Does a farm run by its workers affect its success and how it operates?  In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael talks with Hannah Breckbill, who helped start Humble Hands Harvest. This organic farm in Northeast Iowa is run by its workers. Now in her 12th year, Hannah and her team practice no-till farming, showing their dedication to sustainable food and supporting the local community.   Listen in to find out how Hannah runs this community-focused, worker-owned farm.   You’ll hear:  How Hannah got started in sustainable agriculture 1:00 About Humble Hands’ journey to owning land  5:01 What Certified Organic means to Hannah 8:51 About what the help on the farm is like as a worker-owned farm 11:06 More about the biggest challenges Humble Hands faces with their business model 18:37 About what kind of education/encouragement they offer the queer farming community 29:38 What Hannah’s advice is for beginning farmers 31:43    About the Guest: Hannah is starting her 12th season with Humble Hands Harvest, a worker-owned vegetable farm growing food for the people of Decorah, Iowa. She holds a vision of a cooperative food web that regenerates rural livelihood as well as soil and ecosystems. She launched the Queer Farmer Convergence in 2018 and loves to be gathered on the land with fellow farmers and land stewards. Resources: Website - https://humblehandsharvest.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/humblehandsharvest  Facebook - facebook.com/humblehandsharvest   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! At our Growing Farmers store, planting season is in full swing! A treasure trove of plant starts and cuttings await. Our team is shipping everything from elderberry and willow cuttings to strawberry starts and potato slips.  So if you’ve been eyeing that sunny spot by the fence or considering how to fill that quiet corner of your yard, look not further. Visit shop.growingfarmers.com today for the first step towards a greener, more fruitful farmstead or garden.

280. Hannah Breckbill on Collaborative Farm Ownership

If you’re looking to build a profitable farm that works, The Thriving Farmer Podcast is for you. Learn the latest tricks and strategies from successful farmers, strategize with in-depth interviews with leaders in the industry, and connect with stories of farmers just like you.  With over 15 years of farming background, your host Michael Kilpatrick has the experience and authority to bring you practical advice, ask the hard questions, tease out the gold nuggets, and help share what it’s really like to build a truly profitable, sustainable farm. In the interviews, we focus on building farms that last, setting up your systems, knowing your customers, building your team, and treading that ever-challenging work/family/life balance.

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 How can a zero-waste ecosystem benefit both the environment and the local community?   In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael welcomes Will Harris, a fourth-generation farmer and the owner of White Oak Pastures. His regenerative farm maintains a zero-waste ecosystem that supports 10 species of animals and produces everything from high-quality meats to organic fertilizers, demonstrating their commitment to land, livestock, and community.  Tune in to hear about Will’s journey from an industrial cattle operation to a zero-waste regenerative farm.   Episode Highlights:  Will's Farming Journey: Discover how Will’s farming journey began. [2:56] Joining Whole Foods: Explore how Will began his journey with Whole Foods. [6:56] On-Farm Processing: Discover the premise behind White Oak Pastures' on-farm processing [11:24] Their Commitment: Learn how White Oak Pastures implements its zero-waste policy. [21:01] The White Oak Team: Get insights into the size and structure of the White Oak team. [30:01] A Bold Return to Giving a Damn: Understand what inspired Will to write his book. [37:40] The Joe Rogan Experience: Explore how Will ended up on the Joe Rogan podcast. [39:12] Future of White Oak: Discover Will's vision for the future of White Oak Pastures. [44:36]    About the Guest:   Will Harris is a fourth-generation cattleman, who tends the same land that his great-grandfather settled in 1866. Born and raised at White Oak Pastures, Will left home to attend the University of Georgia's School of Agriculture, where he was trained in the industrial farming methods that had taken hold after World War II. Will graduated in 1976 and returned to Bluffton where he and his father continued to raise cattle using pesticides, herbicides, hormones, and antibiotics. In 1995, Will made the audacious decision to return to the farming methods his great-grandfather had used 130 years before. Since Will has successfully implemented these changes, he has been recognized all over the world as a leader in humane animal husbandry and environmental sustainability.      Connect with White Oak Pastures:  Website: Visit White Oak Pastures Instagram: Follow on Instagram Facebook: Like on Facebook  Will's Book: A Bold Return to Giving a Damn    Don’t miss out on this insightful discussion about the amazing transformation of White Oak Pastures!   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor, Farmhand! When it comes to buying a truck, you don't look for parts and try to build it yourself. You want something ready to ride. So why settle for parts when it comes to your farm management? In a world filled with parts vendors, Farmhand is the only all-in-one virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. With one single platform, Farmhand helps ensure that even small, local farms can access the same level of support and technology typically reserved for larger factory farms. The best part? Farmhand’s ready-to-ride platform comes with zero startup costs or long-term commitments. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/podcast.

