For Market Podcast listeners. When it comes to quality and innovation, A-ROO Company is the name you can trust.

Neptune’s Harvest is a family company that makes organic fertilizers from the by-products of the fishing industry, in Gloucester, MASS. Products from cold, mineral rich, North Atlantic Ocean, contain all the nutrients to make your soil and plants healthy. Available in retail and bulk sizes.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

On this week’s podcast we hear from Virginia Herrera about what it’s like to own the farm she worked on for so many years. After working on Spring Hill Farm in Oregon for 20 years, Virginia got the opportunity to buy the farm when the owner retired, and she christened the operation Eloisa Organic Farm, named after her mother.

Virginia shares her farming journey- she grew up farming in Oaxaca, Mexico, and started working at Spring Hill Organic Farm in Oregon when she moved to the United States. When the owner of Spring Hill retired, he offered Virginia and her husband the opportunity to rent the land and equipment, and Eloisa Organic Farm was born. They grow a wide range of certified organic vegetable crops and sell through their CSA, farmers markets, and wholesale relationships, and talk about some of the growing strategies that make their produce exceptional.

Virginia discusses the surprises and difficulties of being a farm owner and the changes she has made to the farm. She emphasizes the importance of following the laws and regulations of starting a business and saving money to overcome the challenges of obtaining bank loans. She shares their marketing strategies including participating in farmers markets, expanding the CSA program, and differentiating themselves through branding and product variety. Virginia discusses the need for more flexible loans for farmers and the limitations faced by those without social security numbers. She also emphasizes the importance of valuing the work of farmers and appreciating the labor behind the produce.

Connect With Guest:

Instagram: @eloisaorganicfarm

Email: eloisaorganicfarm@gmail.com

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Farmhand is the only ready-to-ride assistant made by and for farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take one of our many time-saving tasks for a test drive to see firsthand how Farmhand can help you earn more, and work less at farmhand.partners/gfm.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

We step back and look at the big picture in this wide-ranging conversation with Jean-Martin Fortier, talking about the systemic barriers to local food and farmers and strategies to overcome them. We also talk about Jean-Martin’s many projects, including the recently-released Heirloom farm planning software, and his forthcoming podcast.

We also catch up on his other projects, including the Old Mill farm-to-table restaurant in Quebec, which was named one of the top ten new restaurants in Canada, the Market Gardener Masterclass, Growers and Co. tool and clothing company, and how he works with a team to keep all those plates spinning!

Connect With Guest:

Websites: https://themarketgardener.com/

https://growers.co/

https://heirloom.ag/

https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Johnny's Selected Seeds - Johnny’s Selected Seeds has provided superior seeds, tools, information, and service since 1973. Consider us your trusted growing partner when you need proven varieties you can count on and detailed guidance from seeding to harvest. Turning to Johnny’s means you can plant high-quality, trial-proven varieties with confidence, knowing that our expert staff is ready to help with first-hand knowledge—because we’ve grown them ourselves. We’re here to help you grow good food.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Farmhand - Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

Neptune’s Harvest is a family company that makes organic fertilizers from the by-products of the fishing industry, in Gloucester, MA. Products from the cold, mineral rich, North Atlantic Ocean contain all the nutrients to make your soil and plants healthy. Available in retail and bulk sizes at neptunesharvest.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

On this week’s pod we talk with Brian Campbell and Crystine Goldberg. They own Uprising Seeds, the Certified Organic, farm-based seed business in Bellingham, WA. Brian and Crystine started as fresh market growers in 2004, growing specialty produce for local restaurants, food coops, and farmers markets. During that time they also started one of the country's first food-stamp based CSA programs. 

Brian and Crystine launched Uprising Seeds in 2007 as a small threefold catalog of primarily farm-grown seeds and eventually transitioned entirely to seeds as their market crop by 2011. Now in their 17th year, they maintain and sell a catalog of over 450 varieties of organic vegetable, flower, and herb seeds, growing on about 5 leased acres of cultivated space and working with a network of about a dozen additional seed growers around the Pacific Northwest. Uprising Seeds’ catalog highlights the capacity of varieties with cultural and culinary significance to create community around food and farming, and their seed work is very much rooted in social justice.

Photo by Shawn Linehan

Connect With Guest:

Website: uprisingorganics.com

Want to give seed saving a try? Here's a link to a GFM article, Wet seed processing and saving

https://growingformarket.com/articles/wet-seed-processing-and-saving

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Neptune’s Harvest is a family company that makes organic fertilizers from the by-products of the fishing industry, in Gloucester, MASS. Products from cold, mineral rich, North Atlantic Ocean, contain all the nutrients to make your soil and plants healthy. Available in retail and bulk sizes.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Johnny's Selected Seeds - Johnny’s Selected Seeds has provided superior seeds, tools, information, and service since 1973. Consider us your trusted growing partner when you need proven varieties you can count on and detailed guidance from seeding to harvest. Turning to Johnny’s means you can plant high-quality, trial-proven varieties with confidence, knowing that our expert staff is ready to help with first-hand knowledge—because we’ve grown them ourselves. We’re here to help you grow good food.

Farmhand - Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Erin Benzakein pioneered connecting with people who want to support local farms through social media. In this podcast we talk about how to use your own story to connect with potential customers. Read more in an article she wrote for Growing for Market Magazine called “Become the face of your farm,” linked in the show notes.

We also talk about the years of work that went into breeding the first round of seeds for Floret Originals that were released this winter, including dahlias, celosia and zinnias. We discuss the mechanics of breeding, including converting many of Erin’s hoophouses to net houses, and filling the net houses with flies for pollination. In addition to details about how you can breed and save your own seeds, Erin will be releasing a free seed saving mini-course this summer!

Link to article: Become the face of your farm by Erin Benzakein

https://growingformarket.com/articles/become-the-face-of-your-farm

Connect With Guest:

Email: support@floretflowers.com

Website: https://www.floretflowers.com

Instagram: @floretflower

Facebook: Floret Flower Farm 

YouTube: @floretflowerfarm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Johnny's Selected Seeds - Johnny’s Selected Seeds has provided superior seeds, tools, information, and service since 1973. Consider us your trusted growing partner when you need proven varieties you can count on and detailed guidance from seeding to harvest. Turning to Johnny’s means you can plant high-quality, trial-proven varieties with confidence, knowing that our expert staff is ready to help with first-hand knowledge—because we’ve grown them ourselves. We’re here to help you grow good food.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Neptune’s Harvest is a family company that makes organic fertilizers from the by-products of the fishing industry, in Gloucester, MASS. Products from cold, mineral rich, North Atlantic Ocean, contain all the nutrients to make your soil and plants healthy. Available in retail and bulk sizes.

Farmhand - Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Fish fertilizer is one of the oldest natural fertilizers out there. On this week’s podcast, hear how it’s made, and what sets hydrolyzed fish fertilizer apart from fish emulsion. Ann Molloy of Neptune’s Harvest in Gloucester, Massachusetts, tells us how her dad realized waste from the fishing industry that was being thrown away could be made into natural fertilizer.

