The Rookie Farmer Podcast

Alec Smith
  • 4.7 (12)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Rookie Farmer Podcast is the go-to resource for aspiring market gardeners and small-scale farmers. Hosted by Alec Smith, farmer at Crop Culture Farm in New Bern, Georgia, this podcast provides wisdom, knowledge and real-world experience to support the rising movement of small-scale agriculture. Each episode features discussions with veteran growers, industry experts, and fellow "rookie" farmers who share lessons learned in starting up and running profitable, sustainable farms. Alec dives into topics like effective crop planning, selling to chefs and restaurants, creative CSA models, and much more. He also provides regular updates on his own half-acre vegetable farm as it grows. Whether you are a new grower just starting out or a few seasons into your farming journey, The Rookie Farmer Podcast will inform and inspire you to take your small farm to the next level. Tune in and join a passionate community of small-scale farmers who are revolutionizing the food system, one farm at a time.

  1. 6d ago

    Small Grants, Big Impact: How $500 Can Change a Farm Business (TRFP 52)

    In episode 52, Dana DiPrima of For Farmers Movement joins the Rookie Farmer Podcast to break down how her organization is flipping the script on farm funding: through nomination-based micro-grants, community wishlists, and zero-jargon applications. Click here to learn more about Dana DiPima. Click here to learn more about For Farmers Movement. Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

  2. Aug 1

    My Wife Quit Her Job to Farm with Me (TRFP 51)

    In this episode of the Rookie Farmer Podcast, Alec and Richard get real about the brutal back half of summer: crashing sales, a wild squash bug and leaf-footed bug infestation, and the emotional toll of farm life colliding with family stress.  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. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

  3. Jul 25

    How Mountain Fresh Creamery Ditched the Middleman & Built Their Own Brand (TRFP 50)

    Ever wondered what it actually takes to start a dairy from scratch, with rented land and 275 rented cows? 🤔 In this episode, Jennifer Glover of Mountain Fresh Creamery shares how she and her husband built a vertically integrated dairy and creamery business over 26 years, from tight beginnings to selling direct to consumers all over Atlanta! Click here to learn more about farmer Jennifer and Mountain Fresh Creamery. Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

  4. Jul 18

    Building a Thriving Farm Business From Zero Infrastructure (TRFP 49)

    This week, rookie farmer Alec sits down with farmer Mike Hedge of Hedge Family Farm in Happy Valley, NC, as he shares how he and his wife Sara put in the work to turn raw, undeveloped land into a thriving market garden operation, growing everything from sweet potatoes and watermelons to rare Fioretto cauliflower. Before the episode ends, farmer Mike might also even convert you into incorporating longer-season crops into your crop plan! Click here to learn more about farmer Mike and Hedge Family Farm. Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link. Click here to watch the video version!  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 prov

  5. Jul 4

    How Two Small Farms Avoid Summer Burnout (TRFP 48)

    In this episode of the Rookie Farmer Podcast, Alec and Richard get real about the highs and lows of peak summer farming: from hitting a $3,000 sales milestone at the farmers market to a van breakdown that forced a last-minute scramble to getting better with farming techniques enough to squeeze in a yearly beach trip. 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. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

  6. Jun 27

    From $47 to Full-Time Farmer: The Real Truth About Starting Small (TRFP 47)

    In this episode, host Alec sits down with James Clarke of Clarke's Greens in San Antonio, Texas for the longest conversation in Rookie Farmer Podcast history...and it's packed with gold. James breaks down his journey from restaurant manager to full-time urban market farmer, sharing the real numbers, hard-won strategies, and honest advice that most courses won't tell you. Click here to learn more about farmer James Clarke and Clarke's Greens. Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

    From $47 to Full-Time Farmer: The Real Truth About Starting Small (TRFP 47)

  7. Jun 20

    From Hurricanes to Luxury Farms: How a Seed Rep Became a Chef's Secret Weapon

    Alec Smith sits down with Wesley Palmer, former seed rep at Johnny's Selected Seeds turned farm manager at Quercus, a stunning 3,800-acre ranch resort in Gay, Georgia. Wesley and Alec talk about a "root-to-petal" approach to farming and eating and how it can unlock surprising new revenue streams, and why building deeper relationships with chefs, customers, and your farming community might be the most important thing you do this season. Click here to learn more about farmer Wesley Palmer.  Click here to learn more about Quercus. Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

  8. Jun 6

    Going $1,000 Over Budget for a Second Farmers Market (TRFP 45)

    Join Alec and Richard for another blog episode as the season shifts into full summer mode and a major new chapter begins. Alec breaks down the real numbers and unexpected chaos of launching a second farmers market, from doubling his harvest load to scrambling for containers, tables, and even a delivery van. Richard shares how the Jang seeder transformed his carrot game, why growing potatoes alongside carrots turned into a surprise win, and how their spring/fall-focused strategy gives them space to actually breathe in summer.   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. Click here to watch the video version!  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.

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4.7
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

The Rookie Farmer Podcast is the go-to resource for aspiring market gardeners and small-scale farmers. Hosted by Alec Smith, farmer at Crop Culture Farm in New Bern, Georgia, this podcast provides wisdom, knowledge and real-world experience to support the rising movement of small-scale agriculture. Each episode features discussions with veteran growers, industry experts, and fellow "rookie" farmers who share lessons learned in starting up and running profitable, sustainable farms. Alec dives into topics like effective crop planning, selling to chefs and restaurants, creative CSA models, and much more. He also provides regular updates on his own half-acre vegetable farm as it grows. Whether you are a new grower just starting out or a few seasons into your farming journey, The Rookie Farmer Podcast will inform and inspire you to take your small farm to the next level. Tune in and join a passionate community of small-scale farmers who are revolutionizing the food system, one farm at a time.

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