283. Will Harris on the Shift from Industrial to Zero-Waste Regenerative Farming

 What could you achieve with an extra 10 hours each week on your farm?   In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael welcomes Ari Memar, the founder and CEO of Farmhand. Ari combines his tech expertise with a passion for sustainable agriculture to help local farmers boost their profits and cut down their workload, all through innovative technology.   Tune in to discover how this unique service can help you save time and money!   Episode Highlights:    Ari's Farming Journey: Discover how Ari transitioned from tech enthusiast to farming innovator. [1:41]  Exploring Farmhand: Learn how Farmhand supports farmers and enhances agricultural practices. [5:53]  Farmhand in Action: Hear how farmers use Farmhand to streamline their operations and boost business. [16:17]  Simplicity and Accessibility: Find out what makes Farmhand a user-friendly solution for modern farmers. [18:57]  Custom Solutions: Dive into the customization options Farmhand offers to meet diverse farming needs. [21:25]  Website Building: Explore Farmhand’s approach to creating effective, farm-focused websites. [27:22]    About the Guest:   Ari Memar is not just the mind behind Farmhand; he's also a hobby farmer in Sebastopol, California. There, he cultivates a variety of fruits and vegetables, applying his tech background to foster a sustainable local food ecosystem.   Connect with Farmhand:    Website: Visit Farmhand  Instagram: Follow on Instagram  Facebook: Like on Facebook     Don’t miss out on this insightful discussion about blending technology with traditional farming to create a thriving agricultural business!   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor, Farmhand! When it comes to buying a truck, you don't look for parts and try to build it yourself. You want something ready to ride. So why settle for parts when it comes to your farm management? In a world filled with parts vendors, Farmhand is the only all-in-one virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. With one single platform, Farmhand helps ensure that even small, local farms can access the same level of support and technology typically reserved for larger factory farms. The best part? Farmhand’s ready-to-ride platform comes with zero startup costs or long-term commitments. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/podcast.

282. Ari Memar on Saving Time and Increasing Revenue with Farmhand

 How can suburban spaces transform into sustainable farming hubs? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Bri Bosch who runs Blossom & Branch Farm in Colorado. On 1.7 acres in the suburbs of Denver, Briana and her husband have been blending budget-friendly farming with environmental stewardship, and offering educational classes and sustainable wedding florals. Listen in to hear how Bri incorporates cover crops, plastic-free practices, and holistic animal grazing to produce healthy soil and beautiful flowers.   You’ll hear:  What it’s like to farm in the suburbs 1:39 Why and how Bri’s farm has gone plastic-free 14:34 About the mulch they use on their garden 17:23 More about their unique seed starting process using wool 21:44 What the current main focuses are on the farm right now 29:53 About the types of classes they offer 32:22 More about how Briana manages the farm’s social media 58:04    About the Guest: Briana is a fifth generation farmer running her own regenerative flower farm Blossom and Branch Farm near Denver, Colorado. She emphasizes cost saving practices that also consider the health of the planet and soil as top priorities.  Resources: Website - www.blossomandbranchfarm.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blossomandbranchfarm  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@blossomandbranch  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/discover/blossom-and-branch-farm   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor, FarmHand! When it comes to buying a truck, you don't look for parts and try to build it yourself. You want something ready to ride. So why settle for parts when it comes to your farm management? In a world filled with parts vendors, Farmhand is the only all-in-one virtual assistant built by and for independent farmers. With one single platform, Farmhand helps ensure that even small, local farms can access the same level of support and technology typically reserved for larger factory farms. The best part? Farmhand’s ready-to-ride platform comes with zero startup costs or long-term commitments. Learn more and take the quiz to see how much you can save at farmhand.partners/podcast.

281. Briana Bosch on Sustainability, Sheep, and Suburban Farming

What are the key benefits of integrating advanced technology into greenhouse construction? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Josh Holleb who is the Systems Integration Specialist at Ceres Greenhouse Solutions. Josh combines his construction and farming expertise to help create sustainable growing spaces that blend technology with smart design. Tune in to hear about sustainable greenhouses that blend technology with smart design.  You’ll hear:  How Josh got into greenhouses 0:51 More about the types of greenhouses they build 2:29 About the estimated costs for Ceres’ greenhouse designs 13:07 What are the biggest principles Josh has learned while working with Ceres 17:44 About the new markets Ceres has been exploring 22:17 More about The Vesta 23:46 How Ceres’ practices integrate with permaculture 30:12    About the Guest: Josh Holleb has been working at the intersection of construction and agriculture for over 15 years. From running organic farms to building permaculture sites to growing Ceres greenhouse Solutions as a business, he tries to combine good design with smart farming techniques to help people and businesses succeed in creating efficient growing environments. Resources: Website -  www.ceresgs.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/CerescannGreenhouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CeresgreenhousesFacebook - Ceres Greenhouse Solutions   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! At our Growing Farmers store, planting season is in full swing! A treasure trove of plant starts and cuttings await. Our team is shipping everything from elderberry and willow cuttings to strawberry starts and potato slips.  So if you’ve been eyeing that sunny spot by the fence or considering how to fill that quiet corner of your yard, look not further. Visit shop.growingfarmers.com today for the first step towards a greener, more fruitful farmstead or garden.

280. Hannah Breckbill on Collaborative Farm Ownership

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