We also talk about best practices with fish fertilizer, how to apply it and how to get the most out of fish fertilizer. Understanding the manufacturing process explains why fish hydrolysate, which is stabilized with an organically-approved nutrient that plants need, doesn’t smell as bad as fish emulsion, until you mix it with water. Which is why you have to use what you mix with water within a few hours, otherwise it will start to smell like fish again!

Connect With Guest:

Email: ann@neptunesharvest.com

Website: https://www.neptunesharvest.com/

Instagram: @neptunesharvest

Facebook: Neptune's Harvest

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

A-Roo- Discover innovative packaging solutions at A-ROO Company, your one-stop destination for customizable and eco-friendly packaging across various industries, including floral, produce, and specialty packaging. Explore stylish and eco-friendly Kraft Paper Sleeves and sheets at shop.a-roo.com today and enjoy an exclusive 10% discount with code "GFM10" for Growing For Market Podcast listeners. When it comes to quality and innovation, A-ROO Company is the name you can trust.

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.
 

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone? Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Grafting tomatoes onto vigorous, disease-resistant rootstocks is one of the biggest advancements in tomato production ever. We’ve been getting lots of questions about grafting and rootstocks lately, so we leapt at the opportunity to get some answers straight from the horse’s mouth, so to speak, by interviewing Martijn van Stee of Enza Zaden seeds about what makes tomato rootstocks so vigorous and disease resistant. Martijn has worked on breeding rootstocks for years, and we really enjoyed this conversation from the Netherlands, where Enza is based (zaden means “seeds” in Dutch).

Tune in to find out why rootstocks are the mules of the vegetable world, and how they are able to convey such a vigor and disease resistance increase to varieties they are grafted onto. Hear why it is worth grafting even if you don’t have disease problems, how to turn the extra vigor into yield, and what the trends in rootstock breeding are. If you’ve ever wondered whether grafting makes sense for you or how it works, this interview is for you!
 

Here's a link to an article from Growing for Market Magazine that talks more about rootstocks and tomato grafting:

https://growingformarket.com/articles/Greenhouse-tips-for-hoophouse-growers

Connect With Guest:

Email: m.vanstee@enzazaden.nl

Website: www.enzazaden.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martijnvanstee/

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.
 

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.
 

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Don Tipping stewards over 700 open-pollinated varieties of seeds at Siskiyou Seeds in Oregon, and we discuss the importance of having a bioregionally adapted seed system, and how farmers can get involved in their regional seed system in this week’s podcast. We also talk about Don’s North Star vs. his mission, and how farmers can clarify their goals by understanding the difference between the two.

Siskiyou varieties are selected for resilience to pest and disease pressure, and we discuss how market farmers can decide whether or not seed growing is something they should add to their farms. This is particularly important since, as Don points out, with climate change it’s not only the weather that is changing, but the pests that are active in a given region are changing along with the climate. See the linked article below about dry seed processing and saving if you’re interested in saving your own seeds.

Here's a link to an article from Growing for Market Magazine about dry seed processing and saving

https://growingformarket.com/articles/dry-seed-processing-and-saving

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.siskiyouseeds.com

Instagram: @siskiyouseeds
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.
 

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.
 

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Though she comes from a flower growing family, Tracy Yang of JARN Co. Flowers wasn’t always planning on following in the family business. Now, Tracy and her family farm four acres of flowers in Monroe, Washington, located about 45 minutes northeast of Seattle. Hear about how she decided to grow flowers for a living and the process of establishing her own farm, which involved clearing raw land and a lot of blackberries.

Starting her own farm included some new strategies, like a steadily growing flower CSA and home delivery. JARN Co. Flowers sells 80% of their flowers direct-to-consumer because Tracy values the direct connection they have to their community, something I bet many of our listeners can relate to! Tracy is a first-generation Hmong-American and second-generation flower farmer. Hear how she makes it easy and enjoyable for her customers to buy from her, how she’s making flowers more accessible, and how she uses pop-up markets to build brand awareness.

Connect With Guest:

Email: hello@jarncompany.com

Website: http://www.jarncompany.com

Instagram: @jarncoflowers

Facebook: JARN Co. Flowers

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Ultracrosses and tropical perennials grown as annuals are just two of the many innovative breeding strategies being used by Chris Smith and the Utopian Seed Project to help make local food systems more resilient in the face of climate change. Based in western North Carolina, they are pioneering unusual breeding strategies that can be used by farmers and breeders anywhere to help develop varieties that can adapt to our changing climate.

Underlying their work is the fact that many vegetable varieties are bred for specific regions, and need a high level of inputs for them to succeed. “The Utopian Seed Project is anticipating a less than utopian future as climate changes threaten crops and growing environments,” as Growing for Market Magazine writer Jane Tanner put it in her story about USP, which is linked below in the show notes. Learn how they are using these unusual breeding strategies, along with classical breeding and selection, and how you can access some of their varieties and use their strategies on your own farm in this fascinating episode.

Here's a link to an article from the Nov/Dec 2023 Growing for Market Magazine about Chris Smith and The Utopian Seed Project

https://growingformarket.com/articles/the-utopian-seed-project

Connect With Guest:

Website: theutopianseedproject.org

Instagram: @utopianseedproject

Facebook: The Utopian Seed Project

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

A-Roo - Discover innovative packaging solutions at A-ROO Company, your one-stop destination for customizable and eco-friendly packaging across various industries, including floral, produce, and specialty packaging. Explore stylish and eco-friendly Kraft Paper Sleeves and sheets at shop.a-roo.com today and enjoy an exclusive 10% discount with code "GFM10" for Growing For Market Podcast listeners. When it comes to quality and innovation, A-ROO Company is the name you can trust.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone? Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Subscribe To Our Magazine - FREE 28-Day Trial:

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Jim Gerritsen of Wood Prairie farm is a legend not only for his over four decades of organic farming, but for his activism. As the founder and president of The Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association (OSGATA), a national non-profit membership organization committed to protecting, promoting, and developing the organic seed trade and its growers, he was part of the group that sued Monsanto in 2011 challenging the validity of Monsanto's transgenic/GMO patents and seeking court protection for innocent family farmers who may become contaminated by Monsanto seed.

He's also been involved in defending the integrity of organic standards by opposing the certification of hydroponics as organic here in the USA, along with the Real Organic Project. We talk about all that, in addition to organic seed potato farming, best practices for potato growing, and how Wood Prairie Farm and farming have changed over the years since starting the farm in the 1970s.

Here's a link to a free article on greensprouting potatoes from Growing for Market Magazine that was mentioned during the article:

https://growingformarket.com/articles/planting-and-greensprouting-potatoes

Connect With Guest:

Email: orders@woodprairie.com

Website: www.woodprairie.com

Blog: https://www.woodprairie.com/blog/

Newsletter: https://www.woodprairie.com/wood-prairie-farm-newsletter-archive/

Facebook: Wood Prairie Family Farm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone? Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

On this week’s podcast, we draw on Lisa’s years of flower farming experience to talk not just about growing flowers, but the business and practical tips needed to grow a profitable flower business. Lisa’s new book, The Cut Flower Handbook, is full of information on the growing side, and in our interview we talk about how to put it all together to sustain the passion with a profitable business. We discuss workhorse flower crops, when to harvest, how to ensure the best vase life, and the practical tips that will build a cut flower business and keep it going.

