Shows
Growing For Market PodcastStrategies for farming in clay with Nella Mae Parks of Nella Mae’s Farm in Cove, OregonNella Mae Parks went from a farm with lots of topsoil to one with lots of clay, and in the subsequent decade she has learned a lot about clay! Nella Mae’s Farm is in Cove, Oregon. Podcast host Katie Kulla and Nella Mae talk about the advantages that clay can provide (high water and nutrient holding ability), as well as the disadvantages (can be hard to work with, can turn into a brick if worked at the wrong time).They also discuss how to open up clay soil whether you till or not, how to deal wi...
2023-09-051h 08
Growing For Market PodcastPart 2 of Managing your wash/pack system for safe, clean produce with Billy Mitchell, Chris Callahan and Andrew ChamberlinIn this episode of the Growing for Market podcast, host Andrew Mefferd invites guests Billy Mitchell, Chris Callahan, and Andrew Chamberlin to discuss efficient systems and organization for packing sheds. We discuss the principles of good flow in a wash/pack situation and how to optimize cold storage in post-harvest handling. The guests emphasize the significance of creating a comfortable and efficient work environment by considering factors such as walking paths, space, lighting, and ventilation. They provide practical tips to improve work flow, such as identifying bottlenecks and rearranging workstations or introducing hanging shelving. The e...
2023-08-2957 min
Growing For Market PodcastManaging your wash/pack system for safe, clean produce with Billy Mitchell, Chris Callahan and Andrew ChamberlinStrategies to create a clean wash/pack environment that guarantees good food hygiene and workflow is the topic of this week’s pod, and for the first time ever we have three guests! With three guests and such an important topic, it’s no surprise this became the first of a two-part episode, with the second part following next week. In addition to getting produce clean and safe from pathogens, a good packing shed will facilitate workflow that keeps the produce moving and people comfortable. In this episode, we have the privilege of hosting Billy Mitchell, Chris Callahan, and Andr...
2023-08-221h 00
Growing For Market PodcastOvercoming adversity with Anthonie Conner of 4A Market Gardens in Torrington, WyomingAdversity is something all farmers will have to overcome at some point in their careers, and on this podcast episode we talk with Anthonie Conner of 4A Market Gardens in Torrington, Wyoming, for a dose of inspiration. Anthonie overcame alcohol addiction, then threw himself into starting his market garden during the pandemic, in addition to holding down an off-farm job as a welder. We talk about perseverance, and how to stay motivated when you have weeds as tall as you are. We also talk strategies for building a farm business in a lightly populated rural area, including working with...
2023-08-151h 18
Growing For Market PodcastBreeding more flavorful vegetables with Culinary Breeding Network founder Lane SelmanThe Culinary Breeding Network helps plant breeders to develop the kind of varieties that market farmers want to grow, i.e. vegetables that taste good. While it might seem obvious that vegetables should taste good, a lot of the effort that goes into vegetable breeding focuses on traits like yield, shelf life and looks, without considering flavor.In tomorrow’s episode of the Growing for Market Podcast, we talk with Lane Selman, creator and director of the Culinary Breeding Network. Lane grew up on the citrus farm her Sicilian great-grandparents planted in 1919 in Florida. She studied agronomy an...
2023-08-081h 25
Growing For Market PodcastBuilding a honey farm business with innovative marketing, agritourism and education with Tara Chapman of Two Hives HoneyJust your typical CIA to honey farmer story on this podcast! Tara Chapman of Two Hives Honey talks with host Katie Kulla about starting and scaling a honey business, with education and agritourism as important parts of the plan. After a decade of working for The Agency, Tara quit her government job to work for a beekeeper in East Texas, and was inspired to start her own unique honey business.Two Hives Honey sells raw honey direct to consumers through its online store and a monthly subscription program. They also offer multiple education opportunities through on-site honey t...
