vegetable farming

How can small farms compete in a wholesale market dominated by large agricultural businesses?

On this episode, Michael is joined by Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou who co-runs Brisa Ranch in California's Pescadero area. Together with his farm partners, their farm offers a variety of crops grown regeneratively on ecologically rich farmland for mainly local wholesale distribution. 

Tune in to hear how Cole’s farm is successfully geared to wholesalers than direct to consumer.

You’ll hear:

• About where Brisa Ranch is located 0:56
• More about how they make their deliveries 3:16
• What a typical week on the farm is like 5:22
• About the soil fertility on the farm 8:35
• More about their two irrigation systems they have 16:13
• About the other owners and the kind of crew they maintain 24:50
• What the biggest challenge has been since Brisa Ranch started  35:37

About the Guest:

Cole Mazariegos-Anastassiou, along with Cristóbal Cruz Hernández and Verónica Mazariegos-Anastassiou, co-own Brisa Ranch which grows a diverse range of crops (nearly 40 different crops) on over 30 acres. About 95% of their sales are B2B, selling directly to a range of grocery stores, school districts, universities, hospitals, corporate kitchens, food banks, etc. Beyond being certified organic, they are certified with Real Organic Project to differentiate their soil-focused growing practices.

Resources:

Website - www.brisaranch.com
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/brisaranch
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/brisaranch

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor!

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Are you ready to take your vegetable farming to the next level?    

On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael shares about this year’s Thriving Farmer Summit and this year is all about Vegetables. The Summit is a free event happening January 12-14th and features a lineup of expert speakers covering topics from fertilizer-free farming methods and winter production to balancing family and farming, soil tests, compost and much more.

Tune in to hear about how this year’s Summit offers valuable insights and practical tips for farmers to improve their farming practices and grow better quality vegetables.

Click here to register for the Vegetable Summit.

You’ll hear:

• About what the Thriving Farmer Vegetable Summit is all about 
• Some details about each of this year’s Session Speakers
• What some of Michael’s biggest takeaways were from his interviews
• How to register for the Vegetable Summit

About the Guest:

Michael Kilpatrick is a farmer and educator in Carlisle, Ohio. Along with his wife, Savannah, they run the Farm on Central, where they pursue their passion of providing fresh and local food to the community.

In addition to co-running the farm, Savannah teaches cooking, canning, and baking classes from her kitchen. Meanwhile, Michael is also the founder of Growing Farmers and the Thriving Farmer Online Summits and is dedicated to providing educational resources for farmers.

Together, they reach a community of over 60,000 farmers, homesteaders, and families!

Resources: 

Website - Register here for the Vegetable Summit

And if you want to keep the conversation going, join us in our Facebook Group to connect with us and other farmers looking to grow their business!

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor!

Explore new revenue opportunities with Harvest Hosts! List your farm and connect with a community of more than 250,000 RVers eager to support small businesses! You only need to provide space for at least one RVer to stay overnight. In exchange, the RVers will patronize your farm. No hook-ups or RV services required! Ready to add 15K+ in extra revenue with minimal time investment? Visit us at Harvest Hosts.com today!

Ever thought about shifting your farm to a U-Pick model? 

On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is diving into the world of agritourism with Megan Neubauer of Pure Land Farm located in McKinney, Texas. Megan literally wrote the book on pick-your-own farming and her farming journey offers invaluable insights into transforming local agriculture into a profitable, community-driven experience.

Tune in to hear about Megan’s thriving U-Pick operation and her new book!

You’ll hear:

• How Megan got into farming 0:52
• What led Megan to shift her farm to Upick 4:52
• What the average customer expects when participating in U-pick 10:37
• How their crops are priced 11:42
• About how they package their berries for U-Pick customers 15:08
• What software Megan uses for booking 21:23
• About how they deal with “problem people” 25:00
• About their marketing focus 30:19
• What Megan’s advice is for newer farmers or farmers looking to change things up 38:04

About the Guest:

Megan Neubauer is a farmer in North Texas. She graduated with a BS in Biology from Boston University in 2004 and after several years working in biotech and scientific research, Megan and her father created Pure Land Farm in McKinney, TX in 2012. Pure Land Farm uses regenerative growing methods on three acres of thornless blackberries and two acres of diversified fruits and vegetables, exclusively marketing their products using agritourism.