Over the years, Lisa’s farm, The Gardener’s Workshop, has grown to include online courses, seeds, and flower growing tools and supplies. Lisa is also the author of the books Cool Flowers, Vegetables Love Flowers, and The Cut Flower Handbook. She has been selling cut flowers since 1998, including to Colonial Williamsburg, florists throughout the Hampton Roads region, supermarkets, farmers markets, a members-only on-farm market, and a bouquet drop-off subscription service.

Connect With Guest:

Website: thegardenersworkshop.com

Instagram: @gardenersworkshopfarm

The Cut Flower Handbook

Order the book from Growing for Market- magazine subscribers always get 20% off all the books we sell.

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

For 33 years, Growing for Market Magazine has been the only publication focused solely on news and information for vegetable and flower market farmers. Published ten times a year with articles written by farmers, for farmers, whether you do farmers markets, CSA, farmstand, local wholesaling, or florist sales, subscribe to Growing for Market Magazine to learn from other farmers about growing, marketing, and the business of local farming.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Virtual assistants have been around for a while in fields like business and marketing, but until recently there hasn’t been a VA built specifically for farmers. Farmhand changed that, with a combination of automations and a team of humans streamlining operations and doing many of the things a back-office staff would do for farmers.

We were curious how farmers were using Farmhand, so we invited back Ari Memar, founder and CEO of Farmhand, along with Carolyn Givens of Something Good Organics and Melanie Cunningham of Shakefork Community Farm, to hear how they are using Farmhand on their farms. Carolyn and Melanie tell us how Farmhand has made an impact, from CSA management to customer communications, web design, help with newsletters and more. In addition to getting more done with less of the farmer’s time, Carolyn and Melanie tell us how ultimately Farmhand helps them build stronger customer relationships so they have more time to focus on growing exceptional produce.

Melanie Cunningham runs Shakefork Community Farm in Humboldt County, California. Carolyn Givens runs Something Good Organics in Santa Barbara County, California. Ari Memar is the founder and CEO of Farmhand; for more on Ari and Farmhand, listen to the Growing for Market Podcast episode #74 “Building a virtual assistant for market farms with Ari Memar of Farmhand.”
 

Connect With Guests:

Email: hello@gofarmhand.com

Website: https://www.farmhand.partners/gfm

Instagram: @gofarmhand

@somethinggoodorganics

@shakeforkcommunityfarm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America

Farmhand is the only ready-to-ride assistant made by and for farmers.Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take one of our many time-saving tasks for a test drive to see firsthand how Farmhand can help you earn more, and work less at farmhand.partners/gfm.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

We go deep on greenhouse control and automation in this second conversation with Guillaume Lambert. The first time we talked it took us a whole episode to cover the basics, but season extension is so important to market farmers, we decided to have him back to make sure and get to advanced greenhouse growing. We discuss how to use automation to control pests and diseases, how to use automation to conserve heat and save money, and how to use climate control for vegetative/generative steering of vining/fruiting crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and eggplant.

Guillaume Lambert is one of the founders of Orisha, a company that is democratizing greenhouse systems control through software that growers can manage from a smartphone or computer. By bringing the cost down and increasing the precision, Orisha is making high-level greenhouse control accessible to smaller growers. In this interview, we discuss how systems including temperature, irrigation, fans, roll-up sides and more can be automated.

Through the use of the Orisha software, more complex goals can be achieved than with human control alone, including humidity, watering in response to solar radiation, optimizing for cloudy days vs. sunny days, and more. Though benefits of computerized automatic climate control include increased production, better crop health, and time savings, we were surprised to find out that the number one benefit Orisha customers report is the peace of mind of not having to worry about their greenhouses. Regardless of what crop you grow, listen to this interview to hear how and why to get the benefits of greenhouse automation.
 

Connect With Guest:

Email: guillaume@orisha.io

Website: orisha.io

Instagram: @orisha_auto
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Vermont Compost Company Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.
 

For 33 years, Growing for Market Magazine has been the only publication focused solely on news and information for vegetable and flower market farmers. Published ten times a year with articles written by farmers, for farmers, whether you do farmers markets, CSA, farmstand, local wholesaling, or florist sales, subscribe to Growing for Market Magazine to learn from other farmers about growing, marketing, and the business of local farming.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Angela and Paul Neufeld have been farming vegetables and flowers in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, for 18 years. As Kingfisher Farm Market, they have been committed to regenerative, sustainable farming practices from the beginning. They’ve been slowly building up their farm business on land they share with other families. In a recent newsletter, Angela shared that in 2014 they made $977.50. Fast forward to 2023 and they made their main livelihood off the farm.

They now host a bustling one-day-a-week market at the farm as well as roadside sales throughout the week with a few restaurants that they supply with weekly lettuce mix and other veggies. They also sell flower bouquets from April-October at their roadside stand, through weekly flower subscriptions and through their DIY buckets. Listen to today’s episode to hear about the organic growth of their farm, living and farming in community and their many marketing outlets! 

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.kingfisherfarmmarket.com

Instagram: @kingfisherfarmmarket

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Since 1972 growers have been feeding their soil with organic inputs from Ohio Earth Food. Start seeds in The Seed Catapult soil with mycorrhizae and put Re-vita Pro fertilizer in the soil before you plant and rest assured that your plants will have all of the nutrients and energy for whatever comes their way. These natural blends utilize compost, kelp, and humate and are low salt index safe for high tunnels and approved for organic production. Visit them at ohioearthfood.com and call for larger orders Ohio: 330-877-9356 and Wisconsin: 608-489-3600.

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone? Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Guillaume Lambert is one of the founders of Orisha, a company that is democratizing greenhouse systems control through software that growers can manage from a smartphone or computer. By bringing the cost down and increasing the precision, Orisha is making high-level greenhouse control accessible to smaller growers. In this interview, we discuss how systems including temperature, irrigation, fans, roll-up sides and more can be automated.

Through the use of the Orisha software, more complex goals can be achieved than with human control alone, including humidity, watering in response to solar radiation, optimizing for cloudy days vs. sunny days, and more. Though benefits of computerized automatic climate control include increased production, better crop health, and time savings, we were surprised to find out that the number one benefit Orisha customers report is the peace of mind of not having to worry about their greenhouses. Regardless of what crop you grow, listen to this interview to hear how and why to get the benefits of greenhouse automation.

Connect With Guest:

Email: guillaume@orisha.io

Website: orisha.io

Instagram: @orisha_auto

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Since 1972 growers have been feeding their soil with organic inputs from Ohio Earth Food. Start seeds in The Seed Catapult soil with mycorrhizae and put Re-vita Pro fertilizer in the soil before you plant and rest assured that your plants will have all of the nutrients and energy for whatever comes their way. These natural blends utilize compost, kelp, and humate and are low salt index safe for high tunnels and approved for organic production. Visit them at ohioearthfood.com and call for larger orders Ohio: 330-877-9356 and Wisconsin: 608-489-3600.

