Jen Aron is an agroecologist and owner of Blue Raven Farm in Corbett, Oregon. She also worked as a farm educator for seven years with Oregon State University Extension. About five years ago, Jen wrote four articles for Growing for Market Magazine talking about how she built her farm on raw land east of Portland, Oregon, focusing on creating a healthy soil ecosystem and dealing with a whole slew of pest and disease problems along the way.

The thread running through Jen’s work and her articles is both the wonder and the power of healthy soil to grow healthy crops, and how to deal with the challenges we have in farming through soil-based solutions. So, I wasn’t entirely surprised to hear that Jen recently went through an intensive 650-plus hour agro-ecology course with Nicole Masters, which has completely reshaped how she approaches on-farm consulting, education, nutrient applications, biology, soil testing, and weed management. Listen to this podcast episode for a deep dive into soil health and hear how Jen is applying what she’s learned at the decade mark of Blue Raven Farm.

Connect With Guest:

Free article by Jen Aron from Growing for Market Magazine: Microbes for land repair: A 5-year eco-farming trial

Website: blueravenfarm.org

Instagram: @blue_raven_farm

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

Seven Springs Farm Supply is a farm-based supply company focused on serving market gardeners and has been in business for 35 years. Our catalog includes a comprehensive selection of approved-for-organic fertilizers, pest & disease controls, growing mixes, cover crop seed, and more. We offer custom fertilizer blending and seasonal cooperative purchasing opportunities, and our experienced team is ready to help guide you to the best solution for your farm's needs. Request a free paper catalog and learn more at sevenspringsfarmsupply.com or give us a call at (540) 651-3228. 
 

Tired of breakdowns and not knowing if your old Farmall or Allis G will start? Consider the Tilmor Super E - the electric cultivating tractor built for market growers. With up to 8 hours of runtime, the Super E uses a 48-volt electric system that’s quiet, easy to operate, and dependable. No gas, no noise, no constant repairs and cheaper to operate than a gas tractor. It delivers reliable power that reduces manual labor and keeps your crew motivated. Learn more and see the Super E in action at Tilmor.com.

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.
 

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.
 

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

When Elizabeth Lutz Kelly’s flower growing hobby turned into a business, it outgrew the space she had available in her yard in Akron, Ohio. Even though there wasn’t a lot of open space, she asked around her neighborhood and found places that could be growing crops that weren’t. Thus she was able to expand her business with one of the most viable strategies for growing a farm without having to buy more land.

In this interview we hear about Elizabeth’s strategies for growing a lot of flowers in a small area, what crops she grows and how she markets them locally. We also hear about how her dahlia breeding project has led to submitting a variety for possible naming by the American Dahlia Society. We also hear why she’s planting more perennials for cut flowers all year round, how she moves them through her farmstand, and more in this week’s interview with host April Parms Jones!

Connect With Guest:
Website: happydragonflowerfarm.com
Instagram: @happydragonflowerfarm
Facebook: Akron Garden Share

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

This episode is brought to you by Tend, the all-in-one, AI-powered farm management platform trusted by modern growers. Tend helps you cut through the busywork, so you can focus on growing and selling what matters. With Tend, you can plan your crops, assign and track tasks, manage inventory, and handle your sales and accounting, all in one smart, easy-to-use platform. Whether you run a 1-acre farm or manage a large operation, Tend adapts to your scale and style, supporting everything from manual labor to fully mechanized workflows. Try it for free at Tend.com, no credit card required.

Tired of breakdowns and not knowing if your old Farmall or Allis G will start? Consider the Tilmor Super E - the electric cultivating tractor built for market growers. With up to 8 hours of runtime, the Super E uses a 48-volt electric system that’s quiet, easy to operate, and dependable. No gas, no noise, no constant repairs and cheaper to operate than a gas tractor. It delivers reliable power that reduces manual labor and keeps your crew motivated. Learn more and see the Super E in action at Tilmor.com.

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.
 

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

This week we welcome Emily Grassie, the Director of Food Access Programs at the Maine Federation of Farmers Markets (MFFM) to talk about Harvest Bucks, an innovative program that helps SNAP recipients double their dollars when spent at farmers markets. MFFM works to fund and administer the program so when SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) shoppers use their benefits at participating farmers markets, CSA farms, farm stands, and food co-ops, they receive “bonus bucks” (usually in the form of a coupon) to redeem for fruits and vegetables.

