Andy and Melissa Dunham own and operate Grinnell Heritage Farm in Grinnell, Iowa. From corn-and-bean ground and no infrastructure when they started in 2006, Grinnell Heritage Farm has grown to twenty acres of vegetables, marketed through a 250-member CSA, natural foods stores, multiple farmers market, and a new on-farm pizza night that they started this year.
Andy and Melissa share how they worked with New Pioneer Food Co-op to develop their skills as market farmers and to learn how to better serve the wholesale marketplace. We also dig into their CSA model, employee management on Grinnell Heritage Farm, and how they’ve changed their CSA to respond to the needs of both customers and employees.
We also learn how Andy and Melissa developed their farm infrastructure, created environmental enhancements to change the farm ecology and benefit the farm overall, organic weed control in asparagus, and how they’ve managed repeated pesticide drift incidents on their Central-Iowa farm.
Andy and Melissa share how they worked with New Pioneer Food Co-op to develop their skills as market farmers and to learn how to better serve the wholesale marketplace. We also dig into their CSA model, employee management on Grinnell Heritage Farm, and how they’ve changed their CSA to respond to the needs of both customers and employees.
We also learn how Andy and Melissa developed their farm infrastructure, created environmental enhancements to change the farm ecology and benefit the farm overall, organic weed control in asparagus, and how they’ve managed repeated pesticide drift incidents on their Central-Iowa farm.
Sponsors
Vermont Compost Company: 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.
High Mowing Organic Seeds: The first independently owned, farm-based seed company proudly serving organic growers with a full line of 100% certified organic and Non-GMO Project verified vegetable, herb, flower and cover crop seeds. Professional quality seeds grown by organic farmers, for organic farmers. Purchase your seeds early and receive a 10% discount through our Community Supported Seeds program – visit highmowingseeds.com/save.
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.
High Mowing Organic Seeds: The first independently owned, farm-based seed company proudly serving organic growers with a full line of 100% certified organic and Non-GMO Project verified vegetable, herb, flower and cover crop seeds. Professional quality seeds grown by organic farmers, for organic farmers. Purchase your seeds early and receive a 10% discount through our Community Supported Seeds program – visit highmowingseeds.com/save.
Quotes from the Show
[Andy] As a beginning farmer you end up getting rejected quite a lot and so you have to have a little bit of thick skin and expect to hear no sometimes, and that's all right.
[Andy] Getting that field heat out is so important and it's almost impossible to do without a walk-in cooler.
[Melissa] The easiest way isn't necessarily the most sustainable way.
[Andy] One of my favorite parts of this is seeing the wildlife come back to what used to be a corn and soybean field.
[Melissa] We've had several people call us over the last few years and they say, we've been drifted on. My first question is, do you have records of past yields and prices?
[Andy] Getting that field heat out is so important and it's almost impossible to do without a walk-in cooler.
[Melissa] The easiest way isn't necessarily the most sustainable way.
[Andy] One of my favorite parts of this is seeing the wildlife come back to what used to be a corn and soybean field.
[Melissa] We've had several people call us over the last few years and they say, we've been drifted on. My first question is, do you have records of past yields and prices?
Show Links
Andy mentioned Grinnell Heritage Farm’s participation in PFI (Practical Farmers of Iowa) trials. Research results from PFI trials have a ton of useful information based on real, on-farm experience.
Driftwatch provides a way for pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate about the location of sensitive and organic crops.
Driftwatch provides a way for pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate about the location of sensitive and organic crops.
Transcript
The transcript for this episode is brought to you byEarth Tools, offering the most complete selection of walk-behind farming equipment and high-quality garden tools in North America; and byRock Dust Local, the first company in North America specializing in local sourcing and delivery of the BEST rock dusts and biochar for organic farming. And byCoolBot, allowing you to build an affordable walk-in cooler powered by a window air-conditioning unit. Save $20 on your CoolBot when you visitfarmertofarmerpodcast.com/coolbot. Additional funding for transcripts provided byNorth Central SARE, providing grants and education to advance innovations in Sustainable Agriculture.
