In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Jared from Ruben's Roots, a market gardener just outside the Battlefords in Saskatchewan who basically said "no plan, full send" and built a real business anyway. We get into the messy truth of year one (weed seed bank hell, irrigation learning curves, growing what you think will sell vs what actually sells), and how he turned carrots from his worst crop into his top earner through smarter systems, succession planting, and a few key tools. Jared breaks down his 30-inch bed setup, drip irrigation, DIY farm tools, and how he's scaling while still working a full-time job. Then we go there on organic certification, food labels, and why "naturally grown" plus trust and transparency can beat bureaucracy. If you're starting from scratch, this one is pure practical gold.

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Episode Highlights: market gardening, small scale farming, growing food for profit, starting a market garden, farm to table, local food systems, sustainable farming, naturally grown produce, organic vs organic certified, succession planting, vegetable crop planning, DIY farm tools, bed system farming, small farm business, market garden success

Takeaways:

• Let the market tell you what to grow and cut the "nice idea" crops fast
• Standardize your beds and systems so everything gets easier to measure and repeat
• Companion planting can solve problems without fancy sprays or drama
• Tools that save your body save your business, even DIY ones
• Succession planting turns random harvests into consistent income
• Hire for the bottleneck that burns you out, not the task you love
• "Local and transparent" often matters more than a certification badge

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Links & Resources Mentioned

Jared's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/reubens.roots/

Jared's Website | https://www.reubensroots.ca/

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Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started!

Book Your FREE Call Today!

Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/

Dawn Dirt's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/

Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/

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