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
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
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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.
Quotes from the Show
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
Dave talked at length about Eliyahu Goldratt’s book, The Goal, a novel about how to make decisions for anything.