100 episodes
The Beginning Farmer Show Unknown
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- Society & Culture
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5.0 • 9 Ratings
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The Beginning Farmer Show chronicles the good, bad, and ugly of starting a farm from scratch. Listen each week as beginning farmer Ethan Book share updates from the farm, insight into farm decision making, and lessons that he has had to learn the hard way.
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TBF 158 :: Things Needed to Change
The first episode in two years needs no introduction. Basically this is an episode of me sharing what I've found out I needed to do differently over the last two years. Or, to be more correct ... it is an episode of me sharing a couple of the many things I found out I needed to do differently over the last two years!
It is going to be a long journey that will take time (and money, which means more time), but I think it is going to be an amazing journey. Follow along on the Podcast, Instagram, Facebook, and of course YouTube!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
The Beginning Farmer YouTube Channel
The Beginning Farmer Instagram
The Beginning Farmer Facebook -
TBF 157 :: Crooked Gap Farm v2.0
I have come to the realization that it is time to reboot the farm! Not that everything that we have been doing for the past twelve years has been bad, but rather there are some changes that I realize need to be made and in making them I think we are going to end up with Crooked Gap Farm v2.0. It's sort of like a Grand Re-Opening, or Church Re-Plant, or Version 2.0 of the farm.
The core of the farm is going to be the same. We are still going to be all about raising great pasture raised meats, but there will be changes on the farm. Changes with efficiencies. Changes with marketing. Changes with structures. Changes with mindset. And, all of this is going to be about taking our farm up a level in order to be better than we have been in the past.
It is going to be a long journey that will take time (and money, which means more time), but I think it is going to be an amazing journey. Follow along on the Podcast, Instagram, Facebook, and of course YouTube!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
The Beginning Farmer YouTube Channel
The Beginning Farmer Instagram
The Beginning Farmer Facebook -
TBF 156 :: Three Needed Changes and a Hard Lesson Learned
Crooked Gap Farm has come a long ways in the roughly 12 years of it's existence! Sometimes I forget how far we have come from an empty 40 acre parcel in the middle of Iowa, but when I stop and take a look at it all I am very thankful! That doesn't mean that I have everything where it needs to be or that I'm ready to sit back and watch the farm roll along.
There are a lot of projects that are needed on the farm these days. Repair projects, building projects, upgrading projects, and plenty of cleaning projects! But, I have come up with three that have been at the forefront of my mind lately
Get the Walk-in Freezer up and running! Building a "Farrowing Greenhouse"! Rehab, Rejuvenate, Replace our Sheep Flock! I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
The Beginning Farmer YouTube Channel
The Beginning Farmer Instagram
The Beginning Farmer Facebook -
TBF 155 :: Let's Talk About Meat Chickens
Let's talk about chickens! We've raised meat chickens off and on for about 10 years now, and it has never really been our strong suit. But, the demand is there and I would really like to increase our meat chicken production ... like really increase it!
There is one problem though, well actually three problems. First of all we have settled on the Freedom Ranger breed for our meat chickens (although I'm open for suggestions because it still isn't my favorite ever). Secondly, I am totally committed to the "day range" system of raising the birds, but I'm not committed to a structure. And finally, processing is somewhat of a bottle neck for us. There is only one official processor in the state and we are pretty much all in on needing official processing!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
The Beginning Farmer YouTube Channel
The Beginning Farmer Instagram
The Beginning Farmer Facebook -
TBF 154 :: Pandemic Farm Marketing and a Hard Lesson Learned
Hello Beginning Farmer Friends! We are back and better than ever. Well I'm not sure about better than ever, but we are back and I am getting pretty excited about being back (even though it is one episode)! I am excited to be able to "chat" about farming again, and share the happenings of Crooked Gap Farm and our plans for the future.
In this episode I end up talking about what our farm marketing world has looked at during the current pandemic of 2020. Sales have been good (I think for many protein farmers that has been true), but along with increased sales and demand there have been plenty of challenges. In the end I do think we are positioning ourselves in a good way for 2021 and beyond.
Don't forget you can find us in all of the places, most of all on YouTube (again)!
The Beginning Farmer YouTube Channel
The Beginning Farmer Instagram
The Beginning Farmer Facebook -
TBF 153 :: Family, Fun, and a Hard Lesson Learned
In a time of unknown, I sit down and do what is needed: I have fun. Today I talk with my oldest son, Caleb, about his interests on the farm and where he goes and is wanting to go with them. He shares what his biggest interest on the farm is and what he does with it. With plenty of fun and laughter, tractors, a Hard Lesson Learned, and even rockets, this is sure to be a fun episode that you can't miss!
Customer Reviews
The best show ever
I love farming and you really inspirer me to be a better farmer. My Dad has an big farm and we have lots of sheep,pigs and chickens. You rely help me to know what I need to do with all different types of animals. You are my biggest fan.
One of the best small farm podcasts
Ethan has the ability to inject his enthusiasm and excitment directly into his audience through his podcast. Most of the episodes are old now, but still motivational and inspirational to listen to. I hang on in hope of just one more episode. A job well done Ethan, I hope you're proud of what you've put out for the rest of us to enjoy.
It's never too late.
Hi Ethan. Just a quick hello and thank you from Australia. We've been listening to the show since you began and just wanted to say that you and your family have been a delight to listen to and a credit to your country. We are in our mid 50's and for any number of reasons have been unable to fulfil our dream of farming. That is until now. We are about to start life as a couple of much older 'beginning farmers' and you have helped us take that final leap of faith. My wife and I are starting a farm with two of our five children and their families. Our elderly parents and the first of our grandchildren (due any day) will round out the farm population to 10. We have planned for this for some time and are now in a position to establish a farm in South West Victoria. I'll let you know how we get on as the years progress. Say a prayer for us, and we'll say another for you. Thank you again, and God bless your encouraging work. H