2023-08-011h 10
Growing For Market PodcastFarm stress: strategies and resources for dealing with the mental health repercussions of farm-related stress with Anne Schwartz and Rachel Van BovenFarming can be very stressful, and as we’ll discuss today there are recent studies that back this up. Chronic farm-related stress can lead to or exacerbate existing mental illnesses, and mental health care is harder to find in the rural areas where many farmers live. This is a huge topic, one that the USDA and others are actively tackling through multiple arms, and in this episode, host Katie Kulla has on two guests who can provide us some specific insight into farm stress, farmer mental illness and resources.Anne Schwartz is a lifelong farmer. In 1979, she start...
2023-07-251h 09
Growing For Market PodcastPlanning and planting for the flower holidays with Dave DowlingFlower-giving holidays can generate a month’s worth of revenue in a day. In this episode, we discuss planning and planting for the flower holidays with Dave Dowling of Ball ColorLink and The Gardener’s Workshop. We talk about which crops can be grown for which holidays, planting timing, color palettes, and how to hold flowers if they are ready too early. Dave brings years of experience from his own cut flower farm to helping growers make the most of Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. We also discuss the Growing for Market Magazine...
2023-07-181h 08
Growing For Market PodcastGround lease farm transfers and much more with Jeremy Barker Plotkin of Simple Gifts FarmIn today’s episode, we discuss an innovative farm sale method that keeps the land in farming called a ground lease transfer with Jeremy Barker Plotkin of Simple Gifts Farm in Amherst, Massachusetts. Simple Gifts Farm is currently up for sale via a ground lease transfer, and we talk about how this method works. We also discuss his experiences over 17 years at the farm, including several SARE grants, innovative no-till systems, nutrient balancing greenhouse tomatoes to control aphids, and sales growing 6X over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm, we cha...
2023-07-111h 09
Growing For Market PodcastGoing from starting farms to editing Growing for Market Magazine with editor Andrew Mefferd: from farmer to editor (Part 2 of 2)In today’s episode, the second of two talking with Growing for Market Magazine editor and podcast co-host Andrew Mefferd, we discuss what he learned from his own farm, and the “green greenhouse” project he was preparing for before taking over GFM. We talk about mistakes made while trying to do too much as a young farmer, why he decided to take over Growing for Market from founder Lynn Byczynski, and why we have to be deliberate as we steward our farms into the future. In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm we chat about new too...
2023-07-041h 41
Growing For Market PodcastGoing from working on farms to running Growing for Market Magazine with editor Andrew Mefferd: From apprentice to farmer (Part 1 of 2)In this episode, we talk with Growing for Market Magazine editor and podcast co-host Andrew Mefferd about going from working on farms in six different states, to starting a farm (twice!) before taking over GFM and running it from his farm in Maine. We talk about becoming aware of the imbalances in the current farming system, what it was like traveling around the country working on farms and starting two, and what he learned doing vegetable trials for seven years at Johnny’s Selected Seeds. In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm, we chat about new too...
2023-06-272h 00
Growing For Market PodcastReflecting on 50 years of Johnny's Selected Seeds with founder Rob JohnstonJanuary 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Johnny's Selected Seeds, and we talk with founder Rob Johnston about the need the company was born from, developing overseas contacts in the early days when there was little variety in the US seed market, and changes and surprises in the seed industry over the years. In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm, we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers.We discuss the years of development w...
2023-06-201h 04
Growing For Market PodcastCreating positive labor experiences for farm owners and workers with Sarah Janes Ugoretz of the FairShare CSA CoalitionFinding and retaining good workers is a perennial issue on farms, and both sides of the labor equation have a lot to gain from getting the relationship right. When farm owners get it right they have loyal, returning workers, and if farm workers get it right they end up having a good work experience and contributing to the farm.Luckily, Sarah Janes Ugoretz is working on the issue of how everyone can have a better farm labor experience with the FairShare CSA Coalition, where she supports the Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship. She also just finished her...