These “bonus bucks” add a percentage to the value of their SNAP benefits, up to doubling the benefits at farmers markets. This is the type of program that could be set up in other areas to increase income for farmers while helping those with food assistance afford more fruits and vegetables. Emily tells us about how the program started, how it works now, and the recent challenges with the uncertainty of grant funding.

Connect With Guest:

Website: mainefarmersmarkets.org

Instagram: @mainefarmersmarkets

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

Tired of breakdowns and not knowing if your old Farmall or Allis G will start? Consider the Tilmor Super E - the electric cultivating tractor built for market growers. With up to 8 hours of runtime, the Super E uses a 48-volt electric system that’s quiet, easy to operate, and dependable. No gas, no noise, no constant repairs and cheaper to operate than a gas tractor. It delivers reliable power that reduces manual labor and keeps your crew motivated. Learn more and see the Super E in action at Tilmor.com.

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

Seven Springs Farm Supply is a farm-based supply company focused on serving market gardeners and has been in business for 35 years. Our catalog includes a comprehensive selection of approved-for-organic fertilizers, pest & disease controls, growing mixes, cover crop seed, and more. We offer custom fertilizer blending and seasonal cooperative purchasing opportunities, and our experienced team is ready to help guide you to the best solution for your farm's needs. Request a free paper catalog and learn more at sevenspringsfarmsupply.com or give us a call at (540) 651-3228. 
 

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.
 

If you have never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is welcoming Growing for Market readers to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on January 13-14. Register at ascfg.org.

Flower pricing can be tricky with so many factors affecting value, between different crops, different markets and varying types of arrangements. You want to make sure you’re putting the price of your flowers high enough so you’re making a profit, but not so high that you price yourself out of the market. Listen to this week’s podcast with Lennie Larkin for pricing strategies to make sure you can keep your business going.

As a flower farmer herself and business coach for other flower farmers, Lennie put her experiences and business expertise into the book Flower Farming for Profit, and the Sell Your Flowers Summit, which you can attend for free starting November 20. In this conversation, we cover how to price the same blooms for different markets, how to de-commodify your flowers, and how to market them. If you know how to grow flowers but are anything less than confident in how to sell them, this conversation will help you develop the confidence to ask for a fair price for your blooms!

Connect With Guest:
Website: flowerfarmingforprofit.com
Instagram: @flowerfarming.forprofit
Sell Your Flowers Summit

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

This episode is brought to you by Tend, the all-in-one, AI-powered farm management platform trusted by modern growers. Tend helps you cut through the busywork, so you can focus on growing and selling what matters. With Tend, you can plan your crops, assign and track tasks, manage inventory, and handle your sales and accounting, all in one smart, easy-to-use platform. Whether you run a 1-acre farm or manage a large operation, Tend adapts to your scale and style, supporting everything from manual labor to fully mechanized workflows. Try it for free at Tend.com, no credit card required.

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

If you have never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is welcoming Growing for Market readers to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on January 13-14. Register at ascfg.org.

As the Vegetable and Berry Specialist at the University of Vermont for 35 years, Vern has a lot of experience with helping growers improve their high tunnel tomato production. One of the best ways to find out what is working on actual farms is with a survey- in 2024 Vern and his team did a survey of 48 tunnel tomato growers (heated and unheated) that included growing practices and yields, in order to correlate the best practices to the best yields.

In this conversation, we talk about the conclusions we can draw from this survey, highlighting the best practices and prioritizing the smallest changes that can have the biggest impact on yields. We discuss everything from variety selection to grafting, root zone heating, planting density and biological controls. Ultimately, the biggest changes came from: using the long-term high tunnel soil test, adding up to 4 drip lines per bed, improving ventilation with gable end vents and HAF fans, and automating roll-up sides. We break it all down with Vern and if you'd like to see the slides made from his study results, they're in the show notes below.

Connect With Guest:
Website with slides from the study: newenglandvfc.org
Instagram: @uvmextcommhort
 

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Seven Springs Farm Supply is a farm-based supply company focused on serving market gardeners and has been in business for 35 years. Our catalog includes a comprehensive selection of approved-for-organic fertilizers, pest & disease controls, growing mixes, cover crop seed, and more. We offer custom fertilizer blending and seasonal cooperative purchasing opportunities, and our experienced team is ready to help guide you to the best solution for your farm's needs. Request a free paper catalog and learn more at sevenspringsfarmsupply.com or give us a call at (540) 651-3228. 

