Stay ConnectedDaily farm and garden talk. All about growing vegetables profitably and efficiently on small farms and in gardens.
Each episode focuses on one specific topic – growing practices, how-to, farming challenges and struggles, sales and marketing, soil preparation, weed management, farm startup, market selection, and work-life balance.
Hosted and produced by Diego Footer’s Modern Grower Podcast Network.
Copyright: © Modern Grower
This is a real story, about a real farm based business, that is now profitable. In a world filled with reasons why things won't work and with stories about why your children shouldn’t grow up to be farmers, this is story about why they should.Philippe's story is another story about what is possible. He will tell you that anyone could do this, he wasn't unique, but it does take work and time. But that’s the nature of farming. In an industry where the median farm income was negative $1453 in 2012 you can decide how your time is spent.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/65
Today I am talking with David Sachs. David is working outside of the farming world and is trying to transition to working within the farming world. His family owns and operates a farm in Virginia; his dad runs the farm and David sees a future where he takes over the farm. David is a big believer in permaculture and sees his future on the farm involving more permaculture design incorporated into the farm's operations. But it is easier said than done within a family dynamic. Because within the family they are trying to balance the running of the farm and paying the bills with potentially incorporating more permaculture strategies. Not an easy to make decision. Add in the fact that the family is relatively new to farming and getting all sorts of advice from everyone out there - neighbors to the agriculture extension offices - challenging to say the least.
Never the less they are progressing ahead with the farm and doing some great things. In an area that grows a lot of corn, they are now the only organic wheat grower in their area. They are starting up a small scale mill to value add that wheat by turning it into flour. They are making a go of it and starting to look at a future that might involve grazing animals and strategically managed woodlots. They are approaching the transition strategically and systematically, working within the context of reality.
Hopefully something within this episode strikes a chord with you.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/64
As my guest today Akiva Silver will explain, you can start a small scale nursery with very little space. Putting a lot of plants on really tight spacings;I mean A LOT of trees on REALLY tight spacings. When you hear it intuitively your first thought is probably, that's way too close. The trees will suffer and the roots will tangle up. But that is not the results that Akiva Silver has had. Akiva has a small nursery business where he grows over 1000 trees on a half an acre. Thousands of trees plant tightly together in loose, friable soil. Very tight spacings that force trees to grow tall and straight in competition with their neighbors resulting in a lot of nursery stock that can be sold in the first year.How many people out there have some extra space where they could grow a few hundred trees? Trees to use in the development of your own property or to sell. If you sold each tree for $5 or $10, then we are talking about some significant money given the amount of space it takes.It is simple, but it does take time, it is hard work. We aren't talking about any sort of gimmicks here. It is about putting time, work, and care in to nurse these trees along to the point where you can sell them.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/63
This episode today isn't just applicable to farming. Ronan's story and what he is talking about is a metaphor. These ideas are applicable to everything under the permaculture umbrella and beyond. It all comes down to starting something small, making some mistakes, and learning and adapting along the way.Ronan' story is so simple, so common, yet uniquely inspiring; IT IS GREAT.This is a real story from a real person. Starting with 75 chicks eight years ago and growing that to over 10,000 today. Going from the corporate world to full time farmer; Ronan didn't start as a farmer, he became a farmer.In a world of negativity there are a lot of people out there doing absolutely great things. People just like you. People that listen to this show. Ronan is one of them. These are the stories that inspire me to keep doing what I do and give me hope in a better future. The change is happening out there. You might not see it yet, but it's happening..
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/62
This episode is actually the audio from Jack Spirko’s talk titled just that, Building a Profitable Permaculture Business from PV1. This is his actual talk, verbatim.In this presentation Jack gives a lot of great insight into creating the framework for a profitable, meaning sustainable, business. He touches on different traits that a successful business should have including a well-defined mission statement and a well-defined revenue model.Jack also throws out some ideas for building a business around permaculture.Whether you are a farmer, a consultant, or someone looking to take all of that permaculture knowledge that you have up in your brain out to the world, then this episode is for you.This episode is full of real world, practical advice that you can apply today. It is advice that can make you money. It is advice that can hopefully help get you thinking about that career in permaculture that you are always thinking about. And that is a lot of what I am about, getting people thinking about taking permaculture from a hobby, to a right livelihood, a career in permaculture. If that is your thing then hopefully this episode delivers some value to you.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/60
How can both people in the relationship fit both of their dreams into one life together?We explore some of these ideas in this episode. We both draw from our own experiences of having relationships while going after our own permaculture dreams. We take a honest look at these issues, it is is very real.Maybe your relationship is OK. Maybe things are fine. But that's now. The big question is - how fine are things going to be down the line when the pressure is applied? Is your relationship anti-fragile? As my guest for this episode Joey Delia says, "it's not until s*** breaks loose that we start to scramble." But sometimes it is too late.That is what we are talking about in this episode. Putting the work in ahead of time, and all of the time, to help increase the resiliency and make relationships anti-fragile. We aren't therapists and we aren't suggesting specific techniques or steps, but what we are suggesting is that you should consider doing something. Maintaining clear communication and goals on an ongoing basis. I think everyone out there can say that if they put a little more time consistently into their relationships that they would be better.Have the hard conversations. Have the uncomfortable conversations. Make yourself vulnerable and make the relationship stronger.Don't forget or sacrifice the relationship for that thing that may be fleeting. Put the time in and do the work. There are tools our there than can help. Give the relationship the respect it deserves.I hope this episode gets you thinking and most importantly I hope you do something with this information.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/59
An interview with Phil Rutter of Badgersett Research Corporation.
