Dirt & Drive

If you sell eggs at the end of your driveway, bring your products to a farmers market, or have people visiting your property, are you actually covered?

In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with insurance broker Cheri Martinen to walk through the different types of insurance homesteaders, farmers, and small business owners need to think about. We cover what to consider when you're selling at farmers markets and vendor events, running a farm stand, or making a product you sell in person or online.

We also get into the situations people rarely think to ask about: insuring your tractor and equipment, renting out an Airbnb on your property, hosting weddings and events, and running seasonal attractions like a pumpkin patch. Cheri breaks it all down in plain language, without the jargon.

If you're building a homestead, growing a farm business, or just getting started with a farm stand, this episode will help you ask the right questions before something goes wrong.

In this episode we cover:

• Insurance for selling at farmers markets and vendor events
• Coverage to think about for farm stands and products you make and sell
• Protecting equipment like tractors
• Insurance for Airbnbs, weddings, and events on your property
• Coverage for visitors and seasonal attractions like pumpkin patches
• The insurance industry's "dirty little secret"

🛡️ Connect with Cheri Martinen:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575834316721

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-martinen-a6002725/

Instagram handle – cheri_martinen

Amazon Books - https://amzn.to/4ATk4to (affiliate)

Cheri Martinen – cherimartinen.com

Bancorp Insurance – Bancorpinsurance.com

🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive: 

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean.
 
We sometimes share affiliate links to products mentioned and recommended in our podcast episodes, and if you click the link and purchase we make a small commission. All opinions are our own. Thanks for listening! This episode is for educational purposes only and isn't professional insurance advice. Talk to a licensed agent about your specific situation.

At what point does a vendor selling candles at craft fairs decide it's time to open an actual store? For Janet, owner of Dixie Delight Country Produce Store in Hiram, Georgia, that leap came after years of building her candle business one festival at a time.

In this episode of Dirt & Drive, Janet walks us through that transition - from a table at craft fairs and vendor events to owning a full storefront filled with local produce, meats, honey, sourdough, pottery, and dozens of other local vendors. We also talk about a major setback along the way: the county took her original building through eminent domain, forcing her to start over. Today, she and her team operate out of the big red building on Bill Carruth Parkway - the one you can't miss, with a yard full of concrete statues and birdbaths out front.

We dig into how she made the shift from making everything herself to curating a store full of other local makers and farms, and what it actually takes to manage a business like this day to day.

If you've ever sold at a market or craft fair and wondered what it would take to open your own store, this episode walks through exactly what that transition looks like.

In this episode we cover:

Going from selling candles at craft fairs to owning a full retail store
Surviving eminent domain and rebuilding the business from scratch
Transitioning from making everything yourself to working with local vendors
What it takes to manage a store with dozens of local products under one roof
What life inside Dixie Delight Country Produce Store looks like today

🍎 Follow Dixie Delight Country Produce Store:

https://www.facebook.com/dixiefarmersmarket

https://tiktok.com/@dixiedelightproduce

https://instagram.com/dixiedelightproduce

🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive: 

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

She was looking for goats. Instead, someone online was trying to give away a few alpacas... and Laura said yes. That one decision turned into L&R Alpaca Haven Farm, a full-blown alpaca rescue and breeding operation in Douglasville, Georgia.

In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with Laura to talk about how her farm grew from a spontaneous rescue into something much bigger. We cover what it actually takes to care for alpacas day to day: feeding, health, and handling their wool, and how rescue work is different from simply running a farm to turn a profit.

We also dig into how she funds it all: applying for grants, partnering with local businesses for fundraising, and hosting events right on the property! Including alpaca yoga, glass blowing, sourdough bread classes, art classes, and seasonal events throughout the year. If you've ever wondered what it takes to run an animal rescue as a real, sustainable business... or you just want to know what alpaca yoga is actually like... this episode has it all.

