Farm Small Farm Smart

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...

How do you decide which crops to grow to make the most profit? In this episode, we take a look at Curtis Stone's Crop Value Rating system to make informed decisions about what to plant.   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 List...

Farmer and Medical Qigong practitioner Chris Winters of The Fertile Current shares the early days of building his own comprehensive electroculture setup after facing the challenges of its inaccessibility. 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, see...

In this episode, we break down the numbers behind successful small-scale farming, from crop selection to cost management. We'll cover the keys to profitability, challenges to overcome, and strategies for managing your market garden as a successful business.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and suppl...

Join Russell Taylor of Live Earth Products, Inc. to shed light on humic substances and what they can do to your soil and farm's production. 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:   Instagram   Instagram...

Can you turn a small plot into a thriving business? The answer is: yes, you can! With our comprehensive guide to market gardening, learn everything from crop selection and intensive cultivation methods to direct marketing strategies and how to turn a profit.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and suppl...

Host Diego poses a question for seed farmer and author Dan Brisebois of Tourne-Sol Co-Operative Farm: how realistic is it to create and maintain your own hybrid variety of a crop? Farmer Dan breaks down the process, and it might not be as difficult as it seems. 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...

In episode two of Market Farming Basics, we peel back the truth about land requirements for successful market farming in this comprehensive guide. Whether you're interested in urban market gardening, microgreen farming, or larger-scale vegetable production, we break down the land needs for various market farming approaches. Learn how to maximize productivity and profitability on small plots using...

Join soil scientist Bruce Davison of Soilsmith Ag as he sheds light on applying vermicompost to your soils. What vermicompost is good vermicompost? How much should you use? What will it do to your soil and your crops? Click here to learn more about Bruce Davison and Soilsmith! Interested in watching the series?  Hop on over to our YouTube Channel!   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farmin...

Welcome to Market Farming Basics! In this first episode, we answer the question: what is market gardening? Discover the ins and outs of market gardening, a sustainable, small-scale farming practice that brings fresh, high-quality produce directly to your community! We'll explore how market gardeners grow a diverse range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers on a small plot of land, maximizing producti...

Farmer Jay Tracy of The Cucumber Shop shares the story behind the Facussa: a melon grown as a cucumber in Sardinia, Italy. He talks about the fruit itself and how to grow it. Learn more about Jay Tracy and Cucumber Shop 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 Mode...

Farmer and Qigong practitioner Chris Winters of The Fertile Current discusses the basics of electroculture and the myriad of benefits it can bring to your farm and your production.  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 Mod...