We talk about why perennial based woody agriculture is important and how chestnuts and hazelnuts fit into that. We also talk a lot about plant breed and using mass selection to find genotypes that have the traits that you are looking for.
This episode is pretty dense and has a ton of information in it for anyone looking to breed plants. Phil is brilliant and I think I learned more about plant breeding my conversations with him than I ever have anywhere else. Given how much information is in this episode and how long this episode is, I have split it into two parts. This is part 2 of 2.With the first part as episode 57.
Take it all in, enjoy it, and most importantly do something with this information.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/58
An interview with Phil Rutter of Badgersett Research Corporation.
We talk about why perennial based woody agriculture is important and how chestnuts and hazelnuts fit into that. We also talk a lot about plant breed and using mass selection to find genotypes that have the traits that you are looking for.
This episode is pretty dense and has a ton of information in it for anyone looking to breed plants. Phil is brilliant and I think I learned more about plant breeding my conversations with him than I ever have anywhere else. Given how much information is in this epsidoe and how long this episode is, I have split it into two parts. This is part 1 of 2.With the second part dropping this Friday, July 11 as episode 58.
Take it all in, enjoy it, and most imporantly do something with this information.
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/57
On April 11, 2009 there was the shock heard around the world, when a women from Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland walked on stage to sing. Just prior to singing she was asked "What's the dream?""I'm trying to be a professional singer?" she replied."And why hasn't it worked out so far Susan?""I've never been given a chance before, but here's hoping that it will change."With that she went on to sing her version of I Dreamed a Dream and suddenly the world new who Susan Boyle was. She became an overnight success and YouTube sensation and her debut I Dreamed a Dream album went on to sell over 9 million copies. A truly remarkable story. And one that could have easily never been told had she not taken those steps to make it happen and have her voice heard. It all came down to putting it out there and seeing what would happen; in her words "I've never been given a chance before, but here's hoping that it will change."And that is what today's show is about, getting something out there because you never know who is going to see it.Today I am talking to Olivier Asselin and Stefan Sobkowiak about their dream and the steps they took to make it a reality. From concept to final product we go through the making of The Permaculture Orchard. Now you may say, Diego, that's great, but I don't make videos. And I would say, the making of the video is a metaphor for anything that you go out there and do - focusing on quality over quantity and making it happen. Just like permaculture design itself the principles are applicable to a wide range of topics.But like anything else, it goes beyond the technique to taking the steps to actually make it happen. Ideas are great, but execution is paramount. As Stefan says, "anytime you have an idea it really comes down to what are you going to do with it. If you just let it sit you won't know if it flies or not."
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/56
My guest today was persecuted and ridiculed for his ideas for over 50 years. In his words, "people have often asked me how I have been able to put up with so much abuse, ridicule, and damage... attempts to destroy me financially and so on, and it comes down to in my case - caring enough. If you care enough about your something then it's not casual, you will do whatever you have to do, even if give up your life for that cause." Fortunately he didn't have to give up his life for the cause, but he did have to keep pushing forward with his ideas and beliefs year, after year, after year, while few people listened..That all changed in Longbeach, California in 2013. At the age of 77 after 50 plus years of ridicule, it would all change in 20 minutes. It was then and there that Allan Savory went on to deliver his epic TED talk that would go on to captivate the world. Now he was a hero. Suddenly everyone was interested in hearing what Allan Savory had to say.Persistence and his belief in what he stood for had paid off.The world suddenly cared. But would they act? For that only time will tell.As Allan goes on to say in this episode, there is a world of opportunity out there and it is critically important that all hands are on deck. Whether you are a landowner or not, you can help. You can help by spreading the word because No organizational institutions will accept paradigm shifting science ahead of public demand to do it. You are the pubic, and you must demand it. You can make a difference. Don't ever forget that.Together we can all make a difference.Keep that in mind as you listen to this episode.The future is in our hands. Where do you fit into it?
The story of holistic management and the struggle and success that went with it, a conversation with Allan Savory..
Show Notes: www.permaculturevoices.com/55
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