River Ridge has found success in a rural agricultural community with a combination of farmers markets, an on-farm retail store, and restaurant sales. We dig into how Nate and his family make this all work, and some of the details of how a lot of hustle has helped to cobble together a successful business in an unlikely marketplace.
Nate also shares his straightforward production techniques, including field work, fertility planning, transplant production, irrigation, weed control, and how he make season extension really pay in the high tunnels and out.
Sponsors
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.
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.
Quotes from the Show
And that's the neat thing about the small farm world today, there's so many minds, bright minds, that are thinking about these things that there is just a wealth of information a wealth of tools out there that's available.
If you're getting into farming, do not start with open soil, put up a high tunnel and then go outside if you have to.
Show Links
Eliot Coleman’s Winter Harvest Handbook was Nate’s initial inspiration for four-season production.
Nate relies on the Johnny’s bed roller-dibbler instead of the paper pot transplanter.