Farm Small Farm Smart

Refusing Expansion (MFB 61)

Most entrepreneurs see growth as progress. What if the smartest move is to stop?  Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business i

The Profit Pie: What Actually Moves Your Farm's Profit (1 of 3)

Ask most farmers what has the biggest effect on profit and they'll say inputs: seeds, soil, amendments, the stuff you put in the ground. They're wrong.  After a decad

Farming on the Conservation Reserve Program - Gardening Beyond Basics 87

In this episode, soil specialist and consultant Dr. Jim Hoorman of Hoorman Soil discusses farming within the bounds of the Conservation Reserve Program.   Subscribe for

7 Years, 100k Invested, Zero Products (MFB 60)

Struggling founders: detailed plans slowly, never execute. Successful founders: Build basic version, get it to customers, learn what actually matters, iterate. Differ

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Trichoderma and Plants - Gardening Beyond Basics 86

In this episode, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University College of Agricultural and Life Sciences breaks down what happens in a symbiotic relationship between trichoder

Farming Below Minimum Wage (MFB 59)

Do you know how much labor goes into growing that bed of lettuce? Not just the planting and harvesting, the weeding, the washing, the selling, too? If you don't know yo

7 Things That Happen When You Go From Employee to Farm Owner

Everybody fantasizes about being their own boss, but nobody fantasizes about standing in front of a field at 6 AM wondering if you made the right call, or about the part

What are Efficient Microbes - Gardening Beyond Basics 85

In this episode, one of the pioneers of probiotic technology, Dr. Matthew Wood of Probiotic Holdings, sheds light on what efficient microbes are and what they do.   Sub

400 Trays/Week at $20/Tray (MFB 58)

While $20/tray of microgreens seems like a wildly profitable venture, do you know the kind of logistics, inputs, and labor that go into that $20 tray?  Subscribe for mo

The Farmer Too Busy to Plan Will Always Be Too Busy

How many hours did you work on your farm last week? And the harder question: how many of those hours were spent running the business versus improving it? "Work on your

Not All Biochar is Created Equal - Gardening Beyond Basics 84

In this episode, USDA soil scientist Dr. Kurt Spokas explains why not all biochar is exactly the same and why some are better than others.  Subscribe for more content o

A Profitable Farm Business on 1000Sqft. (MFB 57)

With a solid crop selection, tight crop succession, and unwavering customer base, you can ABSOLUTELY run a profitable business on 1000sqft. of land.   Subscribe for mor

The One Number That Separates Six-Figure Farms From Struggling Ones

Your farm has a salary cap. Land and time are finite, and every crop you plant spends some of both. The question isn't "what makes me the most money," it's "what makes me

Misconceptions About Clay Soils - Gardening Beyond Basics 83

In this episode, Dr. David Laird of Iowa State University breaks down the most common beliefs around growing in clay soils.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable

How Hiring Can Boost Your Business (MFB 56)

You can only grow so much by yourself. If you're planning on growing your business, you'll eventually need to hire out help.   Subscribe for more content on sustainable

7 Money Mistakes That Kill New Farms Before They Start

More than half of new farms fail in their first five years. In almost every case, it's not a growing problem...it's a money problem.  After a decade interviewing hundre

Multiplying Microbes and Their Regionality - Gardening Beyond Basics 82

In this episode, Dr. Jane Fife of 3Bar Biologics talks about how to multiply microbial populations and how different types may multiply better in different regions.   S

Making Over 230k in Year 2 of Farming (MFB 55)

Vincent Cuneo started his microgreens business with zero growing experience. Year two revenue: $230K. But money was tight, stress was crushing, and crop failures meant

How the Smartest Farmers I Know Stopped Competing and Started Winning

A farmer I interviewed was doing everything right — certified organic, quality product, good prices, showing up every week. Three years in, the farm was cash-neutral. Not

Finished & Unfinished Compost - Gardening Beyond Basics 81

In this episode, Malibu Compost Founder Randy Ritchie talks about the many differences between using finished and unfinished compost.   Subscribe for more content on su