The Urban Farmer Podcast

When you do it right, farming smaller plots can be more profitable than farming larger acreage! Curtis Stone shares real-world insights from farming both 2 acres and 1/3 acre urban plots, which crops generate the highest profits, and how proximity to customers can transform your farm business. He also talks about the critical differences between CSA and restaurant sales models.  Subscribe for more...

In this rewind episode, Diego reverse engineers the math behind how to consistently hit a four-figure income on market days. He breaks down the importance of paying attention to your customers' average transaction value, the psychology of premium pricing, and which crops actually generate profit.    Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    G...

In this throwback episode, Curtis Stone shares how he built a thriving urban farming business without owning a single acre of land. He divulges his proven strategies that helped him secure 15 different farming sites through relationship building rather than cold prospecting. He also talks about the common mistakes that kill new farming ventures and how to avoid them.  Subscribe for more content on...

In this rewind episode, Diego talks about the single most important trait that separates struggling farms from highly profitable ones: the ability to rapidly adapt to market changes. He breaks down a three-part framework for market responsive farming that can significantly increase revenue on the same growing space.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and busin...

In this throwback episode, urban farmer Curtis Stone shares his hard-earned wisdom about adapting quickly when market demands shift unexpectedly. He talks about the critical mistakes that cause many small farms to fail and shares actionable strategies to avoid those mistakes and create a resilient, profitable urban farm business.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming t...

A self-proclaimed "greenie," Luke Magnesson shares his journey balancing family life with four children, ministry work, and bringing to life his dream of starting a small farm business in Alaska's challenging climate. Luke talks about his career transition from video production to ministry to hopefully farming, the realities of Alaska's unique growing conditions, and his practical approach to buil...

In this throwback episode, Curtis Stone talks about essential strategies for maintaining a profitable urban farm smack in the middle of summer. He shares his time-tested techniques for efficient harvesting, restaurant sales, and avoiding burnout.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Moder...

Greens are the economic powerhouse of almost all small farm operations...and for good reason! In this rewind episode, Diego breaks down the profit potential of salad mix and specialty greens, generating up to 30% of a market farm's income.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Growe...

Curtis Stone reveals how he generates up to $1000 from a single bed of greens through multiple harvests. He talks about which premium varieties restaurants are willing to pay $8-10/lb for and how to maximize your farm's space and profitability through optimal timing, cutting techniques, and variety selection.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business ins...

At the tail end of spring until the height of summer, tomatoes are the star cash cows of market gardens...but not for all of them. While they may work for some market farms, they might not work for you. In this rewind episode, Jodi Robuck breaks down the economics of growing tomatoes versus other crops, sharing surprising insights about labor requirements, price points, and market demand where he'...

Curtis Stone transforms urban farming with his strategic tomato growing that generates 20% of his farm revenue. He talks about his no-till methods that virtually eliminate weeds while producing 4,000 pounds of tomatoes on just 1/3 acre. Curtis also sheds light on the counter-intuitive approach of growing "generic" tomatoes that chefs actually prefer over heirlooms, plus innovative interplanting te...

In this rewind episode, Diego talks about practical strategies for maximizing your farm's profitability through optimized sales channels, strategic growing practices, and innovative space utilization techniques. Whether you're struggling to break even or looking to take your operation to the next level, these immediately implementable tactics will help you extract more value from every square foot...

Curtis Stone shares his journey from zero experience to running a successful multi-location operation. He reveals exactly how much land you need, essential startup equipment, efficient growing methods, and strategies for selling to restaurants—all tested over six years of urban farming. Whether you're looking to transition careers or start a profitable side hustle, this episode doles out practical...

In this episode, Diego talks about accessing land as a new farmer, the value of properly identifying a profitable market niche for a sustainable business, and why working smarter is the key to a successful farm business. He also touches on the importance of taking breaks and setting aside time for self-care to maintain healthy relationships while running a business.  Subscribe for more content on...

In this episode, Curtis Stone shares his secrets to making over $40,000 on just a quarter acre of borrowed land while avoiding the massive debt of property ownership. He talks about strategies to find, secure, and transform urban plots into highly productive micro-farms, even if you're just starting out with zero capital.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and...

In this episode, Diego breaks down the Jang Seeder: the $600 professional-grade tool that transforms seeding from a back-breaking chore into a precise, efficient process. He talks about how the Jang Precision Seeder works and why it's a worthy investment for every farm business.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming to...

Curtis talks about the single most common mistake he sees on farms across North America: under-planting beds. In this eye-opening episode, he discusses how to potentially double your farm income by optimizing bed density with direct-seeded crops.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Mode...

In this episode, Jodi Roebuck shares how building strong relationships with retailers, restaurants, and local businesses has made his farm more resilient and profitable than focusing on crops alone. He shares practical strategies for creating your own support network: from hosting business owners at your farm to creating mutually beneficial partnerships with complementary producers.  Subscribe for...

In this episode, Curtis shares how he turned skeptical neighbors into his biggest supporters and why even strangers respect the hard work visible in well-maintained urban gardens. He talks about how urban farming reaches beyond growing food: it touches neighborhoods and becomes a catalyst for community change.  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business in...

Stop overthinking transplanting and start making money. In this Urban Farmer Rewind episode, Diego breaks down the crucial fundamentals new market gardeners miss while chasing fancy equipment and advanced techniques. He talks about how to save time transplanting in the field by sticking to Curtis Stone's advice: "Green side up."  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming ti...

In this episode, urban farmer Curtis Stone shares how he doubles his farm's output through interplanting strategies. He reveals his step-by-step approach to efficient transplanting and interplanting strategies that maximize space. Curtis discusses which crops are worth transplanting versus direct seeding, as well as the key timing secrets that allow for continual harvests throughout the season.  S...

In this episode, Curtis shares essential knowledge for market gardeners during the critical spring setup phase. He details his three proven irrigation systems and explains why cheap hardware store solutions ultimately cost more in wasted time and failed crops. He also talks about manipulating crop growth using low-cost poly tunnels and creating predictable harvest schedules even in unpredictable s...

In this episode, farmer Jodi and host Diego talk all about unpredictable weather and implementing crop protection to keep production beds safe. They also talk about how crop protection shields beds from the elements and helps accelerate growth even in challenging weather conditions.    Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!    Get market farm...

In this episode of Urban Farmer Rewind, farmer Jodi and host Diego break down the critical pricing and sales strategies every market gardener needs to know: unit pricing beats weight-based pricing every time. They talk about how to set prices that maximize profits without scaring customers away and how premium pricing with premium presentation can dramatically increase your earnings without sellin...

In this episode, discover how a simple pricing system, smart hiring decisions, and efficient growing methods can create a sustainable farm income on just a quarter acre of land. Curtis shares his unconventional approach to pricing farm products—keeping prices consistent for 5+ years while still growing his business. Learn why obsessing over competitor pricing might be holding you back, and how to...