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Vermont Compost Company Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

Subscribe To Our Magazine - FREE 28-Day Trial:

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Today we hear from Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou, who is a co-owner-operator of Brisa Ranch along with his wife Veronica and their friend Cristóbal Cruz Hernández. They started Brisa Ranch in 2018 and now grow about 40 different organic crops on 30 acres in Pescadero, California, which is 45 miles from the Bay Area. The sell 90% of their produce directly to businesses and institutions throughout Northern California. They were named California New Farmers of the Year by CAFF (the Community Alliance with Family Farmers) in 2021.

Growing on 30 acres might seem like a big farm to many members our audience, but by California standards, Brisa Ranch is still relatively small. We hear from Cole how Brisa Ranch got their foot in the door in what is a packed California farming landscape and market, and how they’ve shaped their farm through their core values.

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.brisaranch.com

Instagram: @brisaranch

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com.

Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers peer-review certification to ecological farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainable growing practices with a certification that fits your farm’s scale, budget, and community values. Learn more and apply at the link! www.naturallygrown.org

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

BCS America BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Vermont Compost Company Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Rebecca owns Moonshot Farm, a specialty cut flower farm in East Windsor, NJ. She and her husband Mark started the farm in 2019 with big goals of providing sustainably grown flowers year-round — literally 52 weeks of the year. They thought their goals were so lofty that it informed their farm’s name — they are trying to “shoot the moon,” as they say. However, it must be working, because they do in fact grow flowers year-round, including in a geothermal greenhouse, for retail markets in and around New York City.

Rebecca clearly has tons to share with our audience and we were excited to hear about growing flowers, how they are making this work to harvest year-round in their climate, and also her recent shift to quitting her off-farm job so that both she and Mark could work full-time on the farm. Rebecca wrote a great article for the September 2023 Growing for Market about that move, including interviewing many other farmers who have made the same leap. It’s a big decision, and we talk about the successes and challenges she and others have faced.

The link to the article “Making the leap to farming full-time” is available below; Rebecca’s other articles are available in the archive and in back issues for Growing for Market Magazine subscribers.

Free article by Rebecca Kutzer-Rice from Growing for Market Magazine:

Making the leap to farming full-time

Connect With Guest:

Email: info@moonshotfarm.com

Website: www.moonshotfarm.com

Instagram: @moonshot_farm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Rimol Greenhouse Systems designs and manufactures greenhouses that are built to be intensely rugged, reliably durable, and uniquely attractive – to meet all your growing needs. Rimol Greenhouses are guaranteed to hold up through any weather conditions, while providing exceptional value and an easy installation for vegetable growers of all sizes. Learn more about the Rimol difference and why growers love Rimol high tunnels at Rimol.com

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers peer-review certification to ecological farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainable growing practices with a certification that fits your farm’s scale, budget, and community values. Learn more and apply at the link! www.naturallygrown.org

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone? Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

The path from accountant to farmer is not the most commonly taken one, so hear how Keshaun Joseph came to reconsider the corporate life and start Mount Liamuiga Farm in Colorado on this week’s podcast. The first year of the farm included a car accident, negotiating water rights, and hungry packs of rabbits, all of which made this self-described “recovering perfectionist” slow down, ground himself, and build resilience and plan for the next year. Keshaun and host Katie Kulla discuss his family background in farming, growing unusual crops like hibiscus, the farm he worked on before starting Mount Liamuiga, and the innovative farm incubator that helped him gain experience and find the land to start his own farm.

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.mountliamuigafarm.com

Instagram: @mountliamuigafarm

Facebook: Mount Liamuiga Farm

Free article:

Farm infrastructure: what and when to build by podcast host Katie Kulla

https://growingformarket.com/articles/Farm-infrastructure-What-and-when-to-build

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

If you’re an experienced vegetable farmer, don’t miss out on the 2024 Organic Vegetable Production Conference! In its 8th year, this conference fills that “expert-level” niche you’re looking for. Farmer presenters share the nitty-gritty details of their production practices and also speak on a wide range of topics - from fertilizer injectors and pest management with beneficials, to seed saving and labor retention. With online sessions on January 25th and 26th and in-person sessions on February 2 and 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, you can plug in no matter where you are. Register today at https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/organic-vegetable-production-conference/#link

Certified Naturally Grown - Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers peer-review certification to ecological farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainable growing practices with a certification that fits your farm’s scale, budget, and community values. Learn more and apply at naturallygrown.org.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer - Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone? Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for details or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Hear how Zoe Bradbury DeSurra of Valley Flora Farm balances four different farming enterprises between herself, her sister and her mom on one farm. The farm started in an unorthodox way- with a property trade- and overcame a healthy sense of skepticism about whether its rural Oregon location could support a vegetable farm at all, to become the multi-enterprise, matriarchal farm, where everything from the coolers to the draft horses run on solar power today.

Zoe shares the story of how the farm grew over the years, how the different businesses on the farm split revenue, and how she overcame self-imposed limitations to make her farm what it is today. She discusses with host Katie Kulla how she got interested in and learned to use draft horses for farm work, how they have struggled with and solved labor shortages, and how their markets have evolved over the years. Beginning and experienced farmers alike a lot to learn from the evolution of this unique farm in Southern Oregon.

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.valleyflorafarm.com

Instagram: @valley.flora

Facebook: Valley Flora Farm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers peer-review certification to ecological farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainable growing practices with a certification that fits your farm’s scale, budget, and community values. Learn more and apply at the link!

https://www.naturallygrown.org

Organic Vegetable Production Conference - If you’re an experienced vegetable farmer, don’t miss out on the 2024 Organic Vegetable Production Conference! In its 8th year, this conference fills that “expert-level” niche you’re looking for. Farmer presenters share the nitty-gritty details of their production practices and also speak on a wide range of topics - from fertilizer injectors and pest management with beneficials, to seed saving and labor retention.With online sessions on January 25th and 26th and in-person sessions on February 2 and 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, you can plug in no matter where you are. Register today at https://tinyurl.com/26285ax5

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at site.localline.ca/claim-your-offer-growing-for-market

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. With Vermont Compost’s prebuy program, you can receive 15% off on orders placed, paid for, and shipped by December 21st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will receive an additional 5%, bringing the total discount to 20%. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Dr. Surendra Dara brings over 25 years of experience to his work as an Oregon State University professor and director of NWREC, the North Willamette Research and Extension Center in Aurora, Oregon. In this podcast, we talk about integrated pest management (IPM) tactics growers can use to keep pests and diseases in check without getting to the point of spraying, even if the sprays are organic. We discuss controls as diverse as physical barriers, irrigation, nutrient management, biostimulants, biological soil amendments and more to develop sustainable agricultural solutions.

Before moving to Oregon, he was based in California where he worked with strawberry and vegetable growers. Throughout his career, he has worked on numerous invasive and endemic species of arthropods and plant pathogens. His research and extension covered commodities such as alfalfa, cassava, cotton, small fruits, and vegetables serving agricultural communities locally, regionally, and internationally. Dr. Dara has authored/co-authored more than 400 scientific and extension articles, which include three co-edited books, four co-edited special issues of journals, 25 book chapters, and more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles. He has extensive international outreach experience training farmers in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Haiti, Kosovo, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe.

