For the Love of Farming

Some lives reveal how extraordinary they are, the moment you start listening. Mary Eichler of Green Gate Farm in Corvallis has lived one of those lives. Her story sounds like a legend or a movie script,  not because it’s embellished, but because it is rooted in courage and a rare clarity of purpose. Mary turned eighty years old the day we recorded this. Mary’s life shows how much one person can ch...

In today’s episode we’re visiting a small farm tucked into the rolling hills of Yamhill County, where oak trees lean over the road and the landscape opens into sloped pasture and woodland. This is Wee Family Farm ( https://www.weefamilyfarm.com/home ), a diverse ten‑acre property where animal welfare, ecological diversity, and deep connection with customers guide every decision. Sheep, pigs, layin...

In our first episode of Season 3, we are brought into the fast, physical, deeply skilled world of professional sheep shearing. We sit down with Phoebe Smith, the only woman in Oregon shearing full‑time at a commercial scale. I arrived curious and left humbled, grateful to be invited in. Shearing is essential to Oregon agriculture, yet often invisible. Phoebe opens that world, sharing what it takes...

In this episode of For the Love of Farming , we sit down with Kelly Huckestein of Spring Up Farm , just 14 miles east of Astoria. After years of working on other farms, Kelly and her partner founded Spring Up Farm in 2016 on marginal land—while raising a child and building community ties. Now, ten years in, Kelly reflects on her identity as a farmer, lessons learned, the courage to pause vegetable...

Join us in Brownsmead, Oregon, where Ed Johnson has farmed tidal floodplains for nearly 50 years. From pole beans grown on repurposed gill nets to U-pick berries and Christmas trees, Ed’s story is a living history of coastal farming. He shares the joys and challenges of raising ten children on the farm, adapting to market shifts, and welcoming neighbors into his fields. Produces: U-pick berries, p...

Nestled in a misty valley of Siletz OR en route to Depot Bay, Sara O’Neill runs a 117-acre regenerative livestock farm. She raises cattle and sheep, manages riparian zones for salmon habitat, and operates a one-woman show selling USDA-certified meats and seasonal produce. Sara shares her journey from academic research to ecological stewardship—and the confidence it takes to farm in a high-rainfall...

Ten miles inland from Seal Rock, Rita Ruddiman turned a pandemic layoff into a thriving flower farm and soap-making business. Beaver Creek Blooms reflects her creativity and commitment to sustainability, growing seasonal flowers without chemicals and crafting botanical soaps inspired by the land. Rita shares her story of returning home, building infrastructure by hand, and finding joy in beauty an...

 In the lush Siletz River Valley, Tim Miller carries on a third-generation cattle operation. After military service and years of off-farm work, Tim returned to raise grass-fed beef entirely on-site using rotational grazing and homegrown hay. His quiet wisdom and deep commitment to land and livestock offer a powerful reflection on heritage and perseverance. Produces: Grass-fed beef born and raised...

In today’s episode, I sit down with Lydia Brennan of Rainbow Acres Community Farm near Cottage Grove, Oregon. After two decades of building farm businesses, integrating goats and horses, and engaging the community—all while navigating unstable land access—Lydia nearly gave up on farming altogether. Then came a surprising opportunity: a sloped, forested property that wasn’t traditional farmland but...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of sitting downwith orchardist and consultant Ashley Lindsay of Pleasant Valley Cider Apples. In 2015, Ashley and her husband, Brian, started the process of  transforming a 40-acre fallow farm in the Willamette Valley into a thriving orchard, dedicated to sustainably farmed heritage ciderapples and pears. With vision and care, they planted 32 acres of French,...

In this episode we sit down with Adrienne Lulay of Lulay Livestock Company and Ostara Livestock Services. Adrienne manages beef cattle and breeding stock on 60 acres in Scio and runs an AI – That is Artificial Insemination company that serves cattle herds of all sizes across Oregon, as well as a few goats too. From teenage alpaca shearer to University instructor teaching Applied Reproduction of Fa...

In today’s episode we sit down with Amber Lippert of Camas Swale farm located on 16 acres of river bottom land north of Coburg, Oregon in the Willamette Valley. Camas Swale Farm is a family operated certified organic vegetable farm.  Amber and her husband, Jonah,  along with an experienced crew grow vegetables, herbs, berries and flowers for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and sell...

In this episode we sit down with James Miller from Sunwave Farms, a dahlia and vegetable farm near Elmira, OR. James is entering his 5th year farming and their third year farming on their own 5 acre property. James came into farming with a background in military service as an aircraft rescue firefighter and EMT, an ongoing career in in firefighting, working in Veteran support services, and running...