Her new book on Pick-Your-Own-Farming releases December 4th, 2023. 

Resources:

Website - www.purelandorganic.com
Megan’s Book - Pick-Your-Own Farming - available NOW
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PureLandFarm
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/purelandfarm
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@purelandfarm

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor!

MyDigitalFarmer.com was created by CSA farmer and marketing specialist Corinna Bench to help farmers learn the marketing fundamentals — so you can stop feeling uncertain, frustrated, guilty, or inadequate when it comes to selling your products.

In the My Digital Farmer podcast, you'll be exposed to the fundamentals of marketing theory and practice so you can apply them to your own farm and business. She'll cover marketing funnels, copywriting, website messaging, CSA marketing, lead generation, brand building, social media, customer retention, Facebook ads, sales pages, Facebook groups, YouTube, Instagram, email marketing, and stellar customer service.

She also interviews other farmers to find out what’s working (and not working) in farm marketing so you can feel more confident in your ability to convert leads, increase sales, and build a strong brand for your farm.

Subscribe to her show at https://www.mydigitalfarmer.com/podcast

How can land trusts support the next generation of farmers? 

On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Susan Koehler and Nathan Boone. Susan is the Farmland Preservation Program Manager for the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. She is working alongside Nathan who is a seasoned organic farmer and agricultural consultant. Together, with the help of the NWA Food System Initiative,  they are providing support to new and beginner farmers through the preservation and enhancement of wild and farmed land.

Tune in to hear about their mission to preserve and enhance the land and farming community in Northwest Arkansas through the permanent protection of land. 

You’ll hear:

• What the NWA Land Trust does 1:52
• About Nathan’s background and more about his involvement in the project 5:12
• What their long-term intentions for the property are 9:58
• About the types of farmers they are looking for 18:10

About the Guests:

Susan Koehler is the Farmland Preservation Program Manager for the Northwest Arkansas Land Trust located in Fayetteville AR. Susan works to help farmers who want to voluntarily protect their operations with agricultural focused conservation easements. In addition, her programs are geared to provide support to new and beginning farmers trying to access farmland. Susan works with a number of farms and local food advocates in her community through the NWA Food System Initiative. 

Nathan Boone is a seasoned organic farmer with more than 20 years of experience in specialty vegetable, flower and grain production in New Mexico, California, Indiana and Southern Turkey.  He also works as an agricultural consultant in beginning farm business planning and financial management, food safety training and transitioning to organic production. 

Resources:

Website - The Farmland Lease Program

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nwalandtrust/

This week’s podcast episode is sponsored by Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. 

Conservation organizations play an important role in supporting local farms and food efforts nationwide. In the heart of the Ozarks, this land trust is taking land access for farmers one step further where they are offering affordable stable leases. 

Through the NWA Food Systems Initiative, NWALT is offering underserved farmers the opportunity to sublease certain designated tracts of farmland on a dedicated property to help support sustainable farming practices in Northwest Arkansas. The Farmland Lease Program is available to beginning and experienced farmers who are interested in fruit and/or vegetable production. Approved applicants will have access to water and electric utility infrastructure, shared access to farm equipment and harvesting facilities with neighboring participant farmers. In addition, farmers accepted into the program will have access to education, training, and other resources to help them succeed.

You can learn more about the program and the farm location in this podcast or contact 479-966-4666. Information is online at www.nwafarmlink.org

How much do you know about mechanical weeding? 

On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Sam Oschwald Tilton who is the organizer of the upcoming Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day in Ohio. After earning his Master’s degree in Horticulture from Michigan State, Sam has worked many roles in vegetable farming from tool development to teaching on sustainable horticulture. He currently serves as a Direct Market Vegetable Educator offering education and support to Milwaukee-area vegetable growers. 

Tune in to hear all about the latest in weeds and cultivation.  

