Dave Chapman got his start at Long Wind Farm in 1984 with a team of oxen, a diverse array of vegetables, and a roadside stand in East Thetford, Vermont. Today, he only grows tomatoes – and lots of them!
With 2.5 acres of greenhouses, Dave and his crew produce certified organic, soil-grown tomatoes all year ‘round. Dave digs in to the nuts and bolts of producing tomatoes in protected culture. He shares the details of his high-tech greenhouse system, Long Wind Farm’s fertility management strategies, and how Dave learned to get out of the way of his farm’s success while managing business and personal goals that were often in conflict with each other.
Dave also shares his views on the current state of the National Organic Program, organic hydroponics, and the organic livestock rules, and talks about the action being taken to try to change the situation.
With 2.5 acres of greenhouses, Dave and his crew produce certified organic, soil-grown tomatoes all year ‘round. Dave digs in to the nuts and bolts of producing tomatoes in protected culture. He shares the details of his high-tech greenhouse system, Long Wind Farm’s fertility management strategies, and how Dave learned to get out of the way of his farm’s success while managing business and personal goals that were often in conflict with each other.
Dave also shares his views on the current state of the National Organic Program, organic hydroponics, and the organic livestock rules, and talks about the action being taken to try to change the situation.
Sponsors
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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.
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
I think a part of me wants to figure out how to make a living, but I also think there's another part of me that wants to be proud of my farm, and another part that wants to feel like the farm couldn't survive without my important contributions, and another part that wants people to like me. And the thing is, all these parts have different goals.
All the farmers I know are really overworked, and it's difficult to make a living, but that very thing of being overworked is part of what makes it difficult to make a living.
Who knows what would happen if I got hit by that truck tomorrow? Probably, we would discover I was good for something, but I don't think that the farm would stumble in the short run.
It's just a foundational management skill is to be able to have some control of the numbers to see what's happening. And not all those numbers have dollar signs on them.
It's much easier to sell the truth.
All the farmers I know are really overworked, and it's difficult to make a living, but that very thing of being overworked is part of what makes it difficult to make a living.
Who knows what would happen if I got hit by that truck tomorrow? Probably, we would discover I was good for something, but I don't think that the farm would stumble in the short run.
It's just a foundational management skill is to be able to have some control of the numbers to see what's happening. And not all those numbers have dollar signs on them.
It's much easier to sell the truth.
Show Links
Go to keepthesoilinorganic.org to find out about rallies in your area, submit comments about keeping the soil in organic, and to sign the petition that Dave will take to the next NOSB meeting.
Dave talked at length about Eliyahu Goldratt’s book, The Goal, a novel about how to make decisions for anything.
Dave talked at length about Eliyahu Goldratt’s book, The Goal, a novel about how to make decisions for anything.
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 Rock 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 by CoolBot, allowing you to build an affordable walk-in cooler powered by a window air-conditioning unit. Save $20 on your CoolBot when you visit farmertofarmerpodcast.com/coolbot. Additional funding for transcripts provided by North Central SARE, providing grants and education to advance innovations in Sustainable Agriculture.