In today’s episode we sit down with Christine Anderson of Cast Iron Farm (http://castironfarm.com/) in McMinnville, OR and Sarah King of Godspeed Hollow ( https://www.godspeedhollow.com/) in Newburg, OR. Both are micro dairy farmers that sell raw milk directly from the farm through a Herd Share model. Christine and Sarah share how they came into milking, how they navigate the many challenges assoc...

In this episode we sit down with Shannon and Chris of Winter Green Farm (https://wintergreenfarm.com/).  The farm is an integrated livestock and vegetable operation on 171 acres in Noti, OR.  About 25 acres are devoted to mixed vegetables and berries for their CSA, farmers’ markets and wholesale accounts. About 90 acres are dedicated to sheep and cattle for pasture, hay, and bailage. The remaining...

In this episode we sit down with Beth Hoinacki of Goodfoot Farm ( https://www.goodfootfarm.com ), a small family farm located in the Hoskins area of Kings Valley, Oregon (20 miles NW of Corvallis).  A certified Biodynamic, diversified fruit and vegetable market farm that integrates livestock. They sell through a CSA and at the Corvallis Farmers Market.  Beth shares her journey of self discovery fr...

In Today’s episode I sit down with Erik Dietz of Fat Cat Farm ( https://www.fatcatfarmdx.com/ ) in Dexter, OR located in the Southern Willamette Valley. The farm has 2 acres in diverse vegetable production. The farm is made of 1 1/4 acres on the home farm and another acre leased nearby. They farm on a hand scale, meaning they rarely use tractors and have been practicing limited tillage. They have...

In today's episode I sit down with Maud Powell of Wolf Gulch Farm in the Little Applegate Valley. Maud and her husband, Tom, have owned and operated their certified organic farm for the past 24 years. Tom works full time on the farm while Maud works part-time and also for OSU Extension, Small Farms Program. They started in diverse vegetable production and have now transitioned to exclusively...

In Today’s episode I sit down with Sarah Kleeger and  Andrew Still of Adaptive Seeds. A 35 acre certified organic, farm based seed company near Sweet Home, Oregon. They steward rare, diverse and resilient seed varieties for ecologically-minded farmers, gardeners and seed savers. They grow and sell seeds that are adapted to the Pacific Northwest and other short season northern climates. They sell o...

In today's episode I sit down with Kait Crowley of PK Pastures outside of Sweet Home, Oregon on the traditional lands of the Kalapuya people. They raise pigs for meat and chickens for both meat and eggs. They have sheep that are a part of their leader follower pasture management strategy.  As first generation farmers, Kait and their farm partner Pat, now step into their fourth year in busines...

In today’s episode I sit down with Lili Tova of Flying Coyote Farm in in Sandy, Oregon, located on the unceded territory of the Clackamas band of the Upper Chinook Tribe. Lili Tova owns and manages a 37-acre farm that grows over 100 different varieties of Certified Organic fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers. In addition to 8 1/2 acres in vegetable production they have 10 acres in pasture that...

In today's episode we sit down with Katy Stokes of Four Wands Farm.  Katy is 75 years old and has been stewarding and homesteading on this piece of land for the past 47 years.  They provide most of their diet from the land through a large garden, dairy and meat goats, meat rabbits, chickens for eggs and meat, bees for honey, fruit trees and a large variety of perennials.  Katy knows her herbs...

In this episode we sit down with Eden Olsen of Lucky Crow Farm in Monmouth Oregon. https://www.luckycrowfarm.com/  Lucky Crow cultivates 3 acres of vegetables on a family farm in Monmouth and two urban farm sites: one at  Edwards Addition  in Monmouth and another at  Fairview Addition  in Salem. They work with  Olsen Design and Development  to create agrihoods: bringing food production right to fr...

In this episode we sit down with Laura and Robin of Red Bird Acres in Corvallis Oregon.   https://www.redbirdacresfarm.com/ Red Bird Acres was founded in 2013 by Robin and Laura. It is a first generation, pasture based, open sky, certified Animal Welfare Livestock Farm.  They raise poultry, pigs, sheep, and turkeys. 

In this episode we sit down with Eliza Mason of Lilliputopia Farm in Monroe Oregon. https://www.lilliputopia.com/ Lilliputopia is a tiny eco-farm that promotes conservation and sustainability and sells via a farm stand. They specialize in dry farming ; vegetables are grown without irrigation, pesticides or chemical fertilizers. They also have natural building demonstrations and practice rotational...