Farming certainly keeps you on your toes. Just when you think everything is going your way, life throws you a curve ball. That's certainly alright. It is not what happens to you, it is how you deal with it. I was recently thrown a curve ball regarding a delivery and storage of 4,000 pounds of chicken feed. It's alright, I dealt with it, well, I'm dealing with it, and I talk about that a little in today's farm podcast episode.

It is not just the weather and unfortunate circumstances that keep you on your toes. Owning and operating a farm business will exercise your mind in ways that you never imagined. Part of owning and operating that business is farm marketing. Actually it's a serious part of your business. Marketing is about making more money. It is about selling products. It is also about building a community around your farm that involves not only your customers, but like-minded businesses as well.

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In this farm podcast you will learn:

• An instant cash source for your farm
• The best time for sending out e-mails
• Strategies for getting media exposure
• What "glamping" is
• Why you should market your marketing efforts
• When you should be building your e-mail list
• The power of delegation

Interview Billiam Von Roestenberg of Liberty View Farm, Hudson, NY

Billiam van Roestenberg left the Big Apple behind to purchase Liberty View Farm in 1999. His innovation "Lease a Tree" naturally brings a greater awareness and connection between farmer and consumer. The success of this unique farm experience has garnished a lot of attention including Travel + LeisureMagazine "America's Top Ten Apple Picking Farm." Farmer Billiam & Farmer Rene’s organically grown apple orchard is one of the few in the Northeast.

Billiam organized the Historic Same Sex Weddings in New Paltz, NY where he was the first same sex couple married east of San Fransisco. In that same year of 2004 he ran for political office.  In 2000 he became Vice Chair of the Democratic Committee in Southern Ulster County; and sat on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 5 years.

Billiam has been featured on television, many newspapers, magazines and books. A community farm activist he currently sits on the Board of Eat Local Food. Billiam can be heard on his radio show and his blogs, "The Frugal Farmer" and "Cultivating Community and Farmers", where he speaks to the importance of being politically involved. Recently he was voted and won a national recognition by the Huffington Post.

Items mentioned in this farm podcast include:

• Liberty View Farm
• E-Mail Marketing with Aweber (it's what I use)
• QR Code Creator
• Air B&B
• Union Square Farmers' Market
• Morrison Feeds

How to use free QR codes:

1. Go to this page: http://www.qrstuff.com/ (or any similar site)
2. Fill in the necessary fields.
3. Download your QR code image.
4. Add that QR code into your marketing materials, or use it to send people on a self-guided tour of your farm.

Take aways:

Are you working with others to market your farm?

Can't get into a farmers' market? Ever thought of starting your own?

Sick of telling the same story a million times? What have you done to tell your story besides speak it yourself?

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My skills are ever-evolving as an interviewer. Thanks for taking the time to listen in, and let me know what you think. You can leave a comment below, send me an e-mail, reach me on Facebook or Twitter, or leave a 5 star rating in iTunes if you liked the show.

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