Join us at the Farm Resort in White Wright, Texas on April 27th and 28th for an event that will transform your farming skills. Learn from JM Fortier, an experienced market farmer and speaker. Get ready for workshops on boosting farm productivity, soil management, and innovative growing techniques. You'll also have the opportunity to see hands-on demos with the latest farming tools and techniques. Connect with local farmers, share insights, and grow together. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts, expand your network, and be part of a groundbreaking event. Get your tickets here ➡️ https://www.farmresort.com/learn

This talk with returning guests from Bouldin Food Forest. Vanessa Bates and Ben McConnell are for individuals interested in or currently engaged in market farming and navigating the new challenges and opportunities that come with being over 50. As we age, our physical capabilities can change, and once straightforward tasks may become more demanding. This discussion will delve into practical ways to adapt farming practices to suit mobility and physical strength changes, ensuring that farming remains a rewarding and feasible endeavor even after reaching this milestone age. We'll cover specific challenges that farmers over 50 might face, such as decreased stamina, joint pain, or other mobility issues, and explore modifications to traditional farming techniques that can help alleviate these problems. This includes leveraging technology, adjusting farm layouts for efficiency, and adopting less physically demanding farming methods. Additionally, the talk will highlight the benefits of continuing to farm after 50, such as staying active, maintaining a connection to the land, and the satisfaction of producing food. We'll also touch on potential pitfalls, like the risk of injury or burnout, and how to avoid them. Whether you're a seasoned farmer looking to adjust your practices as you age or considering farming later in life, this talk will provide valuable insights and strategies for making the most of farming in your prime years after 50.

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In September 2023, Bouldin Food Forest faced a test of strength and spirit when ferocious winds tore through their farm, ravaging structures and leaving chaos in their wake. In this heartfelt video, Vanessa and Ben unveil the reality of severe weather impacts on agriculture and share a powerful testament to resilience and recovery. Watch as they recount the moment destruction hit and how they rose from the ruins, drawing on community support and unwavering resolve. Their tale goes beyond farming—it's about facing adversity, harnessing inner strength, and human connection. This is a must-see if you've ever wondered how to brace for the unexpected or recover from a devastating setback. Join us as we witness Bouldin Food Forest's remaking and rebirth, told by two of the strongest farmers Bootstrap Farmer has ever met. 💪 Experience the power of coming back stronger and being inspired by the community togetherness. ✅ Like, Share, and Subscribe for more stories like this. ➡️ Don't forget to hit the notification bell so you won't miss out on our future videos. #Agriculture #ExtremeWeather #FarmResilience #RecoveryStory #FoodForest #CaterpillarTunnel #HoopHouse #FarmingCommunity #Strength #BouldinFoodForest #marketgarden https://bouldinfoodforest.com www.bootstrapfarmer.com

Meet Ben and Vanessa of Bouldin Food Forest serving the Austin, Texas market. Bouldin Food Forest grows rich, nutrient-dense food using regenerative agriculture methods. It’s a throwback to when agriculture was about craftsmanship, not industrial mechanization and chemicals favored by today’s large factory farms. The result: beautiful vegetables and a surrounding ecosystem that flourishes. Bootstrap Farmer has had the pleasure of spending several days at Bouldin Food Forest over the last few months, and we have been blown away by the quality of their crops, the organization of their farm, and the effortless grit with which they operate. Comment below your biggest takeaways from this great interview with some true heroes of agriculture. Follow Vanessa and Ben on IG

 https://www.instagram.com/bouldinfoodforest

 Check out their AirBnB:

 https://persimmonhill.farm/

and farm at:

 https://bouldinfoodforest.com

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The Greenhouse and Hoop House Grower's Handbook What crops make the most money in a Hoop House? What options do farmers need when growing year-round? What are ways big growers leverage every square inch of protected culture? Andrew Mefferd, the author of The Greenhouse and Hoop House Growers Handbook, discussed his motivation and observations in writing the required reading growing manual for any market gardener.

 https://growingformarket.com/

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:30 Origin of The Greenhouse and Hoop House Grower's Handbook

08:50 Increasing Yields

11:00 Tomatoes

59:31 Cold Weather Growing

01:22:30 Sunlight

01:31:57 Plant Fertility

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 #bootstrapfarmer #greenhouse #hoophouse #protectedculture #CEA #polytunnel #lowtunnel #cattunnel #caterpillartunnel #marketgardener #farming

We dive deep. And we mean deep into how hybrid seeds are developed and brought to market with Andrew Mefferd. Andrew is the owner/editor of Growing For Market Magazine, author of The Greenhouse and Hoop House Grower's Handbook, and served many years at the trial farm at Johnny's Selected Seeds. His intense knowledge of seeds and the seed industry makes this interview the end all discussions on hybrid seeds.

Please note that this podcast was recorded several weeks before the GMO Purple tomato announcement in early February 2024.

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A family reunion of sorts, Bootstrap Farmer welcomes Andrew Mefferd, publisher of Growing for Market Magazine and author of The Greenhouse and Hoop House Grower's Handbook, to the studio, along with Bootstrap Farmers Director of Sales Randy Cummings & Customer Service Specialist Kari Danial. Host Nick, Randy, and Andrew have known each other for close to 12 years and have worked on many projects in the small ag space. This in-person meet-up was long overdue, and this conversation covered many topics related to small farm producers. Here you go if you want to know what farm nerds talk about after hours. From how technology is being presented to small farms, emerging markets, new farm product trends, and consumer diets, we get multiple perspectives of what we're paying attention to.

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https://growingformarket.com/

Bootstrap Farmers in residence Karl Binger and Michael Bell discuss four seasons growing in their market gardens under cover structures. 

Learn how low tunnels, cat tunnels, and hoop houses are used to scale up local food production.

Check out the new Caterpillar Tunnel Design with Butterfly Doors from Bootstrap Farmer at:

bootstrapfarmer.com/products/cat-tunnel

In this reaction video, the Bootstrap Farmer Podcast crew dives deeper into the JM Fortier interview with Bootstrap Farmer            ( https://youtu.be/Kd_jZnRaQbk ) and discus individual takeaways from  @TheMarketGardeners 

TIMESTAMPS: 00:17 Intro 00:45 Farm Sustainability 09:59 School and Healthy Living 19:45 Increasing Greenhouse Production 27:38 Keeping Your Market Small 34:30 Writing The Market Gardener

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Being a Market Gardener means serving our buyers where they are most likely to convert into repeatable sales at prices to keep you thriving in your agricultural business. In this episode, we look at many sales opportunities small farms have to serve their markets through traditional farmers markets, direct-to-consumer delivery, partnerships, and added-value products. Join Michael Bell of Dallas Half Acre Farm, Karl Binger from Paris Natural Farm, and Nick and Kari from Bootstrap farmer as we explore new options for farmer sales channels.

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