In this episode we cover:

• How L&R Alpaca Haven Farm started with a spontaneous "yes" to free alpacas
• The difference between running a rescue and running a farm for profit
• Daily care: feeding, health, and handling alpaca wool
• Finding grants and fundraising through local business partnerships
• Hosting events like alpaca yoga, glass blowing, and sourdough classes to fund the rescue

🦙 Follow L&R Alpaca Haven Farm:

https://www.silverliningsanimalrescueinc.org/

https://www.facebook.com/LRAlpacaHaven

https://www.instagram.com/lralpacahaven


🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive: 

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://www.tiktok.com/@lralpaca

🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

#AlpacaRescue #AlpacaYoga #DouglasvilleGA #AnimalRescue #GeorgiaFarm #DirtAndDrive

What does it actually take to turn a handful of backyard cows into a real, licensed, USDA-inspected beef business?

In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with the woman behind Ithica Beef, a small farm in Villa Rica, Georgia, selling six to seven cows a month straight from their own pasture to their on-site store. We talk about how it all started, what it took to get USDA licensed, approved, and inspected, and the real startup costs behind building a beef business from scratch. 

We also get into the relationships that make this business worth it: why she loves hearing from customers that her beef doesn't upset their stomach the way store-bought meat does, and the pride of building something with her husband, right on their own property.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to running an actual beef business, this episode walks through it start to finish.

In this episode we cover:

• How Ithica Beef got started, from a few backyard cows to a full operation
• Getting USDA licensed, approved, and inspected: the real process and costs
• What it takes to start raising and selling cattle
• Building trust and relationships with customers
• Running a family business, side by side, on their own land

🐄 Visit Ithica Beef: 

https://www.ithicabeef.com/

https://www.facebook.com/p/Ithica-Beef-100064569053709/

https://www.instagram.com/ithicabeef/

https://www.pinterest.com/ithicabeef/

🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive: 

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

Three years ago, a husband and wife team took their entire retirement savings and bet it all on a small local market. The first two years weren't even profitable. Today, Jojo's Fresh Market in Paulding County, Georgia is finally starting to turn a corner, and it's become something much bigger than a grocery store.

In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with the couple behind Jojo's Fresh Market in Dallas, Georgia to talk about what it really costs to bet everything on a small business :financially and emotionally. We talk about how they built relationships with local farmers and even backyard gardeners, buying produce from people with nothing more than a small home garden. We get into how they decide which local vendors and products make it onto their shelves, what it takes for a small producer to get a foot in the door, and why they believe so deeply in supporting small over big.

If you've ever dreamed of opening your own store, getting your products into a local market, or you just want to hear an honest story about what it takes to keep going when the numbers aren't there yet, this episode is for you.

In this episode we cover:

• Betting their entire retirement on a business with no guarantee
• Surviving two years without profit
• How they source from small farmers and backyard gardeners
• What it takes for a small producer to get into a store like theirs
• Why they believe in small business over big distributors

🥬 Visit Jojo's Market: 

https://jojosfreshmarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/p/JoJos-Fresh-Market-61557779307554/

https://www.instagram.com/jojosfreshmarket/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/@jojosfreshmarket

🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive: 

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

Before "Stranger Things" made it famous, this farm was already a legacy in the making.

In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with the sisters behind Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm - the real-life corn maze and farmland where Stranger Things was filmed, including Hopper's cabin. But long before the cameras showed up, this was a Christmas tree farm started by their dad back in the 1970s.

We talk about what it was like watching their family land turn into a worldwide filming location, how it brought tourists from around the globe, and - more importantly -  how they've built a business that goes far beyond the fame. From pumpkin patches and escape rooms to birthday parties, farm photography, and animal encounters, this family has figured out how to turn every inch of their property into an experience that keeps people coming back all year long.

This is a story about hard work, family, and how a small homestead can grow into something bigger than anyone imagined -  Stranger Things or not.

