The Rookie Farmer Podcast

In this episode, Alec welcomes GrownBy's Director of Accounts and Partnerships, Eric Sannerud, to talk about GrownBy: a farmer-owned cooperative e-commerce platform designed specifically for farms selling directly to consumers. Unlike other tech solutions, GrownBy was built with a unique understanding of the challenges of local food sales. If you're a farmer looking for a platform to sell in, mayb...

Chett Clayton of Hillside Harvest Farm shares his journey from growing 25 pounds of garlic to 700+ pounds annually. He talks about how he and his wife turned their backyard garlic production into a thriving business by creating value-added products like seasonings that now represent 60% of farm sales. Lastly, he touches on how they expanded their business into mushrooms and their plans on creating...

In this farm blog episode, Alex shares his experience transitioning from working part-time at Crystal Organic Farm to full-time farming at Crop Culture Farm. He talks about financial realities, time management challenges, and mindset shifts he had to make as he starts farming full-time. He also shares his strategies for summer growing, farmers market success, and how he redefines what success mean...

Sara Landry shares their answer to food insecurity: by starting Collective Acres, a nonprofit farm that donates 80% of its harvest to food banks and shelters. Sara talks about her journey from shelter worker to farm founder, revealing the challenges of starting with minimal experience and resources, and how a passionate team is making it work.  Click here to learn more about Collective Acres Farm....

In this episode, Alec sits down with Cyndi and Savannah of Love Equals Farm in his hometown of Tennessee to talk about how they turned their disabilities and neurodivergence into advantages in building a profitable small farm business in a food desert. They share practical strategies for farming with physical limitations, managing neurodivergence while running an agricultural enterprise, and build...

In this farm blog episode, Alex shares the unfiltered truth about small-scale as he puts his no-till dogma in his back pocket and starts using tillage to boost crop yields. He talks about his costly pest management mistakes, the daily harvest strategy that's differentiating his produce at market, and the work that goes into doubling farm their income from $700 to $1300+ per week. Click here to che...

In this sobering episode of The Rookie Farmer Podcast, Alec talks to Abigail Darwin of Wholesome Wave Georgia, one of the many organizations revolutionizing food access while supporting local farmers through SNAP benefit doubling. Their eye-opening conversation reveals the realities faced by food-insecure families and how farmer's markets and food assistance programs are playing a vital role in br...

Derek of Rosemary's Oasis shares how his background in medicinal cannabis cultivation equipped him with unexpected advantages in market gardening. He shares practical insights on transitioning between plant industries, building multiple revenue streams, and applying precise growing techniques to organic vegetable production. Click here to learn more about Rosemary's Oasis.   Click here to check ou...

Brittany Peters of Sun and Soil Farm returns to the show to share her proven methods for deciding which crops to grow, when to plant, and how to maintain consistent harvests throughout the season with her spreadsheet-based system. She talks about practical approaches to succession planting, and even shares access to her free, fully customizable crop planning template that is sure to transform your...

In this packed Farm Vlog episode, farmer and podcast host Alec Smith reveals his long-awaited Sumi Soaker verdict: does it work for him and his farm? Afterwards, he answers a listener ask about what a typical farmer's market day looks like for him. He also shares interesting and practical ways he gets customers to stop at his farm booth.   Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm....

In this episode of The Rookie Farmer podcast, the tables are turned as host Alec welcomes podcast host Diego Footer as he shares his journey from finance professional to farm tool innovator and reveals the inside story behind Modern Grower. He breaks down the logistics behind sourcing and supplying tools, the costs that come with it, and the quality associated with different product price points....

In this episode, host Alec welcomes his farm mentors Nicolas and Jeni of Cryistal Organic Farm in Newborn, Georgia as they talk about their 30-year farming journey: the differences in small-scale farming landscape, the changing market, and the growing amount of farming resources becoming more and more accessible. They also share practical steps about diversifying with high-value herbs that can be...

In this episode, Alec looks back at his first year of growing food and selling them. He shares how much they made the past year, talks about some practical advice for navigating farmers markets with established competition, and drops some emotional wisdom that keeps him grounded through the ups and downs of farming. Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.  Subscribe for more con...

Breaking into market gardening isn't just a dream—it's a tangible reality for those willing to learn and adapt. In this episode, host Alec is joined by fellow rookie farmer Colton Simpson of Simpson's Market Garden in White Plains, Maryland. Colton shares his journey going from a 2,500 square foot plot to a 1.5-acre operation, nailing down how strategic planning and market insight can transform a...

Any farmer worth their salt knows that seed choice can make or break the entire farming season. In this episode of The Rookie Farmer Podcast, host Alec welcomes Michelle Hochkeppel from High Mowing Organic Seeds as she illuminates the world of seeds and the seed supply chain. She dives into the difference between heirloom and hybrid varieties, how to assess seed quality, and how to leverage your f...

Farming isn't just a job—it's a strategic business that demands constant innovation and personal growth. In this episode, Alec Smith talks about how they're handling scaling up the farm this 2025 growing season: hiring out help, growing in a greenhouse, and exploring new niches to stand out in their market. He also shares a personal realization that comes with running a business while raising a fa...

Small-scale farmers, the path to low-cost certification is here: Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). In this episode, host Alec welcomes CNG Executive Director Alice Varon to shed light on what Certified Naturally Grown is, how to apply for it, and why it works well as a certification of choice for many small-scale producers. They talk about the mechanics behind its peer-to-peer inspections and how i...

Small farms can generate a good income with the right strategy - and Sun and Soil Farm does just that. In this game-changing podcast episode, Richard and Brittany of Sun and Soil Farm in Madison, North Carolina break down exactly how they diversified their income streams, optimized their crop selection, and created multiple revenue channels beyond traditional vegetable sales all to make a good liv...

In this second farm vlog, farmer Alec shares a good problem to have as they expand their farm operations: selling out of everything they grow at their new market. He also talks about what he learned from the challenges the farm faced with unusual weather conditions and what he plans on doing moving forward.  Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.  Subscribe for more content on...

Join rookie farmer Gabby Fultz on her inspiring journey to build a regenerative farm from scratch in Durango, Colorado. Gabby shares her triumphs and challenges as a young Native American woman reconnecting with her Navajo farming heritage while juggling the demands of school, starting a business, and greening the desert. From rotational goat grazing to growing specialty crops for the local co-op,...

In this episode, farmer Alec welcomes agronomist and soil scientist Bill McKibben from Logan Labs for a dive deep into all things soil. They talk about the intricacies of soil testing, why it can be challenging to grow crops depending on the soil type, and how to properly go about amending soil. Before the episode ends, Bill also shares a sneak peek into some cutting-edge research on soil amendmen...

In this first farm blog episode, farmer Alec Smith introduces himself and shares the story of how he first found out about regenerative agriculture, his journey of getting his start in the market farming space, and how he's taken the steps to build his own sustainable market farm. He quickly recaps his first year of running Crop Culture Farm and the opportunities that opened up for him this winter...

Welcome to The Rookie Farmer Podcast, a brand new series on the Modern Grower Podcast Network hosted by Rookie Farmer Alec Smith!  Farmer Alec kicks off the show with guest farmer Zach Richards of Levity Farms in Blairsville, Georgia. They pack a lot in this episode, from biodynamic farming for new farmers, getting started with selling produce to chefs and restaurants, unique ways to go about vegg...