2023-06-131h 26Growing For Market PodcastNew podcast co-host special episode, with Katie Kulla of Oakhill Organics!It's a new host special episode! We’re so excited to be welcoming Katie Kulla to the podcast as one of our co-hosts! You may remember hearing Katie on the podcast back in the winter, podcast episodes 8 and 9, discussing her series of articles about balancing farming and parenting. Well, we enjoyed talking with Katie so much, and she brings so much experience from her own farm to the podcast, that we’re stoked to announce she is joining the podcast as a co-host.We wanted to make sure and record an episode to properly introduce everyone to Kati...
2023-06-061h 29Growing For Market PodcastThe Ecological Farm with farmer/author Helen Atthowe: A Minimalist No-Till, No-Spray, Selective-Weeding, Grow-Your-Own-Fertilizer SystemHear how “The Ecological Farm” author/farmer Helen Atthowe developed a minimalist no-till, no-spray, grow-your-own fertilizer method over decades of research and application on her own farms. Helen has been applying and refining the principles of soil, plant, and whole farm ecosystem health for decades, and we’re glad she finally wrote it all down in one place!This interview is of personal interest for interviewer Andrew Mefferd, as he had the pleasure of visiting her Woodleaf Farm in California 20 years ago when he was a farm apprentice. For farmers who aspire to “close the circle” and stop relyi...
2023-05-301h 21Growing For Market PodcastGrowing cut flowers six stories above the San Francisco Bay Area with Joanna Letz of Bluma Flower FarmIn today’s episode, hear about growing cut flowers six stories above the San Francisco Bay Area with Joanna Letz of Bluma Flower Farm @blumafarm. Hear what it’s like to grow flowers in a bustling metropolis, differences between field and rooftop growing, and some of Joanna’s favorite varieties. We discuss the advantages and challenges (yes, there are weeds up there) of farming on top of a building in the city. As both farmers and cities realize the benefits of urban agriculture, hopefully there will be more opportunities for growing crops on rooves, and we hope this episode will g...
2023-05-231h 24Growing For Market PodcastUnraveling why root maggots may have been worse than usual this spring with Caleb Goossen of MOFGAIn today’s episode, we talk about why root maggots may have been worse than usual this spring with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Organic Crop Specialist Caleb Goossen. One thing that some growers have noticed this spring is a higher than usual rate of seedlings failing to emerge, or dying shortly after emergence, due to seedling-feeding maggots.We discuss how to tell whether seedlings have succumbed to maggots instead of other causes like damping off; how to reduce seedling maggots next year; and whether it’s important to tell apart the primary culprits: seedco...
2023-05-161h 09Growing For Market PodcastGrowing 15 acres of organic flowers with mother/daughter team Dru Rivers and Hannah Muller of Full Belly FarmIn today’s episode, we talk with mother/daughter team Dru Rivers and Hannah Muller of Full Belly Farm about growing 15 acres of certified organic flowers. Dru is one of the founders of this landmark California organic farm that has been growing since 1984, and she and Hannah manage the flowers, all of which are grown in the field. We cover strategies for keeping farm crew year-round, favorite flower crops and new varieties, the importance of playing hard when you’re working hard, educating wholesalers and customers on the importance of organic flowers, and having big events on the farm.
2023-05-0956 minGrowing For Market PodcastCompost science with Robert PavlisToday we talk about what makes good compost with Robert Pavlis. Robert is a well-known speaker and educator with over 40 years of growing experience. He is the author of several books, including a whole series demystifying important growing topics, including Soil Science for Gardeners, Microbe Science for Gardeners, Garden Myths and Compost Science for Gardeners. He has a background in chemistry and biochemistry which allows him to research topics and explain the underlying science. He uses that understanding to present complex growing topics in an easy-to-understand style that is both informative and fun to read.Robert’s books...