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surendra-dara-7529778

Website: https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/users/surendra-dara

Website: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/people/surendra-dara

Website: https://ucanr.edu/JEB

Website: https://ucanr.edu/PestNews

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

If you’re an experienced vegetable farmer, don’t miss out on the 2024 Organic Vegetable Production Conference! In its 8th year, this conference fills that “expert-level” niche you’re looking for. Farmer presenters share the nitty-gritty details of their production practices and also speak on a wide range of topics - from fertilizer injectors and pest management with beneficials, to seed saving and labor retention.With online sessions on January 25th and 26th and in-person sessions on February 2 and 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, you can plug in no matter where you are. Register today at https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/organic-vegetable-production-conference/#link

Certified Naturally Grown - Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers peer-review certification to ecological farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainable growing practices with a certification that fits your farm’s scale, budget, and community values. Learn more and apply at naturallygrown.org.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. BCS has select tractors and attachments on sale now through the end of the year. Visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer - Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Vermont Compost Company - Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. With Vermont Compost’s prebuy program, you can receive 15% off on orders placed, paid for, and shipped by December 21st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will receive an additional 5%, bringing the total discount to 20%. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

No one gets into flower farming because they love business analytics, however if you don’t know how to make sense of your business and make a profit, you’re not going to stay in business for very long. Luckily we’ve got Lennie Larkin of B-Side Farm to help us cut through the clutter and tell us how to plan to make a profit in our own flower farm businesses. She’s on the pod this week, telling us about her new book, Flower Farming for Profit, which will be out in January.

We talk about how to evaluate your whole enterprise from the close-up, such as whether an individual crop is making you money or not, to zooming out to tell whether an entire market is right for you or not. For example, we talk about how even though the same stem that sells for a dollar to a wholesaler might be worth many times more at a wedding, there are a lot of other costs associated with getting an individual stem to a wedding. So if you’re more of an enjoy-my-time-on-the tractor type of person, you might be more suited to wholesaling and foregoing the big markups associated with weddings and other events. We also talk about the process of moving Lennie’s own farm from CA to OR, how to avoid engaging in magical thinking, and how to get prices above the market average for your flowers.

Pre-order Flower Farming for Profit (magazine subscribers get 20% off):

https://growingformarket.com/store/products/252

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.flowerfarmingforprofit.com

Instagram: @flowerfarming.forprofit

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

If you’re an experienced vegetable farmer, don’t miss out on the 2024 Organic Vegetable Production Conference! In its 8th year, this conference fills that “expert-level” niche you’re looking for. Farmer presenters share the nitty-gritty details of their production practices and also speak on a wide range of topics - from fertilizer injectors and pest management with beneficials, to seed saving and labor retention.With online sessions on January 25th and 26th and in-person sessions on February 2 and 3 in Madison, Wisconsin, you can plug in no matter where you are. Register today at https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/organic-vegetable-production-conference/#link

Certified Naturally Grown - Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) offers peer-review certification to ecological farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities. Demonstrate your commitment to sustainable growing practices with a certification that fits your farm’s scale, budget, and community values. Learn more and apply at naturallygrown.org.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. BCS has select tractors and attachments on sale now through the end of the year. Visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at https://hubs.la/Q02bpWQV0

Bootstrap Farmer - Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Vermont Compost Company - Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. With Vermont Compost’s prebuy program, you can receive 15% off on orders placed, paid for, and shipped by December 21st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will receive an additional 5%, bringing the total discount to 20%. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

One perennial problem for market farmers is how to make local food and flowers available to customers every day, without having to spend seven days a week standing behind a table or giving up most of the value to a wholesaler. The farm stop is the most innovative answer to this problem we’ve heard of in years, and Kathy Sample & Bill Brinkerhoff of Argus Farm Stop are on the pod this week to tell us about it.

Billed as a “year-round, everyday farmers market,” it isn’t a replacement for farmers markets, but a complement to them. In fact, many farmers make deliveries to the farm stop on and between market days. The Argus Farm Stop is a local food grocery store, stocked with products from over 200 farms and producers, where farmers own the produce, set the prices, and keep 70% of the sale, and customers know who grew the food and flowers. Hear how the model works, where they got the idea, how they minimize waste, how they work with farmers, and more on this week’s Growing for Market Podcast.
 

Connect With Guest:

website: www.argusfarmstop.com

Instagram: @argusfarmstop

Facebook: Argus Farm Stop
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Local Line is the all-in-one sales platform for direct-market farms and food hubs of all sizes. Increase your sales and streamline your processes with features including e-commerce, inventory management, subscriptions, online payments, and more! Get 15% off marketing services and one premium feature for a year with the code Growing4market at site.localline.ca/claim-your-offer-growing-for-market

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. With Vermont Compost’s prebuy program, you can receive 15% off on orders placed, paid for, and shipped by December 21st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will receive an additional 5%, bringing the total discount to 20%. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Talk about leveraging constraints, Michael Bell runs Dallas Half Acre Farm without running water or electricity, with a full-time job, on about half an acre. On this week’s podcast, we talk about how he makes it all work. We discuss why almost all his crops are grown under cover, and how he makes that work with the intense summer heat in Texas. We also talk about why he harvests and delivers produce almost every day of the week, and how that works with his job as a teacher.

We also discuss some of the difficulties of farming in a neighborhood where the authorities don’t always understand agriculture, and how Michael has worked with local officials to keep growing. His modified CSA is a great model for those looking to get a lot out of a small space or start farming in an urban/suburban area. Michael is also a big advocate for urban farming- hear his advice for aspiring urban farmers, and how he helps them get started.

Connect With Guest:

Instagram: @dallashalfacrefarm
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Nobody gets into farming for the spreadsheets, however almost no one will stay in business if they don’t get good with the business of running a farm. Even with farm businesses we are passionate about, it’s important to do more than just survive from year to year. The difference between gardening and farming is making a profit, and that’s necessary to pay everyone including the farmer, plan for retirement, and have a little extra for a “rainy day,” like when the tractor breaks down, someone gets injured, or the farm needs to grow.

Luckily, we have Julia Shanks to help us plan for our farms to be profitable businesses. She has used her background in the food industry and accounting to help hundreds of farmers make sense of their numbers. On this week’s pod, we pick up on the trends she has noticed over the years and talk about important ways to understand farm business metrics, like calculating the breakeven point, figuring out cost of production, profit per hour, whether growth or specialization is the right strategy for profitability, and more! We cover everything from pivoting, to the entrepreneurial mindset, to how to get excited about digging into your numbers, even when you aren’t.

