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Anton Burkett started Early Morning Farm in 1999 with three acres, three friends, and a rototiller. Since that time, this farm in the Finger Lake region of upstate New York has grown to 100 acres and 1,500 CSA shares. Anton and Chris talk about how he has managed this rapid growth year over year. Anton has a thoughtful approach to issues of scale, and we talk about how he’s leveraged his CSA to solve the land-access problem, his approach to personnel management and hiring, and how he’s strategically managed machinery investments and reinvestments as his farm has grown.
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Audible: Discover the world of audio-books, and absorb yourself in the latest in business management texts, farming essays, or just a dramatic retelling of the Star Wars saga. Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day free trial at audibletrial.com/farmertofarmer.
Audible: Discover the world of audio-books, and absorb yourself in the latest in business management texts, farming essays, or just a dramatic retelling of the Star Wars saga. Get a free audiobook download and a 30-day free trial at audibletrial.com/farmertofarmer.
Quotes from the Show
“There’s no reason to get frustrated with [an unhappy worker] because it is really hard work, and it’s underpaid and undervalued by society.”
“All the better if you aren’t taking [your business plan] to the bank, because now you can tell the truth.”
“There’s no reason to mess with [your business model] unless you have a reason to mess with it.”
“I recommend making more money not being a reason to grow. I think a reason to grow should be that you want to serve the community in a different way.”
“I think that any business you’re in, if you can… think about what’s the service and how you’re going to help the world out first, I think that’s the thing.”
“All the better if you aren’t taking [your business plan] to the bank, because now you can tell the truth.”
“There’s no reason to mess with [your business model] unless you have a reason to mess with it.”
“I recommend making more money not being a reason to grow. I think a reason to grow should be that you want to serve the community in a different way.”
“I think that any business you’re in, if you can… think about what’s the service and how you’re going to help the world out first, I think that’s the thing.”
Show Links
Early Morning Farm uses Farmigo to manage their CSA member signup, harvest, and delivery.
The last book Anton read was Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson
The last book Anton read was Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson
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