Farm Small Farm Smart

Seed farmer Dan Brisebois of Tourne-Sol Co-Operative Farm sheds light on just how much crops we really need to save enough seed for on-farm use. Check out Dan's new book:  The Seed Farmer: A Complete Guide to Growing, Using, and Selling Your Own Seeds Click here to learn more about Dan Brisebois and his work.   Interested in watching the series?  Hop on over to our YouTube Channel!   Subscribe for...

In this episode, we dive into the economics of growing and selling salad mix. We talk about how to maximize yields while minimizing costs, as well as which varieties to grow with what spacing, and how to package and price your greens to boost your bottom line.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and su...

Associate Professor Dr. Ben Hoover of California Polytechnic State University sheds light on how different substrates behave and how their individual properties can affect plants and crops growing in it.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagram...

In this episode, we talk about why spinach is a top crop to grow for many market gardeners, namely: its ease of growth, high scores on the crop value rating system, and adaptability to various markets. We also get into the factors that influence spinach profitability, such as days to maturity, yield per bed, and flexible pricing strategies.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, marke...

Farmer and Medical Qigong practitioner Chris Winters of The Fertile Current shares the results of his experiment applying electroculture equipment into a compost pile. Click here to learn more about Chris and The Fertile Current here.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Fo...

Are carrots profitable? In this episode, we dive deep into the economics of growing and selling carrots to help you determine if this popular vegetable is worth adding to your farm's crop lineup.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagram   Insta...

Join Russell Taylor of Live Earth Products, Inc. shares the different applications of their humic and fulvic acids products on a farm production setting. Learn more about Live Earth Products, Inc. here.    Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagra...

The last criterion in the Crop Value Rating System: popularity! Even if the crop you want to grow has a short day to maturity, has a high dollar value, can be densely planted, and continuously harvested, it won't mean anything if people don't want to buy it, so make sure the crop you want to grow is a good seller!  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and busines...

Farmer Jay Tracy of The Cucumber Shop cautions us not to discount the power of selective breeding in preserving heirloom varieties. Click here to learn more about Jay Tracy and The Cucumber Shop.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagram   Insta...

Maximize your land use with extended harvest crops: either crops you only plant once and harvest multiple times into the growing season, or crops you can continuously replant and continuously harvest!   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagram  ...

Seed farmer and author Dan Brisebois of Tourne-Sol Co-Operative Farm breaks down the difference between nature and nurture when it comes to seeds and the plants they produce. Check out Dan's new book:  The Seed Farmer: A Complete Guide to Growing, Using, and Selling Your Own Seeds Click here to learn more about Dan Brisebois and his work.   Interested in watching the series?  Hop on over to our Yo...

Costs don't necessarily increase proportionally with price. Which produce fetches the best prices at your market, ones that sell for AT LEAST $4 a pound? If you're able to grow and sell those high-value crops, you're sure to cover your input costs, labor included!   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, an...

Associate Professor Dr. Ben Hoover of California Polytechnic State University shares some of his concerns on the production, cost, and usage of biochar.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagram   Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern...

Number 2 on the Crop Value Rating System: High Density! Particularly helpful when farming on limited land, being able to plant in high densities through vertical growing, intercropping, and solid succession planting means getting higher yields, which means better profits.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, s...

Farmer and Medical Qigong practitioner Chris Winters of The Fertile Current talks about the material limitations of electroculture equipment then and how far the technology has come today.  Click here to learn more about Chris and The Fertile Current here.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplie...

In this episode, we break down Curtis Stone's Crop Value Rating (CVR) System, which will hopefully help you decide which crops to grow to maximize your farm's profits. First on the CVR is short days to maturity (DTM): quicker growing crops mean having more cycles in a year!   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools,...

How profitable is baby kale? Very, if you play your cards right. In this video, we talk about the high profit potential of this quick-growing, high-yielding crop and why it rates a 5 out of 5 on the Crop Value Rating System.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Mode...

Thinking about starting a microgreens business? Take a minute to think it through! In this episode, we take a look at the hidden challenges of microgreens farming and learn why it might not be the right fit for you.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:...

Join Russell Taylor of Live Earth Products, Inc. to find out what to look out for when you're shopping for good quality humic acid products for your soil.   Learn more about Live Earth Products, Inc. here.    Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Insta...

In this episode, we unveil professional techniques for successful commercial arugula production. From bed preparation to post-harvest handling and selling, we're taking a look at seeding configurations, pest management strategies, and cultivation techniques that maximize yield and quality.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get marke...

Farmer Jay Tracy of The Cucumber Shop shares the story behind a highly sought-after cucumber: the Cucummaru de San Donato from San Donato di Leccese in Puglia, Italy. He talks about the history of the fruit, why it's so popular, and how he came by seeds of this rare find.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, se...

Start early and set yourself up for success! In this episode, we lay the foundation of a successful market garden: how to plan out your farm, conduct market research, create a profitable crop plan, and build a sustainable farm business.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower....

Seed farmer Dan Brisebois of Tourne-Sol Co-Operative Farm answers the question: if you save seeds from your best plants every year, will you eventually create a variety that best fits your growing conditions? Check out Dan's new book:  The Seed Farmer: A Complete Guide to Growing, Using, and Selling Your Own Seeds Click here to learn more about Dan Brisebois and his work.   Interested in watching...

Want to maximize your profits, but you're growing on limited land? In this episode, we dive short cycle, high-calue crops, niche and specialty crops that command strong demand in specific markets, and staple crops that provide steady sales throughout the season.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and...

Associate Professor Dr. Ben Hoover of California Polytechnic State University sheds light on how a container's shape and size can affect plant health through its root systems.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:   Instagram   Instagram Listen to other...