2023-05-021h 10Growing For Market PodcastMaking the move from the military to agriculture with Charley Jordan of Jordan Farms in TennesseeToday we talk with Charley Jordan about making the move from the military into farming. Charley is the owner/operator of Jordan Farms, in Indian Mound, Tennessee. After serving nearly 30 years in the Army, flying Chinook helicopters with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Charley retired in 2017 and found a new mission in agriculture and has devoted himself to helping other veterans and beginning farmers find their purpose in agriculture. Charley was also in the inaugural cohort of a horticulture therapy certificate program launched at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Jordan Farms specializes in fresh-cut flowers, forest-grown...
2023-04-251h 11Growing For Market PodcastGrowing good broccoli in a bad climate with Jan van der Heide of Bejo SeedsToday we have the pleasure of welcoming Jan van der Heide to the podcast. He is the Northeast Market Manager for Bejo Seeds, a Dutch vegetable seed company that has breeding stations and distribution all over the world.Jan has a depth of knowledge about brassicas, and we’ve been getting a lot of contact lately here at Growing for Market about how to avoid the many disorders that can cause broccoli and cauliflower to grow poorly. Now, if you are a brassica grower, you are probably all too familiar with the symptoms of messed-up broccoli and ca...
2023-04-181h 06Growing For Market PodcastGetting farm-friendly legislation passed with Sara and Symbria Patterson of Red Acre Farm in UtahIn today’s episode, hear Sara and Symbria Patterson talk about farming in Utah on Red Acre Farm and founding the Red Acre Center for Food and Agriculture. In addition to the challenges of farming at elevation, Sara and Symbria discuss how they have gotten over 15 bills passed through the Utah legislature. They highlight the relationship-building process they have used successfully with legislators to pass pro-local-farm legislation despite sometimes facing skepticism from both sides of the aisle. Sara talks about what it was like to found the farm at age 14, and how Sara and Symbria went on to found th...
2023-04-111h 06Growing For Market PodcastThe origins of Growing for Market Magazine with founding editor Lynn ByczynskiIn today’s episode, hear Lynn Byczynski talk about founding Growing for Market Magazine over 30 years ago in 1992. We’ll talk about how Lynn’s background in writing, combined with the lack of information about market farming in the early 1990s, pushed her to start Growing for Market. While researching solutions for issues on her farm in Lawrence, Kansas, she started publishing GFM as a way to connect market farmers to each other and hard-to-find information. We’ll also hear about her book, The Flower Farmer, passing the magazine on to current editor Andrew Mefferd after 24 years of running the maga...
2023-04-041h 10Growing For Market PodcastFarming and pregnancy: Birth and postpartum healing for the farmer (Part 2 of 2)In today’s episode, the second of two parts, hear Katie Kulla from Oakhill Organics in Oregon talk about how farmers who have just had a baby can smooth the transition into parenthood while keeping the farm running. This conversation is an elaboration on Katie’s article "Birth and postpartum healing for the farmer" from Growing for Market Magazine. Part 1 of the podcast (and the article) discusses how preparations in the lead up to a baby can help get farmers ready for the new arrival, as well as keep the farm running as smoothly as possible.Katie has...
2023-03-281h 05Growing For Market PodcastFarming and pregnancy: Balancing the physical and emotional demands (Part 1 of 2)Today we’re talking about balancing farming, pregnancy & kids on the farm with Katie Kulla, who has written 3 articles on the subject for Growing For Market Magazine & interviewed many farmers on balancing farming & parenting. She brings her own experiences parenting & farming in Yamhill County, Oregon with her husband and two homeschooled kids to the conversation. This episode focuses on preparations before the baby comes, in order to smooth the addition of a new member to the farm family, and keep the farm running at the same time. It is an elaboration on Katie’s article "Farming and pregnancy: Balancing the...