Buy one of Julia's books:

The Farmer's Office

https://growingformarket.com/store/products/177

Read Julia's article that was discussed in the pod, "The magic of breakeven and how it can help set sales goals," in Growing for Market Magazine:

https://growingformarket.com/articles/the-magic-breakeven-and-how-it-can-help-set-sales-goals

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.juliashanks.com

Website: www.thefarmersoffice.com

GFM Podcast listeners can get a discount on Julia's farm business course starting December 4, The Farmer's Edge:

https://juliashanks.com/thefarmersedge/
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. With Vermont Compost’s prebuy program, you can receive 15% off on orders placed, paid for, and shipped by December 21st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will receive an additional 5%, bringing the total discount to 20%. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Sophia Ngueyen Eng was a successful marketer in Silicon Valley, in March of 2020. When the world shut down Sophia immediately realized the importance of food security. She quickly expanded her garden and even ventured into raising chickens. As Sophia's connection to the land grew so did her connection to her heritage as she tapped into traditional Asian gardening practices. Within years she and her family adopted the homesteading lifestyle and moved away from the city and on to 7 acres.

Now, she pursues her passions for sustainable farming and nourishing Asian cuisine on her farm in Tennessee, where she employs regenerative practices to raise grass-fed dairy cows, beef cattle, laying hens, broilers, ducks, sheep, goats, turkeys, and traditional Asian practices to grow a variety of produce for her multi-generational family and local community.

She has put it all down in her new book, The Nourishing Asian Kitchen, which spotlights healthy recipes from several different Asian traditions that can be made with farm-fresh whole foods. Her book draws parallels between soil and human health, for example how she feeds the soil with the same kind of fermented microbes as we can feed ourselves, with foods like sauerkraut and kimchi, and lactic acid bacteria from Korean Natural Farming for the soil. Learn how to feed yourself as well as you do your soil with this podcast and her book, The Nourishing Asian Kitchen.

Connect With Guest:

Email: sprinklewithsoil@gmail.com

Website: https://www.freedomfundings.com

Website: https://www.homesteadingrealtor.com

Website: https://www.sprinklewithsoil.com

Instagram: @freedomfundings

Instagram: @homesteadingagent

Instagram: @sprinklewithsoil

Podcast: https://www.thecalltofarms.com

Substack: https://sprinklewithsoil.substack.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sprinklewithsoil

Subscribe To Our Magazine - FREE 28-Day Trial:

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Learn how Ben Hartman cut his farm down to 1/3 of an acre from an acre without taking a pay cut on this week’s pod. Ben Hartman is well known for adapting LEAN principles from manufacturing to his farm in order to cut out waste and maximize efficiency; that is the subject of his previous two books, The Lean Farm and The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables. However, even after LEANing up his previous two farms, he found he was working too much at the expense of family, friends and community.

So he and his wife and farming partner Rachel embarked on a quest to radically LEAN up their farm, and that is the story of his new book, The Lean Micro Farm, and this podcast. Hear how, though skeptical at first, he was able to make as much income and support the family off of 1/3 of an acre instead of the one acre they were previously farming, which in itself is a big reduction from the 400 acres his family was farming when he was growing up.

In addition to the ideas underlying efficient micro-farming, this episode is packed with practical information for how to maximize efficiency on a farm of any size, including a simple plan for farm-based fertility, how to find markets for all your produce within a few miles of the farm, quick two-step bed flips, and crops to focus on to maximize income from a small area. Growing for Market Magazine subscribers always get 20% off all books, including The Lean Micro Farm, at growingformarket.com.

Buy One Of Ben Hartman's Books:

Book 1: The Lean Micro Farm (Preorder now- available late Nov 2023)

Book 2: The Lean Farm: Guide to Growing Vegetables

Book 3: The Lean Farm: How to Minimize Waste, Increase Efficiency, and Maximize Value and Profits

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.ClayBottomFarm.com

Instagram: @claybottomfarm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

BCS America - BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America. Tractors and Attachments are on sale through the end of the year. Visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. With Vermont Compost’s prebuy program, you can receive 15% off on orders placed, paid for, and shipped by December 21st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will receive an additional 5%, bringing the total discount to 20%. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Sometimes we can be stronger when we collaborate, and on this week’s pod hear from two growers with over 20 years of experience working together. Lyn Jacobs @la_finquita_del_buho and Polly Gottesman @pumpkinridgegardens each run their own vegetable CSA farms, and they’ve been collaborating to sell vegetable and flower seedlings, fresh cut flower bouquets, dried flowers and wreaths since 2002. This episode is packed with lots of great ideas and growing info, including how to keep your flowers distinctive at markets with other flower growers, how they manage the cooperative business arrangement between their two farms, and how to keep the personal relationship strong along with the business after more than two decades of collaborating.

Connect With Guest:

Email: lynjuve@msn.com

Email: pumpkinridgegardens@gmai.com

Website: www.finquita.com

Website: https://pumpkinridgegardens.com/

Website: https://pumpkinridgegardens.square.site/ (our farmers market website)

Instagram: @la_finquita_del_buho

Instagram: @pumpkinridgegardens

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse kits, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

PFAS are toxic chemicals that are widely used and have accumulated to dangerous levels in agricultural soils in some areas. On tomorrow’s pod we talk with Caleb Goossen, an Organic Crop Specialist at MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) about why Maine may be the canary in the coal mine for this type of contamination, and how farmers in other areas can know whether their properties are at risk for contamination. As the Organic Crop Specialist for MOFGA he has been helping farmers deal with the repercussions of PFAS contamination, and we talk about the effects on human health, and how to deal with the situation if farm soils are contaminated.

Resources Mentioned In Episode:

Article: https://pubs.aip.org/avs/bip/article/18/3/030501/2894789/Evidence-of-compost-contamination-with-per-and

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.mofga.org/pfas

Instagram: @organiccropspecialist

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Diversity of crops is one way to spread the risk in farming, and on this week’s podcast we talk about what Noah Poulos of Wild East Farm grew in this first year on his farm outside of Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to vegetables, crops include pastured meats and agroforestry, and we discuss how the short-term crops help them get into farmers markets and generate income while the longer-term crops grow. We also discuss their unusual lease that was set up to keep the property in farming, recap how the first year on the property went, what he learned managing other farms, and more!

Connect With Guest:

Website: www.wildeastfarm.com

Instagram: @noahthefarmer

Instagram: @wildeastfarm

YouTube: @wildeastfarm

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Vermont Compost Company - Each fall, Vermont Compost offers a prebuy program to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. You can receive 20% off orders placed, paid for, and shipped by October 31st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will also receive a free 60-quart bag of Compost Plus container and transplant booster mix with your order. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order.

Want to learn more about going full-time into your life's passion? Here is a link to September's article "Making the Leap to Farming Full-Time" By Rebecca Kutzer-Rice, from the Growing for Market Magazine.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Podcast host Katie Kulla illustrated a new book! In this episode she interviews Kevin Hobbs and Artur Cisar-Erlach, the co-authors of the book, "Edible: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eat." Over half of the modern diet is based on just a few plants, however with a rapidly changing climate, plants that can thrive under more challenging conditions will become more important in ensuring food security.

This interview focuses on the crops from the book that have commercial potential and could be grown by market farmers, with the added bonus for growers that the crops are selected for resiliency. The fact that most of these crops are not currently widely grown in the USA by market farmers means growers may be able to set their farms apart by growing some of these crops. Plant nerds everywhere will enjoy learning about edible crops they never have heard of, some of which just might become your next favorite crop!