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

If you have never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is welcoming Growing for Market readers to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on January 13-14. Register at ascfg.org.

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of @bcs_america on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost and more – visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

We get together with Nella Mae Parks and Maud Powell this week to discuss the challenges of farming in arid environments, and a new network they are forming for growers in those climates! Nella Mae and Maud are from dry parts of Oregon, and they are starting the Western Arid Growers Network (WAGN) to facilitate farmer-to-farmer learning for arid growers. A lot of people think “rainy” when they hear “Oregon.” But Nella Mae and Maud share stories from their own farms to illustrate the peculiarities of farming in their climate, which has low rainfall and wide temperature swings from hot days to cold nights.

They also tell us about a Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) grant they are working together on, highlighting the role of the SARE program in supporting sustainable agriculture and the launch of the WAGN. Their SARE project will use on-farm research with moisture monitors to help growers in arid climates evaluate how much water they actually need to use for optimum crop growth. This is particularly important in arid environments where water is limited- if less water could be used without compromising growth, that would make the water that is available go further. Stay tuned for the results of this research project.

Connect With Guest:
Website: aridgrowers.org
Instagram: @aridgrowernetwork
 

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

This episode is brought to you by Tend, the all-in-one, AI-powered farm management platform trusted by modern growers. Tend helps you cut through the busywork, so you can focus on growing and selling what matters. With Tend, you can plan your crops, assign and track tasks, manage inventory, and handle your sales and accounting, all in one smart, easy-to-use platform. Whether you run a 1-acre farm or manage a large operation, Tend adapts to your scale and style, supporting everything from manual labor to fully mechanized workflows. Try it for free at Tend.com, no credit card required.
 

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last.  Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

If you have never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is welcoming Growing for Market readers to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on January 13-14. Register at ascfg.org.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of @bcs_america on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost and more – visit bcsamerica.com to find sale pricing and your nearest dealer.

Sarah Gretsinger worked for other farms for over a decade before starting her urban farm, The Kale Next Door, on the land around her house in Akron, Ohio. Hear how she scaled down techniques she had practiced on larger farms in order to grow intensively on a small land base. Host April Parms Jones, one of Sarah’s CSA customers, gets all the details of how Sarah gets the most out of not a lot of space.

They do a deep dive on garlic, just in time for garlic planting season. Sarah outlines the practices she uses to encourage healthy soil, and explains how flowers fit in with the veggies in her CSA. Sarah also discusses the ways urban farming can help relocalize the food system and how others who have land in urban areas can start growing on it or make it available to others to help solve the issue of land access.

Connect With Guest:
Instagram: @thekalenextdoor

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.
 

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.
 

Discover innovative packaging solutions at A-ROO Company, your one-stop shop for customizable and eco-friendly packaging across various industries, including floral, produce, and specialty packaging. Explore stylish and eco-friendly Kraft Paper Sleeves and sheets at shop.a-roo.com today and enjoy an exclusive 15% discount with code "GFM15" for Growing For Market listeners. When it comes to quality and innovation, A-ROO Company is the name you can trust.
 

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

If you have never attended an ASCFG Conference, there is no better time to invest in yourself! The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers is welcoming Growing for Market readers to register at the ASCFG member rate for the 2026 Conference in Albuquerque on January 13-14. Register at ascfg.org.

Whether buying or making your own, how do you tell if compost is any good? We go deep on this question with Jason Gearheart of Integrated Elements Compost in Columbus, Indiana in this week’s podcast interview. Jason honed his compost-making skills as a student of Dr. Elaine Ingham’s Soil Food Web School, and now he makes a variety of products including vermicompost, biologically active compost, compost tea and more.

Biologically active compost goes beyond macronutrient analysis to make sure compost has enough of the beneficial microbes to build the soil life that is so beneficial to plants. In this interview we talk about what classes of microbes we are looking for, how to identify them and how to encourage the right ones during the composting process. We also discuss the merits of different compost feedstocks, composting temperature and turning intervals, and how to know when compost is done in this exploration of one of the most important soil amendments!

Connect With Guest:
Website: iecompost.com

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.
 

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.
 