2023-03-211h 06Growing For Market PodcastDemystifying the Guestworker H-2A visa program with Gretel and Steve Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower FarmThis conversation is an elaboration on Gretel's article "Demystifying the H-2A program" from Growing for Market Magazine, which is available to read for free on the website (see link in the show notes below). The H-2A "guestworker" visa is a program of the US government so farmers can hire workers from other countries to fill temporary/seasonal positions on farms when local workers aren't available. In this interview, Gretel and Steve talk about how the H-2A program has worked on their flower farm, where approximately a third of their 24 person crew was H-2A workers this...
2023-03-141h 06Growing For Market PodcastFred Hempel of Artisan Seeds on breeding veg varieties for market farmersToday on the show we talk with Fred Hempel of Artisan Seeds on being an independent vegetable breeder, why most breeders need the support and infrastructure of a larger company to be successful, and breeding varieties that are suitable for market farmers. For almost twenty years, Fred has used his own farm, Green Bee Farm in Sunol, California, to both support his breeding work and act as a proving ground for it. By selling to chefs and wholesalers in the Bay Area, he has been able to get feedback from some of the most demanding c...
2023-03-071h 09Growing For Market PodcastThe origins of Neversink Farm with Conor Crickmore, part 2 of 2: The Neversink Farm Course and Neversink ToolsWe talk with Conor Crickmore in the second of this two-part interview about the origins of Neversink Farm. In this episode, we talk about how the Neversink Farm Course and Neversink Tools developed out of the farm. We discuss how early efforts to document the methods on Neversink Farm led to two years of filming to create the Neversink Farm Course. Hear how member feedback is used to continue adding to the course to this day, with lots of tips and market farming ideas along the way. Then we discuss how Neversink Tools developed out of Conor’s need fo...
2023-02-2855 minGrowing For Market PodcastThe origins of Neversink Farm with Conor Crickmore, part 1 of 2We talk with Conor Crickmore in the first of this two-part interview about the origin story of Neversink Farm. We discuss moving from the city and developing the methods that led to a highly profitable farm on a small footprint. In the second part of the interview dropping next week, we talk about how the Neversink Farm Course and Neversink Tools developed out of the farm. Shop Talk with Neversink Farm - we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of N...
2023-02-2156 minGrowing For Market PodcastJosh Volk on DIY farm tools and compact farm layoutsJosh Volk talks about how his background in mechanical engineering led him to Silicon Valley, and then a valley over to where the vegetables and flowers are to lend his talents to DIY tools and farm design. He talks about the experimental elementary school where he got his start making things, and how he has applied the ideas to his own farm, Cully Neighborhood Farm in Portland, OR, and his two books: Compact Farms and Build Your Own Farm Tools. Josh is one of the most frequent contributors to Growing for Market since the magazine's inception in 1992, with many...
2023-02-141h 00Growing For Market PodcastMeet your host: Megan Robertson!Hear how host Megan Robertson's agricultural journey started out in South Dakota and took her to Kenya, Italy, Boston and Connecticut before landing in California as an organic certifier, inspecting farms in one of the world's most productive and diverse agricultural regions. Meg is interviewed by the other Growing for Market Podcast host, GFM magazine editor Andrew Mefferd. In Shop Talk with Neversink Farm, we chat about new tools, old tools, how they can benefit your farm and tips to use them successfully with Conor Crickmore of Neversink Tools, which manufactures tools for farmers. In t...
2023-02-071h 03Growing For Market PodcastScrum project (and personal!) management with Andrea HeimToday we discuss the Scrum project management framework with certified Scrum Master and recovering farmer Andrea Heim. We elaborate on her article from the May 2022 Growing for Market Magazine, "Increase personal sustainability and productivity on farm teams with Scrum project management." Andrea draws on her experience managing farms to talk about how Scrum can help keep us on track by identifying obstacles standing between us and our goals and how to continuously improve our management so we can strike a work/life balance and hopefully not burn out. Shop Talk with Neversink Farm - we c...
2023-02-071h 06