Buy Edible: 70 Sustainable Plants That Are Changing How We Eat

https://growingformarket.com/store/products/249

Connect With Guest:

Kevin’s Instagram @florafanatica

Artur’s Instagram @artur_cisar_erlach

Artur’s website: https://arturcisar-erlach.com/

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, lighting, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full spectrum of colors. For all that plus experienced support for everything they sell, check out Bootstrap Farmer.

BCS America - BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?
 

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Mimo Davis and Miranda Duschack grow flowers at Urban Buds City Grown Flowers in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, and we love this interview where we talk about rehabbing a legacy farm property including an old glass greenhouse, what it’s really like to grow flowers in the city, and what their markets are with so many potential customers nearby. We talk about how to get the most out of a small area, favorite floral crops and growing tips, why they keep growing ginger along with all the flowers, the impact of urban farms, and so much more!

We’d like to thank the sponsors of this podcast, BCS America and the Vermont Compost Company. It’s with their generous support that we can bring you this podcast for free so show them some love. They’re making it easy right now as both sponsors are having sales- Vermont Compost is doing their annual prebuy program now through the end of October to incentivize ordering your spring soil before the snow flies. You can receive 20% off orders placed, paid for, and shipped by October 31st. Listeners of the Growing for Market podcast will also receive a free 60 quart bag of Compost Plus container and transplant booster mix with your order. Visit vermontcompost.com/gfm for more details, or mention this podcast when you place your order. And, BCS has select two-wheel tractors and attachments on sale now through the end of the year. Visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

Connect With Guest:

Email: citygrownflowers@gmail.com

Website: www.citygrownflowers.com

Instagram: @urbanbuds

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Vermont Compost Company - Since 1992, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. In addition to product consistency, growers can depend on Vermont Compost as an invaluable resource for a breadth of soil and plant knowledge and the technical expertise it takes to grow organically in an ever-changing environment. Why Grow Alone?

BCS America - BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Eli Wheat is both a farmer and a teacher, splitting his time between SkyRoot Farm on Whidbey Island, WA and teaching at the University of Washington. On this week’s podcast, we get to hear how he balances both, taking the ferry back and forth between the island and the city, and how different the University of Washington urban farm is from his farm! We love this interview where Eli and host Katie Kulla talk about how working with new people has shrunk the farm’s footprint to roughly half of what it was without reducing revenue, how going no-till has changed the farm, innovative ways to market your produce, what an amazing place Whidbey Island is to farm, and more!

Connect With Guest:

Email: wheat@skyrootfarm.com

Facebook: SkyRoot Farm

Instagram: @skyroot_farmers

Website: http://www.skyrootfarm.com/

Download A FREE Magazine Issue:

Go To Growing For Market Magazine: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Harvesting vegetables all winter long is what we discuss on today’s podcast with Catherine Sylvestre of Ferme des Quatre-Temps, in Hemmingford, Quebec, Canada. Catherine is an agronomist and director of vegetable production and leader of the market garden team at the farm. She is also the co-author of a new book, called The Winter Market Gardener, along with JM Fortier. She develops, implements, and teaches best practices for cold season growing, specializing in crop protection and greenhouse production for northern climates. We talk about how to time plantings as growth slows in the winter, how to use a variety of structures to spread out the harvest, we answer some listener-submitted questions, and more! Whether this is your first winter growing or your twentieth, there are plenty of ideas here to help dial-in winter vegetable production.

Connect With Guest:

Email : catherine@fermequatretemps.com

Instagram : @fermequatretemps

The Winter Market Gardener Book : Buy Here

Catherine's article from the August magazine, "Year-round carbon neutral greenhouse production," https://growingformarket.com/articles/yearround-carbon-neutral-greenhouse-production

Link to contest to win one of three copies of The Winter Market Gardener: https://kingsumo.com/g/ackxye/book-giveaway-the-winter-market-gardener-3999-value-3-winners

Link to winter planting dates calculator:  https://app.orisha.io/#winter-harvest

FREE 28 day trial of Growing for Market Magazine- cancel anytime:

Go To Growing For Market Magazine: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Dried flower arrangements are one of the best ways of ensuring a year-round supply of domestically-grown blooms, as gaps in the harvest season can be filled in with dried flowers. Hannah Muller just published Designing with Dried Flowers, a gorgeous and practical book written from her experience as farmer/florist on Full Belly Farm, one of the nation’s largest certified organic flower farms, among other crops. An additional benefit of using dried blooms is that flowers that don’t make the cut for fresh use can often be used for dried flower arrangements and wreaths. 

Hannah shares her personal journey of growing up on the farm and finding her way back to it as an adult. She discusses the role of dried flowers in extending the farm's season, provides tips for getting started with drying flowers, including experimenting with flowers already grown and growing specific varieties for drying. She shares tips on crops, growing and harvesting flowers for drying, setting up a drying room, dealing with pests, arranging and more! Subscribers get 20% off this book and all books at growingformarket.com.

Connect With Guest:

Read her book, Designing with Dried Flowers- subscribers get 20% off at growingformarket.com

Website: https://fullbellyfarm.com

Instagram: @farmerhands

@Full_Belly_Farm

@wreathroom
 

Podcast Sponsors:

Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Bootstrap Farmer offers a complete range of growing supplies including heat mats, ground cover, frost blankets, silage tarps, irrigation, and trellising. They also make all-metal, all-inclusive greenhouse frames, constructed of steel made in the USA and fabricated in Texas. Their heavy-duty, Midwest-made propagation and microgreens trays will last for years and are available in a full range of colors, great for keeping farm seedlings separate from retail, or just for fun. For all that and more, check out Bootstrap Farmer at bootstrapfarmer.com.

Tired of admin work and technology trouble? You need Farmhand on your team. Farmhand is the all-in-one software platform and virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. Through a simple text or email to Farmhand, you can offload admin tasks, automate your CSA, update your website, and sell more to your customers. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/GFM

Our Website: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Farming can take a toll on the body, and this week’s podcast guest Cynthia Flores founded Labor-Movement to help farmers stay healthy through many seasons of farming. That’s because after 20 years of farming herself, she has felt the toll it takes on the body, and decided to do something about it! As a certified personal trainer and licensed massage therapist, we have a lot to learn from her about how to stay healthy through seasons of farming, including how to move to reduce injuries, how to recover from injuries, and how to get stronger in the off-season. Podcast host Katie Kulla and Cynthia discuss common farm injuries, ways to make our bodies more resilient, and farm systems and equipment to reduce injuries in the first place.

Connect With Guest:

Email: cynthia@labor-movement.com

Website: https://www.labor-movement.com

Instagram: @labor_movement_

Free 28 Day Trial - Cancel Anytime:

Go To Growing For Market Magazine: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Nella Mae Parks went from a farm with lots of topsoil to one with lots of clay, and in the subsequent decade she has learned a lot about clay! Nella Mae’s Farm is in Cove, Oregon. Podcast host Katie Kulla and Nella Mae talk about the advantages that clay can provide (high water and nutrient holding ability), as well as the disadvantages (can be hard to work with, can turn into a brick if worked at the wrong time).