In this episode we cover:

• How Sleepy Hollow Farm became a Stranger Things filming location
• Building Hopper's cabin and hosting the corn maze scenes
• Turning a Christmas tree farm into a year-round experience business
• Pumpkin patches, escape rooms, birthday parties, and more
• Why experiences - not just products - might be the future of the small family farm

Follow Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm: 

https://www.sleepyhollowtrees.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SleepyHollowTrees

https://www.instagram.com/sleepy_hollow_farm/

https://www.escapewoods.com/

Follow Dirt& Drive:

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

Before there was Dragon Creek Ranch, there was years of grinding... eBay flipping, estate sales, a brutal home sale, and a closing that almost didn't happen twice. And even after we finally got here, a family setback nearly made us lose it all before we ever got started.

In the middle of all of that, I was also quietly losing a battle with my own skin. Years of rosacea and eczema, hundreds of dollars spent on prescriptions and creams, nothing working. Then somebody recommended tallow. My reaction? "Ew. Absolutely not." Thirty days later I caved. And three days after that, my skin started clearing up for the first time in years.

This is the full origin story of Dragon Creek Ranch. The grind, the setbacks, the skin transformation, and the wedding favor that accidentally launched a business. If you've ever wondered why I do this... this is your answer.

Grab your coffee. Pull up a chair. This one's personal. 

Follow Dirt& Drive:

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

Thinking about selling at farmers markets, festivals, or vendor events? This episode walks you through every single step: from getting your business license and the right insurance, to setting up your booth, prepping for weather, taking payments, and capturing customers after the event. I'm sharing exactly what I did to go from zero to $900 in sales at my very first event. Whether you make soap, skincare, food, or crafts... this is the setup guide I wish I'd had.

Follow Dirt& Drive:

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

In this episode, I talk with Jessica Bowman from White Barn Farm about transitioning from a 7-year plant sale to their very first farm stand. We dive into what actually sells (hint: honey is #1), lessons from years of plant sales, and what it really takes to run a successful farm stand. 

If you're thinking about selling plants, honey, or farm goods, this one is for you!

Follow Jessica Bowman/White Barn Farm:

https://www.tiktok.com/@white.barn.farm.nh

https://www.instagram.com/whitebarnfarmnh

Follow Dirt& Drive:

https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod

https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod

https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod

Follow Dragon Creek Ranch:

Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org

https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch

https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch

https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch

https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up.

Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts.

Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

At the local farmers market I asked 15 different vendors one simple question: What's your #1 tip for selling at farmers markets? 

Their answers were honest and practical. This is real advice from real vendors on what actually works at farmers markets. 

If you're thinking about starting at farmers markets or you're already selling and want to do better, this video is packed with real advice from people actually doing it. 

I'm currently building a tallow business from our small family farm, and this is part of documenting that journey ... learning what works, what doesn't, and how to grow something real. 

In this podcast episode you'll hear:

1. What actually helps vendors make sales
2. Common mistakes to avoid
3. Real world tips from unexpected sellers
4. What successful booths do differently

If you've ever thought about selling at a farmers market, start here. 

About us: 

Dirt & Drive is all about turning a small homestead into a real business. We're building a small farm-based business centered around traditional, simple skincare like a grass-fed tallow soaps. 

http://dragoncreek.org

Thank you to the vendors who work so hard and shared their knowledge with us: 

1. My husband - thank you sweetheart!
2. Nests & Knots
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587086810134
3. Cartecay Candle Co.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071346567246
4. Sugar Pike Soap Co.
https://www.facebook.com/susan.shepard.350455
5. Story Rocks
6. John Jennings
7. Fat Bastard Coffee
https://www.fatbastardcoffee.shop/
8. Hey Hunni LLC
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090441513379
9. Mother's Hearth Bakery
https://app.simply-bread.co/mothershearthbakery/
10. Chris's Camo Rub
11. New Hope Black Walnut Farm

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089601051253
12. Arlowe's Bakehouse
https://www.facebook.com/arlowesbakehouse/
13. Paw Pals Accessories
14. StephScott Crochet
15. Ellijay Farmers Market
https://www.facebook.com/ellijayfarmers/