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“I’m late! I’m late! For a very important date!” If you’re used to waking up on Wednesday morning and finding a new episode in your podcast app you already know that this episode is a little late. But, on the flip side I was able to record an early morning episode sitting on the porch looking out across the farm. You can see the view from my “podcasting studio” on the right. One other thing you notice on this episode is a few more distractions that come from recording on the front porch … distractions as in kitty cats and heifers on the loose. Hopefully though it gives you a small glimpse into the interrupted life of any farmer.
Beginning a Farm: Research
For most prospective beginning farmers the first stage is research. Anytime you are starting a new business, occupation, or venture most of us try to learn as much as possible so that we aren’t jumping in completely unaware. That’s the way it was for me at least. I read dozens of books, hundreds of magazine articles, countless blogs, and plenty of research papers. In fact I did so much reading that I’m not sure how much I was actually able to consume and retain! If I was going to do my “Farming Research Phase” all over again I would do it differently than I did over eight years ago. Here are my three steps …
•Reading
- The Contrary Farmer by Gene Logsdon
- Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan
- You Can Farm by Joel Salatin
•Connecting
- Practical Farmers of Iowa
- Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
- Farm Aid Beginning Farmer Resources
•Doing
- Sometimes (most of the time) it is important to just dig in and get our hands dirty. Find farm, almost any farm, and volunteer your time … ask if they need a hired hand … or even offer to pay for the experience (it’s that important).
- BeginningFarmers.org Jobs/Internships Links
:: Other Resources Mentioned in the Episode ::
- Part 1 of The Beginning Farmer interview with Phil Kramer (all about pigs)
- Part 2 of The Beginning Farmer interview with Phil Kramer
As always, I want to thank you so much for listening and supporting the show with your encouragement and reviews on iTunes! I am continually working to produce a better show, and I’m thankful for all of the listeners sticking with me as I learn.
If you do enjoy the show, don’t forget that you can subscribe on iTunes and leave a five star rating and review (by clicking the link). If you are an Android phone user you can also subscribe on the free Stitcher App. It is so very encouraging to know that people are listening and enjoying the show!
I would love to hear your questions, show ideas, or comments about the show. Feel free to shoot me an e-mail! As always you can follow along with “The Beginning Farmer” and Crooked Gap Farm by checking out these links …
Basically I think I followed almost the same sort of research process when I started farming.
I read everything I could find on farming (all types of farming, in all parts of the world).
I got my hands dirty and started farming.
I started talking to other farmers and asking them questions.
I read every blog I could find on farming (although there doesn’t seem to be as many as there used to be).
Besides book learning and on-the-job training through actually farming, I had difficulty learning to be flexible because what I wanted to do, wasn’t always possible to do at first (if that makes sense). Sometimes it takes time to slowly reach your goal.
I’ve always had a rough idea about “how” I’d like to eventually do things on the farm (not sure if I would call it a set of values), and I’ve been slowly working towards applying those ideas on the farm. It’s taken years to work towards those goals (learning how to do the basics, slowly increasing my skills and knowledge, and fine-tuning those goals to fit the “real world”) , and I don’t know if I could have started out in the beginning any other way.
I also had to learn to take risks and “gamble” on the farm (nothing is guaranteed when you plant something, but if you don’t ante up you can never win). Sometimes I won big and sometimes I lost big. That might have been the hardest part about farming in the beginning, taking a risk, losing, and then not letting it bother me.
Rich … thanks for taking time to share your experiences with your beginnings! I agree that flexibility has been difficult to learn … I’m sure that there are things that need to change on the farm now, but I’m just being hard headed!
I read so much before starting, but I knew I had to take sustainable steps because I couldn’t risk the security/stability of my family so I started out on a very small scale (still am really, but learning lots). I felt that with the way interest rates are now, it was better to buy than rent, and I did buy. I started with 8 hens, and have worked up to 100. I sell my eggs, and I am getting ready for sheep and bees. I only have about 5 acres to work with. The growth has been very organic, I am just trying to keep up with demand. I feel like my mini-farm will be a step towards the larger farm, but I am learning so many practical skills now, which I will have to scale up when I transition to full-time farming. I really enjoy Gene Logsdon and Joel Salatin. I also think “The Market Gardener” is a great book, and especially like Harvey Ussery’s “The Small-Scale Poultry Flock.” Thanks for putting on this show, I am thoroughly enjoying it, even listen to some shows more than once! – Adrian
Adrian,
I have heard a lot of good things about “The Market Gardener”, but it has never really been on my radar since my focus has always been livestock so I’m glad that you shared it! Also, I haven’t heard of that poultry book so I’m going to check it out. Thanks so much for listening the show and for taking the time to get involved in the conversation.