David Greenberg of Abundant Acres Farm raises about five acres of vegetables with his wife, Jen, in rural Nova Scotia, about an hour from Halifax. With four full-time employees in addition to David and Jen, Abundant Acres focuses on high-value crops, while also growing a bit of everything for their diversified market streams.
David takes a deep dive into the cooperative direct-to-consumer marketing arrangement Abundant Acres has with a few select food producers in Halifax, including how they use that storefront to host the free-choice CSA. And David digs into how he and Jen manage inventory and supply for the off-farm free-choice CSA, including everything from record-keeping to how that informs their planting choices.
Abundant Acres uses several different production systems, including tarped, deep-compost fields for high-value crop production, tractor-based row crop and plasticulture vegetables in rotation, mobile caterpillar tunnels, and heated greenhouse space. We take an especially in-depth look at the investment and returns on the deep-compost system, discuss the engineering behind the mobile caterpillar tunnels, and get some insights into the lessons-learned in the plasticulture system.
According to David, the farm succeeds in large part because of its reliance on radical delegation to employees. We discuss how David and Jen set expectations, guide their workers, and give and get feedback to improve performance so that they can rely on employees to take leadership and responsibility for the production on the farm.
David takes a deep dive into the cooperative direct-to-consumer marketing arrangement Abundant Acres has with a few select food producers in Halifax, including how they use that storefront to host the free-choice CSA. And David digs into how he and Jen manage inventory and supply for the off-farm free-choice CSA, including everything from record-keeping to how that informs their planting choices.
Abundant Acres uses several different production systems, including tarped, deep-compost fields for high-value crop production, tractor-based row crop and plasticulture vegetables in rotation, mobile caterpillar tunnels, and heated greenhouse space. We take an especially in-depth look at the investment and returns on the deep-compost system, discuss the engineering behind the mobile caterpillar tunnels, and get some insights into the lessons-learned in the plasticulture system.
According to David, the farm succeeds in large part because of its reliance on radical delegation to employees. We discuss how David and Jen set expectations, guide their workers, and give and get feedback to improve performance so that they can rely on employees to take leadership and responsibility for the production on the farm.
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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.
Hoss Tools: The complete solution for all your market farming tools and supplies. They manufacture and carry only the highest-quality tools that are built to last a lifetime. From their time-tested Wheel Hoes, precision Garden Seeders, heavy-duty seed trays, drip irrigation and OMRI certified pest control solutions, they have you covered. Free shipping and outstanding customer service.
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
[With the deep compost system] our yields expanded, doubled our yield, everything just got easy and awesome.
Our crew is busy all the time harvesting and planting and marketing, and as every vegetable farmer knows there's a time where you have to get weeding done. If you can't get it done on time it's not even that hourly labor cost, it just doesn't get done.
I just kind of buzz around helping people and discussing things, and hoping to catch inexperienced mistakes they make before it ends up costing us.
I really believe in trusting young people and giving them a chance to soar. You know, that's like for me what farming is all about. It's all about the fabric of society. It's about believing in people. It's about creating space where people can feel healthy and strong and that's what energizes us.
Our crew is busy all the time harvesting and planting and marketing, and as every vegetable farmer knows there's a time where you have to get weeding done. If you can't get it done on time it's not even that hourly labor cost, it just doesn't get done.
I just kind of buzz around helping people and discussing things, and hoping to catch inexperienced mistakes they make before it ends up costing us.
I really believe in trusting young people and giving them a chance to soar. You know, that's like for me what farming is all about. It's all about the fabric of society. It's about believing in people. It's about creating space where people can feel healthy and strong and that's what energizes us.
Show Links
David discussed the Hanley style hoop house that they use at Abundant Acres, and how they have modified it for New Brunswisck
Hoops for the Hanley-style hoop house are available from Multi Shelter Solutions on Ontario.
Hoops for the Hanley-style hoop house are available from Multi Shelter Solutions on Ontario.
Transcript
The transcript for this episode is brought to you by Earth Tools, offering the most complete selection of walk-behind farming equipment and high-quality garden tools in North America. And by Osborne Quality Seeds, a dedicated partner for growers. Visit osborneseed.com for high quality seed, industry-leading customer service, and fast order fulfillment. Additional funding for transcripts provided by North Central SARE, providing grants and education to advance innovations in Sustainable Agriculture.
