The Rookie Farmer Podcast

In this episode of the Rookie Farmer Podcast, rookie farmers Alec and Richard pull back the curtain on their real farm financials for 2025: their gross sales, net profit, biggest expenses, and what they plan on doing differently this coming season. Tune in to learn how two small farms are using data, crop planning, and the right tools (including an honest review of the Jang seeder!) to set themselves up for their best year yet.
Click here to learn more about farmer Richard and Sun and Soil Farm. 
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 
 Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.
Follow Modern Grower:
 Instagram
 Instagram
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
 Carrot Cashflow
 Farm Small Farm Smart
 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
 The Growing Microgreens Podcast
 The Urban Farmer Podcast
 The Rookie Farmer Podcast
 In Search of Soil Podcast
Check out Diego's books:
 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
 Ready Farmer One on Amazon
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

In this episode, host Alec talks to farmer Peter Lee about how he built a thriving market garden in rural Ireland serving just 700 people, proving you don't need a massive market to succeed. Peter shares challenges of Irish growing conditions—from polytunnel potatoes harvested in May to slow-growing winter greens—and how he leveraged farm mentorship to scale from backyard hobby to profitable venture. 
Click here to learn more about farmer Peter and Bird and Blossom Farm. 
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 
 Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.
Follow Modern Grower:
 Instagram
 Instagram
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
 Carrot Cashflow
 Farm Small Farm Smart
 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
 The Growing Microgreens Podcast
 The Urban Farmer Podcast
 The Rookie Farmer Podcast
 In Search of Soil Podcast
Check out Diego's books:
 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
 Ready Farmer One on Amazon
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

In this episode of The Rookie Farmer Podcast, host Alec Smith welcomes farmer Jill Duncan of Loving Roots Urban Farm as she shares her journey from renting farm land in the city to owning a thriving 1/3-acre market garden: growing on two farms at the same time, keeping her customer base, and the growing pains of moving to a new location. She also talks about how she grows lettuce year-round, builds deep customer relationships that drive business growth, and manages a profitable solo operation growing high-value crops.
Click here to learn more about farmer Jill and Loving Roots Urban Farm.
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 
 Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.
Follow Modern Grower:
 Instagram
 Instagram
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
 Carrot Cashflow
 Farm Small Farm Smart
 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
 The Growing Microgreens Podcast
 The Urban Farmer Podcast
 The Rookie Farmer Podcast
 In Search of Soil Podcast
Check out Diego's books:
 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
 Ready Farmer One on Amazon
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

While "winter growing" might conjure up images of heated high tunnels, covered beds, and doing wash pack in freezing water, you might just be surprised that that's not all there is to it! In this farm blog episode, host Alec of Crop Culture Farm is joined by farmer Richard from Sun and Soil Farm to talk about the growing-related and non-growing -related realities of winter farming: from timing your plantings, deciding when (or if!) to cover crops, to navigating unpredictable winter markets. They share their own strategies for succession planting in cold weather, the impact of having high tunnels on accelerating crop growth even in short days, and some tips and tricks to using the Jang direct seeder.
Click here to learn more about farmer Richard and Sun and Soil Farm. 
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 
 Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.
Follow Modern Grower:
 Instagram
 Instagram
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
 Carrot Cashflow
 Farm Small Farm Smart
 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
 The Growing Microgreens Podcast
 The Urban Farmer Podcast
 The Rookie Farmer Podcast
 In Search of Soil Podcast
Check out Diego's books:
 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
 Ready Farmer One on Amazon
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

In this episode, we dive into some insider secrets to farmers market success courtesy of Brian Strickland, Director of the Athens Farmers Market. Brian and host Alec dig into why working at an established farm first can save you thousands of dollars, how to choose the right market for your scale, and the presentation tactics that make or break your booth. Brian shares the hard-won wisdom that helped Alec make the jump from a small-town market to thriving at one of Georgia's premier farmer's markets in just one season.
Click here to learn more about Athens Farmers Market!
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm.
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 
 Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.
Follow Modern Grower:
 Instagram
 Instagram
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
 Carrot Cashflow
 Farm Small Farm Smart
 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
 The Growing Microgreens Podcast
 The Urban Farmer Podcast
 The Rookie Farmer Podcast
 In Search of Soil Podcast
Check out Diego's books:
 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
 Ready Farmer One on Amazon
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.