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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we visit with Kyle Doda and Betsy Simpson of 1000 Stone Farm (https://www.1000stonefarm.com) and talk about what they are excited about and what challenges them.

Visit the show notes for photos, videos or relevant links at http://agengpodcast.com

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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we visit with Evan Perkins and Heidi Choate of Small Axe Farm (https://smallaxefarm.com/) to talk about how they use the Paper Pot Transplanter on their no-till, hillside farm.

Visit the show notes for photos, videos or relevant links at http://agengpodcast.com

Purchase this tool at https://paperpot.co/

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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we talk with Zachary Smith ([email protected]) of the University of Vermont Extension to talk about what farmers need to think about when deciding to get started with e-commerce. 

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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we visit with Dave from Market Farm Implement to talk about vacuum seeding.

Market Farm Implement

Friedens, PA

(814) 443-1931

http://www.marketfarm.com/

See photos, videos and more at agengpodcast.com

Support the show

Visit the website to see photos/videos from the visit: https://thefarmersshare.com
Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram: @thefarmersshare
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Text me a message!

The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we visit with Kyle Doda and Betsy Simpson of 1000 Stone Farm (https://www.1000stonefarm.com/) about how they set-up an on-farm store.

1:41 Farm Store vs. Farm Stand

5:27 How does self-serve work?

10:23 Price lists for high-end products

11:23 Pre-built structure

*Photo/Video gallery at agengpodcast.com

12:16 Insulated and open year-round

• Holding inventory
• Consistent messaging and easy to remember hours: 8-8, every day
• Cost: $9k in the building, ~$17k total
• ROI is on track for a timely return
• There is a demand for this in the area

17:11 Market research & business decisions

• Respectful and thankful community
• Advertising: Facebook ads, word of mouth, Front Porch Forum
• Didn’t want to skimp or cut corners
• Variety is beneficial for customer satisfaction

23:36 Capital Investment

• Vermont Farm Fund for a low-interest loan
• Need money for the site work, building, inventory etc. 

“The simplification aspect is huge for the customers and the farmers. Don’t make it more complicated than it needs to be and make it as easy for the customer to access the product as possible, on their terms.”

27:22 Multi-Use building - Farm store & CSA Pick-up

27:57 Regrets or changes on these decisions? 

• Need to increase the branding and messaging for both their farm and the local, organic, high-quality products they stock in their store.

31:16 Final thoughts - Customers enjoy shopping alone in a low-stress environment. 

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Visit the website to see photos/videos from the visit: https://thefarmersshare.com
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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode we visit with Evan Perkins and Heidi Choate of Small Axe Farm (https://smallaxefarm.com/) to talk about how they use Cat Tunnels on their no-till, hillside farm.

2:14 How do you utilize Cat Tunnels?

3:58 Construction & Build

• Farmers Friend: https://farmersfriendllc.com/
• Side “Hooks”

5:25 Shoulder season practices

• Wind bracing
• End Walls

8:48 Usage on a hill

10:43 Cat tunnels vs. High tunnels

15:58 Heidi’s key takeaways

19:05 Rolling up the plastic during winter

23:50 The biggest tip: Build them up like a hoophouse

Website: https://smallaxefarm.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallaxefarm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallaxefarmvermont/?hl=en

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Visit the website to see photos/videos from the visit: https://thefarmersshare.com
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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we read an update about Coronavirus & COVID19 as it relates to fruit and vegetable growers.

This episode’s script can be found at go.uvm.edu/covid19produce

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The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we share with you a blog post we wrote entitled Getting Started with a Growth Chamber.

Read the whole transcript of this podcast and see further examples from our blog at http://go.uvm.edu/startingseeds

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The Ag Engineering podcasts shares a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. This episode chats with Silas Doyle-Burr of Last Resort Farm (lastresortfarm.com) about a time when he felt both successful and challenged farming.

Support the show

Visit the website to see photos/videos from the visit: https://thefarmersshare.com
Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram: @thefarmersshare
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefarmersshare

Text me a message!

The Ag Engineering podcast is a conversation with small scale fruit and vegetable farmers to discuss tools, tips or techniques to improve the sustainability of your farm. In this episode, we visit with Evan Perkins and Heidi Choate of Small Axe Farm (https://smallaxefarm.com/) to talk about how they implement no-till production on their farm.

1:56 How do you define no-till on your farm?

3:55 How are you renovating a bed?

6:37 How do you make new beds?

7:54 Farming on a hillside

13:39 Microclimates on a south-facing slope in Zone 4

17:18 No-till and fundamental environmental practices

19:52 Erosion and season extension 

22:19 Advantages to hillside growing

26:17 Hoop houses on a hillside

28:06 The Tillie

33:17 Pathway residue compost system

Website: https://smallaxefarm.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smallaxefarm/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smallaxefarmvermont/?hl=en

Support the show

Visit the website to see photos/videos from the visit: https://thefarmersshare.com
Follow the show on Facebook and Instagram: @thefarmersshare
Subscribe to the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thefarmersshare