They also discuss how to open up clay soil whether you till or not, how to deal with the difficulties associated with both direct seeding and transplanting into clay, why she’d take clay over sand, and more!

In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers. In this episode of Shop Talk, we talk about strategies for using low tunnels in the winter. We discuss how in areas with very cold winters, low tunnels inside a greenhouse can not only keep crops alive for winter sales, they can also be used to keep crops looking good for spring sales. In milder climates, low tunnels can be used the same way but in the field.

Thanks to our collaborator on this podcast Neversink Farm. They make this podcast free to everyone with their generous support. For tools designed and made by farmers, check out www.NeversinkTools.com

Articles Mentioned In This Episode:

"Strategies for farming in clay" by Nella Mae

Connect With Guest:

Website: https://nellamaesfarm.com/

Instagram: @nellamaesfarm

USDA Soil Survey Website: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/conservation-basics/natural-resource-concerns/soil/soil-survey

Download A FREE Magazine Issue:

Go To Growing For Market Magazine: www.GrowingForMarket.com

In this episode of the Growing for Market podcast, host Andrew Mefferd invites guests Billy Mitchell, Chris Callahan, and Andrew Chamberlin to discuss efficient systems and organization for packing sheds. We discuss the principles of good flow in a wash/pack situation and how to optimize cold storage in post-harvest handling. The guests emphasize the significance of creating a comfortable and efficient work environment by considering factors such as walking paths, space, lighting, and ventilation. They provide practical tips to improve work flow, such as identifying bottlenecks and rearranging workstations or introducing hanging shelving.

The episode also delves into the five-step cleaning and sanitizing process for wash pack areas, with the addition of a crucial fifth step: drying surfaces after sanitization. The concept of dry-cleaning (not like laundry) is discussed as an alternative to wet-cleaning surfaces, with brushes, brooms, vacuums, or compressed air for debris removal. The importance of cold storage in maintaining produce quality is highlighted, with recommendations for small CoolBot rooms and considerations for larger spaces. The conversation concludes with resources including tools, articles, and informative materials to help optimize post-harvest handling practices and create efficient and safe work environments.

In this episode we discuss:

0:03:11 - Improving the Design of Greens Bubblers

0:09:22 - Container Options for Efficient Farm Operations

0:14:01 - Cleaning Tools

0:22:26 - To Wash or Not to Wash

0:27:54 - Design Principles for Good Flow in a Wash Pack Situation

0:34:59 - The Five-Step Cleaning and Sanitizing Process

0:35:56 - Cold Storage as the Endpoint of Wash Pack

0:40:37 - Common Mistakes in Wash Pack Operations

0:42:33 - Cultural and Communication Challenges

0:43:17 - Investing in Quality Tools

0:45:19 - Continuous Improvement and Problem Solving

0:52:24 - Future Focus: Sustainable Packaging

In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers. In this episode of Shop Talk, we discuss strategies for using low tunnels in the shoulder seasons. Low tunnels are a cheaper way than greenhouses to nurture and hold crops when temperatures are outside of the ideal, stretching the season as temperatures climb in the spring or drop in the fall. We talk about how a little bit of extra temperature protection can make your farm much more competitive and profitable.

Thanks to our collaborator on this podcast Neversink Farm. They make this podcast free to everyone with their generous support. For tools designed and made by farmers, check out www.NeversinkTools.com

Free articles mentioned in show:

Beat the heat in postharvest handling

https://growingformarket.com/articles/beat-the-heat-postharvest-handling

Love is Love Cooperative Farm Profile

https://growingformarket.com/articles/love-love-cooperative-farm-profile

Connect With Guest:

https://blog.uvm.edu/cwcallah/2018/11/14/bins-buckets-baskets-totes/

Download A FREE Magazine Issue:

Go To Growing For Market Magazine: www.GrowingForMarket.com

Strategies to create a clean wash/pack environment that guarantees good food hygiene and workflow is the topic of this week’s pod, and for the first time ever we have three guests! With three guests and such an important topic, it’s no surprise this became the first of a two-part episode, with the second part following next week. In addition to getting produce clean and safe from pathogens, a good packing shed will facilitate workflow that keeps the produce moving and people comfortable. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Billy Mitchell, Chris Callahan, and Andrew Chamberlin, who share their expertise and insights on the importance of hygienic design in wash-pack systems.

In this episode we discuss: 

00:01:00 - Importance of Food Safety,

00:05:13 - Ensuring Good Wash/Pack Production Flow

00:14:05 - Basics of Food Safety for Growers

00:15:10 - Key Points for Food Safety

00:15:58 - Simplifying Food Safety

00:20:12 - Importance of Cleaning

00:24:59 - Water Safety for Washing Produce

00:27:31 - The Use of Sanitizers in Wash Water

00:30:48 - Hygienic Design Principles

00:35:51 - Inspection vs. Audit

00:37:43 - Food safety starts in the field

00:41:30 - Color Coding for Organization and Cross-Contamination Prevention

00:42:05 - Using Shallow Totes and Mini Pallets for Field Efficiency

00:43:33 - Mobility Solutions in the Wash Pack Area

00:44:45 - In-field Cooling Strategies

00:48:25 - Forced Air Cooling for Extended Shelf Life

00:55:09 - The Importance of Cooling Methods

00:56:26 - Scale and Applicability of Hydrocooling

00:57:32 - Low-tech Cooling Techniques

00:58:29 - Water Quality Considerations

01:00:06 - Conclusion and Resources

Chris Callahan is the Extension Associate Professor of Agricultural Engineering at the University of Vermont- he works with food producers, processors, and distributors to improve the efficiency, quality and safety of post-harvest practices and storage processes like water management, environmental control, drying, humidification, and refrigeration systems. Andy Chamberlin is also with the U of VT, farmers with their post-harvest processes to increase efficiencies and profitability while maintaining safe food handling processes. Billy Mitchell is with the Southeast Region of the USDA's Transition to Organic Partnership Program and works with partners across the Southeast and nationally to provide educational opportunities to organic and transitioning to organic producers and the workforce that supports them.
 

In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm, we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers.
 

In this episode of Shop Talk with Neversink Farm, we discuss how to use low tunnels in the summer. Though it’s common to associate low tunnels with winter production, we talk about the strategies that make low tunnels effective in the hotter part of the season, most notably with shade cloth, which has the advantage that it can be watered through, unlike floating row cover and many of the other commonly used coverings. We also discuss how not using weights to hold down row cover saves time and offers more flexibility than having to move weights every time you need to access the crop.
 

Thanks to our collaborator on this podcast Neversink Farm. They make this podcast free to everyone with their generous support. For tools designed and made by farmers, check out www.NeversinkTools.com

Free articles mentioned in show:

Beat the heat in postharvest handling

https://growingformarket.com/articles/beat-the-heat-postharvest-handling

Love is Love Cooperative Farm Profile

https://growingformarket.com/articles/love-love-cooperative-farm-profile

Connect With Guest:

The guests' food safety resources are available at:

https://blog.uvm.edu/cwcallah/

Download A FREE Magazine Issue:

Go To Growing For Market Magazine: www.GrowingForMarket.com