You’ll hear:

• About Sam’s inspiration to get started in farming 1:40
• How a farmer would get started in mechanizing their farm work 4:03
• What is in Sam’s weed seed bank 8:56
• About the roles of extension offices in farming 23:24
• All about the upcoming Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day 30:22
• About the many different weed control vendors that are attending the Field Day 35:09

About the Guest:

Sam Oschwald Tilton serves in a shared position between FairShare and UW-Madison Extension as a Direct Market Vegetable Educator offering education and support to Milwaukee-area vegetable growers.  He also organizes the annual Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day. 

Sam has worked in many roles on vegetable farms in Wisconsin – as a field hand, running his own CSA, and managing an educational farm in Sheboygan. He has a Master’s degree in Horticulture from Michigan State, where he researched organic weed control. And for three years, he was an instructor of Sustainable Landscape Horticulture at Lakeshore Technical College. Sam especially appreciates sharing his love of plants with children in his community.

Resources:

Field Day Website - 2023 Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day

FairShare CSA Coalition - https://www.csacoalition.org/about-us

This podcast is sponsored by Small Farm University, THE go-to resource for gardeners, homesteaders, and farmers around the world. Small Farm University delivers classes online and on demand, with training on how to grow crops AND how to grow a profitable farm business that serves you, your family, and your community well. 

Applying what you learn in SFU could save you countless hours and thousands of dollars. And, it can save you the agony of costly mistakes some make, just because they “don’t know what they don’t know.”

Delivered by real farmers with hands-on experience and expertise, it is unique in its approach, using the RIPEN method for growing and building a farm or farm business.

To learn more, visit:  GrowingFarmers.com today!

How do you manage through a crisis and what lessons come from such a time?

In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Ian and Rachel Harding of Wet Knot Farms, located in Marietta, South Carolina. Ian and Rachel started their farm to get back to nature, and to raise their three boys playing in the dirt and eating healthy, tasty food.

Now their mission is to cultivate community by bettering health through sustainable agricultural practices. Folks love how long Wet Knot’s salads last in the fridge and how some veggies never even make it out of the car before the kids gobble them up.

Join us today to hear all about their unique journey in the farming world!

You’ll hear:

• What is the location of Wet Knot Farms and what is the historical significance behind it? 2:04
• What kinds of flowers and vegetables do they grow? 5:58
• What are their favorite flowers to grow? 8:16
• Where do they sell their products? 10:54
• How has their flower bar worked out for them so far? 17:31
• What are yearly cycles on the farm like? 23:24
• Why did Ian have brain surgery, and how did it impact their farm and family? 29:16
• What would they say the most impactful outcome of this situation has been? 41:56

About the Guests:

Ian and Rachel Harding started Wet Knot Farms to get back to nature and raise their boys on a farm where they could play in the dirt that also supplied them with healthy, tasty foods. While farming came with many lessons, a sudden need for brain surgery taught them even more. Ian says, “Each day is a gift, and I hope I’m ready to receive each one as such. I hope to savor the joy and to grow from the pain that comes each new day.”

Resources:

Website: https://www.wetknotfarms.com/

The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsors!

Real Organic Project is a farmer-led movement that provides an add-on certification held by over 1,000 certified organic, family-owned operations across North America. Real Organic Project strives to uplift farms working within the spirit, not just the letter, of organic principles. Real Organic certified farmers use practices that are centered around the foundational organic principles of soil-based crop production and pasture-based livestock agriculture. To remain accessible to all types of farmers, Real Organic Project fundraises year round to keep this certification available at no cost to farmers.

You can apply today at realorganicproject.org/thrivingfarmer.

Steward is transforming agriculture by equipping regenerative farms and food systems with the capital they need to grow. As a mission-driven financial partner, Steward works closely with agricultural businesses to scale their operations, improve the health of their lands and waters, and bolster local-to-regional food systems. To date, Steward has provided over $15M in business loans to fund 75 unique projects, backed by more than 1,500 participating lenders. Steward is proud to be a Certified B Corp. Seek financing or support a loan campaign at gosteward.com