Farm Small Farm Smart Daily

CBD hemp - the what, the why, the how, and the economics of raising hemp on a small scale farm? Rand Gifford grew a crop of CBD hemp on his farm in NC this year. He learned a ton along the way. He sells to 5 different locations and is starting to make value-added products through his own brand. In this interview, he shares with us the details of what this production looks like on his farm and why...

Darby answers a question about which chicken tractor design is the best? Learn more with Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses

How much should you be making as an owner/operator of a small scale farm? Of course, context is important - but where should the center of the bell curve lay? Heath Emerson recently made an Instagram posing this question. In this episode, he talks about that post and also discusses some of the details of the practical in the field side of managing the expenses and production on a farm in this epis...

What does running a small farm really look like from a business perspective?  How much money can you make, how much work is it, and what does your lifestyle look like?  This episode was inspired by an Instagram post put up by Taylor Mendell who talks to us about answering these questions. Taylor runs a small roughly one-acre farm in Vermont with her husband, selling through a CSA and farmers' mark...

Darby and I talk about his actual experience trying to set up several fiefdoms on his farm and managing one.  Are they a great or terrible idea?  Darby will share his thoughts on what worked, what didn't and what he wished he did better.  Interested in starting your own farm?   Not sure where to start? Want to take your farm to the next level? Learn more with Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-bu...

Is no-till farming actually worth it? Is the amount of compost required worth the investment, and do the results actually stack up in comparison to tilling? At the end of the day, where does no-till fit within the market-gardening realm? In this episode, we put these questions to Jesse Frost of the No-Till podcast and Rough Draft Farmstead.  Increase farm efficiency with the  Paperpot Transplanter...

Darby answers a question about which chicken tractor design is the best? Learn more with Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses

Today I will be sharing some of what I learned as Javan and I each go through our top 5 lessons from 2019. In total 10 simple ways of looking at life, approaching life, and thinking about life that can change your life tomorrow. I look at a lot of these lessons as base principles in an approach to life that very much contradicts the status quo.   None of these lessons require any money or technolo...

Jason Conteras joins me to talk about his journey from working in an office in Southern California to battling cancer to moving across the country to homestead with his family in North Carolina.  Jason's story is inspiring and goes to show that you never should give up. Follow Jason: https://www.instagram.com/sowtheland   Increase farm efficiency with the  Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Far...

Today's episode is a BEST OF episode, which is a replay of a previously aired episode.  Enjoy! Today I will be sharing some of what I learned as Javan and I go through our top 5 lessons from 2016. In total 10 simple ways of looking at life, approaching life, and thinking about life that can change your life tomorrow. I look at a lot of these lessons as base principles in an approach to life that v...

In this episode Chris Thoreau joins me to explore the idea - Can you actually make a living growing microgreens?   Is it actually possible or just an unrealistic dream? If it is possible what does that look like? How big does the business need to be?  How much do you need to be selling?  Would you need employees? TLDR: It is possible, with the right combination of luck, skills and hard work. Some...

Jordan MacPhee of Maple Bloom farm joins me to talk about facing challenges on the farm this year, just like any of us out there in the field. Physical and mental challenges that he had to deal with. Right now, just postseason, when all of the problems you've just faced are fresh in your mind, do a mental inventory of what you've faced. Think about what you can do to better mitigate or handle thos...

Today's episode is a BEST OF episode, which is a replay of a previously aired episode.  Enjoy! Stefan Sobkowiak of The Miracle Farm is encouraging more vegetable farmers to consider planting some fruit trees. And to start planting some trees now, so they are established and producing when you or the vegetable farming gets old. Now you may be saying, "I barely have enough time to do the work that I...

Farmer and Homesteader Jesse Frost joins me to talk about his journey into homesteading and farming.  How and when did it go from homesteading to farming, and what was that like?  Jesse also hosts the No-Till Growers Podcast https://www.notillgrowers.com/ Follow Jesse https://www.instagram.com/roughdraftfarmstead   Learn how to start a Profitable Microgreens Business http://bit.ly/learntogrowmicro...

Darby answers a question about raising cows or sheep when you don't have much land. This BEST OF episode is a replay of a previous episode of the Grassfed Life Podcast -  https://apple.co/2m75EVG Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses

Molds, fungus, viruses - oh my! Depending on your growing environment you may encounter one or perhaps even all of these diseases. And what do you do once you encounter them? If there's a small section of mold on your tray, for example, what do you do with that tray? Do you scrap the whole tray or can you harvest the unaffected part? We ask these questions with long-time grower and microgreen expe...

Farmer Josh Sattin from Sattin Hill Farm joins me to talk about how he built up a farm following for his new farm pretty quickly - both online and in-person with local chefs.  He shares strategies for how he did that and how it has helped with sales.  He also gets into the various ways he is building soil on-farm from his no-till methods to using wood chip mulch in his pathways to utilizing chicke...

This BEST OF episode is a replay of a previous episode of the Grassfed Life Podcast -  https://apple.co/2m75EVG Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses While American Guinea Hogs are suited to a wide variety of environments and will do better than most breeds on low-grade forage, they prefer lush pastures with clover along with access to minerals, kitchen scra...

This week's interview on FSFS features a season's end reflection on a timeless topic; the challenges of farming. More specifically, the challenges unique to a small scale farm with Benny and Courtney Pino of Loblolly Farm. Specifically, we discuss caterpillar tunnels, weed pressure, and irrigation. We also address their plans for solutions to these issues coming into 2020. Follow Loblolly: https:/...

Nicolas Donck of Crystal Organic farm joins me to talk about how growing cover crops for the past 20 years have impacted his soil.  How have trace minerals and compost teas helped with his soil and crops.  Why he grows so much under high tunnels and what are some of the big challenges to growing crops in the south.  Nicolas grows on a multigenerational farm, with 7 acres in production, 2 of which...

This BEST OF episode is a replay of a previous episode. Grassfed Life Courses: https://farm-business-essentials.teachable.com/courses   Ronan' story is so simple, so common, yet uniquely inspiring; IT IS GREAT. This is a real story from a real person. Starting with 75 chicks eight years ago and growing that to over 10,000 today. Going from the corporate world to full-time farmer; Ronan didn't star...

Microgreen Grower Chris Thoreau and I discuss a variety of reasons why microgreens might not be a fit for you. This is a realistic look at what growing microgreens as a business is really like.  From quick turn around times week after week to attention to detail to scaleability to the day to day drudgery - they aren't a perfect business, yet nothing is.   Chris's Growing Your Microgreens Business...

Hiring troubles?  Nervous about hiring?  Then this is the episode for you.  I am joined by Farmer and HR Specialist Jeremy Tolley of Red Thread Farm.  Jeremy has spent the past 20 years of his career in HR, recruiting and training. He's hired (directly or through my staff) literally thousands of people.  In this episode, he will share his experiences hiring and give tips and advice to help you wit...

Benny and Courtney Pino from Loblolly Farm join me to talk about some of the challenges they face with the scale they are at.  They aren't quite big enough to be where they want, but growing has its own set of challenges.  How are they approaching this growth wall, and what lies ahead for them? Follow Loblolly at  https://www.instagram.com/loblollyfarm/   Increase farm efficiency with the  Paperpo...

Farmer and Soil Consultant James Hutchinson joins me to talk about his method for building soils on his Tasmanian farm.  He utilizes minimum tillage alongside composting, cover cropping and biochar to build soil in his permabeds.  He will give advice on getting soils tests and making hot and cold compost. Follow James: https://www.instagram.com/longleyorganic https://www.instagram.com/activevistag...