Discover innovative packaging solutions at A-ROO Company, your one-stop shop for customizable and eco-friendly packaging across various industries, including floral, produce, and specialty packaging. Explore stylish and eco-friendly Kraft Paper Sleeves and sheets at shop.a-roo.com today and enjoy an exclusive 15% discount with code "GFM15" for Growing For Market listeners. When it comes to quality and innovation, A-ROO Company is the name you can trust.

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

As we approach the end of the year, we wanted to check in with farmer/CPA Sarah Scott to ask about tax and accounting best practices to make sure growers aren’t leaving money on the table and are ready to move into 2026 as strong as possible. Sarah and her family run Scott Farm & Flower and Allegiant Tax & Accounting Services, so she understands both the accounting world and how farm businesses operate. In this episode, we make sure your accounting software subscription is paying for itself by discussing how to get the most out of the records you’re already keeping, so they’re not just for tax compliance but also help you make better farm decisions.

We also talk about tax-smart ways to invest a profit in equipment or your retirement. We discuss how farm income averaging can help you on taxes, especially if you have one unusually good year, so the profit can be averaged over multiple years. We also consider when accelerated depreciation can be useful, how to do next year’s budgeting with this year’s numbers, and more in this week’s Growing for Market podcast!

Connect With Guest:

Website: allegiantfinancial.net
Instagram: @scott_farm_and_flower

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:

There are a lot of farm sales platforms out there, but there’s only one that’s cooperatively owned by farmers. That’s GrownBy — your all-in-one solution to simplify farm sales. GrownBy makes online farm sales easy and affordable; setting up your shop is free, and you only pay when you sell. Join over 900 farms who have already signed up for GrownBy, at grownby.com.

Since 1993, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in
 

Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. Each fall, Vermont Compost Company offers a Prebuy Sale to incentivize ordering your spring soil before winter settles in. Early Bird customers save 20% on orders placed, paid for and shipped by October 31st. For more information, visit vermontcompost.com/prebuy, or call at (802) 223-6049. Vermont Compost Company - living soils for organic growing since 1993.

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.
 

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.

After retiring from more than 30 years of farming, much of it at Potomac Vegetable Farms in Virginia, Ellen Polishuk started Plant to Profit to keep teaching the next generation of growers. In this interview, we talk about the farm trends she is seeing with her clients, and how the farm business landscape has changed over the years. We discuss the perennial problem of farm labor, possible solutions, and how year-round growing is changing the kind of worker that farmers need.

We also talk about whether it’s possible to make more money by scaling down, whether loss-leaders make sense for market farmers, and strategies for dealing with increasingly wilder weather. Be sure to catch this episode for ideas on how to dial-in your farm’s fertility, ways famers can learn from each other, and more in this week’s Growing for Market podcast!

Connect With Guest:
Website: planttoprofit.com
Instagram: @planttoprofit_farmerellen
 

Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support:
 

Since 1993, Vermont Compost Company has supplied premium living soils and compost-based amendments to thousands of successful growers all over the country. All ingredients used in Vermont Compost products are approved for certified organic production. Each fall, Vermont Compost Company offers a Prebuy Sale to incentivize ordering your spring soil before winter settles in. Early Bird customers save 20% on orders placed, paid for and shipped by October 31st. For more information, visit vermontcompost.com/prebuy, or call at (802) 223-6049. Vermont Compost Company - living soils for organic growing since 1993.

From October 7th to 9th, the Market Gardener Institute is hosting the very first Global Market Gardeners Summit: a free, live online event with conference, round table and much more. Over three days, you'll hear from expert growers, educators, and consultants from around the world, with inspiring and practical sessions on. Reserve your free spot and connect with thousands of farmers worldwide who are building a better future, one small farm at a time at themarketgardener.com.
 

BCS two-wheel tractors are designed and built in Italy where small-scale farming has been a way of life for generations. Discover the beauty of BCS on your farm with PTO-driven implements for soil-working, shredding cover crops, spreading compost, mowing under fences, clearing snow, and more – all powered by a single, gear-driven machine that’s tailored to the size and scale of your operation. To learn more, view sale pricing, or locate your nearest dealer, visit BCS America.
 

Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more.

Farmhand is the virtual assistant built for farmers—helping CSAs scale sales, run error-free fulfillment, and deliver 5-star service. Whether you’re at 100 members or 1,000, Farmhand helps you grow without burning out. You’ve heard us—and our farmers—right here on the Growing for Market Podcast. Explore more stories and learn more at farmhand.partners/gfm.