For episode 100, several listeners requested that I either do an interview with myself, or get somebody to interview me. So I invited my good friend Liz Graznak to do the job – Liz was also the first guest on the podcast, so it seemed to me to have some nice symmetry.
Liz reached out to many of the previous guests on the show to get their input on what to ask me, and we dig into what I’ve learned from interviewing over a hundred farmers since the show’s beginnings during a drive to a field day in Minnesota.
We explore how I came to farming in Iowa from an urban childhood in the Pacific Northwest, and Liz gives me a chance to share how my farm grew, the challenges we faced, and what led me to leave the farm behind to pursue my current work as a farm educator.
Perennial support for the Farmer to Farmer Podcast is generously provided by Vermont Compost Company and BCS America.
Liz reached out to many of the previous guests on the show to get their input on what to ask me, and we dig into what I’ve learned from interviewing over a hundred farmers since the show’s beginnings during a drive to a field day in Minnesota.
We explore how I came to farming in Iowa from an urban childhood in the Pacific Northwest, and Liz gives me a chance to share how my farm grew, the challenges we faced, and what led me to leave the farm behind to pursue my current work as a farm educator.
Perennial support for the Farmer to Farmer Podcast is generously provided by Vermont Compost Company and BCS America.
Sponsors
Vermont Compost: Founded by organic crop growing professionals committed to meeting the need for high-quality composts and compost-based, living soil mixes for certified organic plant production.
BCS America: BCS two-wheel tractors are versatile, maneuverable in tight spaces, light-weight for less compaction, and easy to maintain and repair on farm. Gear-driven and built to last for decades of dependable service on your farm or market garden.
Farm Commons: Strong, resilient, sustainable farm businesses are built on a solid legal foundation. With practical resources geared for the direct-to-consumer and organic producer, Farm Commons can help you understand what you need to know, in language that makes it easy to understand.
BCS America: BCS two-wheel tractors are versatile, maneuverable in tight spaces, light-weight for less compaction, and easy to maintain and repair on farm. Gear-driven and built to last for decades of dependable service on your farm or market garden.
Farm Commons: Strong, resilient, sustainable farm businesses are built on a solid legal foundation. With practical resources geared for the direct-to-consumer and organic producer, Farm Commons can help you understand what you need to know, in language that makes it easy to understand.
Quotes from the Show
[from Paul Wellstone:] We all do better when we all do better.
If you’re going to play the small market farmer game, somehow your food has to resonate at a deeper level for people. It has to be a tool for connection in some way.
Managing your weeds is something that, when you do that, everything else gets easier. And not just a little bit easier.
I think that three years is that point when relationships get hard. You can coast a certain distance on adrenaline, but you’re going to run into a position where… the shine comes off the penny.
There’s room at any scale to fail dramatically.
The garden answered all of these questions for me about life and death and about the cycle of things. Things live, things die. It’s just part of what happens.
As a business decision, putting an emphasis on your relationships is really important.
If you’re going to play the small market farmer game, somehow your food has to resonate at a deeper level for people. It has to be a tool for connection in some way.
Managing your weeds is something that, when you do that, everything else gets easier. And not just a little bit easier.
I think that three years is that point when relationships get hard. You can coast a certain distance on adrenaline, but you’re going to run into a position where… the shine comes off the penny.
There’s room at any scale to fail dramatically.
The garden answered all of these questions for me about life and death and about the cycle of things. Things live, things die. It’s just part of what happens.
As a business decision, putting an emphasis on your relationships is really important.
Show Links
Chris spent years as the presentations coordinator and then as the co-director of theMOSES Organic Farming Conference.
Chris coauthored the Fearless Farm Finances book.
We mentioned Patreon as a way to directly support the show.
And one of Chris’ favorite things to mention: the weird and wonderful Deep Springs College had a tremendous influence on his life’s trajectory.
Chris coauthored the Fearless Farm Finances book.
We mentioned Patreon as a way to directly support the show.
And one of Chris’ favorite things to mention: the weird and wonderful Deep Springs College had a tremendous influence on his life’s trajectory.
Transcript
The transcript for this episode is brought to you by Growing for Market. Get 20% off your subscription with the code podcast at checkout. And by EarthTools, offering the most complete selection of walk-behind farming equipment and high-quality garden tools in North America.Earthtools.com.
