Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Even farmers love the chance to get away and listen to some music.
If The Beginning Farmer Show was your first introduction to me, “The Beginning Farmer”, then you may not know that what is now a podcast initially began as a blog about my farming journey (or hopeful beginning farming journey). My very first post was way back on September 23rd, 2006 (that’s eight years ago!). Since that time there have been over 900 posts on this blog plus even more from my day’s writing for Epicurious. What began with questions like: How much capital will it take to get started? How much cash-flow will be needed, and where will it come from as we start? How much can I expect to make with certain crops or livestock? And, how and to whom will I do all of my marketing? … has morphed into discussions about breed selections, hog loading procedures, and so much more!
What I really want to say though is that I’ve learned to love podcasting and the community that has grown up around “The Beginning Farmer Show”. It’s been exciting trying to answer as many questions as possible from all of the listeners, but to be completely honest I think I have probably learned more from everyone that has offered advice and help than I could ever hope to give! The most important thing to me has always been to share the “real life” stories and lessons and experiences from the farm.
I mention all of this to say that I think there are some exciting opportunities ahead for “The Beginning Farmer Show”. Opportunities that I hope will continue to grow the community, share farming knowledge, and encourage beginners … because I know as a beginner myself that encouragement is always welcome. I have two things in mind. One is video and the other is something that I’m still fleshing out at this point. There will be ways for you to get involved though … so stay tuned for more details after the Farm Crawl.
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 …
Hey Ethan – great podcast, as always. Laughed so hard during the hard lesson learned – I too know close to zero about electric fence, though I use it for my pigs – I used it for a whole year before one of my teenagers explained to me how grounding works, by pointing out that birds can sit on hot wire without dying of the shock, because they’re not connected to the ground. Duh. How did I get to be this old and not know that? It made electric fence a lot more logical for me. I guess that answer to that is that I have a hard time asking for advice or info on stuff I don’t know – my husband is the one that checks in at gas stations to ask directions, not me! I’ve been following your blog for quite a few years – maybe 4? It’s the format that works best for me because I don’t have a portable listening device, but I get that you’re a verbal person, and your podcasts really are very easy to listen to – engaging, informative, a good mix of light and heavy, etc. I don’t get to listen to every one, but thanks to the show notes you post every week, I can pick the ones that seem most relevant or of importance to me on the days when I can find time to listen at my computer. I guess this way, I’ll be listening for years after you stop making them :). I can’t wait to see what you do with video, and I think it is definitely the most logical next step – though I’m not sure how you’re going to fit that into two jobs, a farm and a new member soon arriving in your family! Thanks for sharing with all of us the ups and downs of your farming progress, in whatever form you do so.
Dawn, Thank you so much for the kind words! I have lots of “duh” moments on the farm it seems, so it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one that it happens to from time to time 😉 It does seem weird to me adding videos, especially with all that I’ve been sharing about balance (or the lack there of on our farm), but we’re hoping that adding the videos actually helps a little bit more with the balance in a variety of ways. Then … if the balance works out I hopefully will be able to begin writing more! I hope 🙂 Again … thank you for following along for so long!