The Rookie Farmer Podcast

Alec Smith
  • 5.0 (10)
  • 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. 1d ago

    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.

    1h 37m

  2. 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.

    1h 31m

  3. May 23

    She Said No to Everyone's Advice & Her Farm Thanked Her (TRFP 44)

    In this episode, host Alec reconnects with previous guest Gabby Fultz of Dusty Dog Gardens in Durango, Colorado, for a raw, honest look at what her year 2 of farming actually looked like. Click here to learn more about farmer Gabby and Dusty Dog Gardens. 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.

    1h 15m

  4. May 16

    The Rookie Farmer Confessions: Mistakes, Numbers, Real Profit

    This episode, the tables are turned as Alec sits in the hot seat as guest Chett Clayton of Hillside Harvest Farm takes over the interview ahead of his upcoming agricultural conference talk on bootstrapping a farm from the ground up. Together, they pull back the curtain on the raw realities of small-scale market gardening: from leasing land with existing infrastructure and managing startup expenses, to identifying the most profitable crops, setting realistic farmer's market revenue targets, navigating CSA models, and building smart financial systems. Click here to learn more about farmer Chett Clayton and Hillside Harvest 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.

    1h 7m

  5. May 9

    When Your Farm Grows TOO Fast (TRFP 42)

    In this episode, Alec and Richard from Sun and Soil Farm catch you up on everything happening at their small-scale market gardens this spring: from navigating one of the driest seasons in recent memory, to discovering they're now growing way more food than one farmers market can handle. They dole out some real talk about pricing produce confidently, building financial resilience as a small farm business, and why diversifying your sales channels might be the key to staying anti-fragile when the economy gets tight. 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.

    1h 30m

  6. Apr 25

    Bootstrapping While Trucking: Making 100 Days of Farming Work (TRFP 41)

    In this episode, we sit down with Jared Sapach of Ruben's Roots in Northwest Saskatchewan, where the frost-free growing window is just 100 days and large-scale grain farms stretch for thousands of acres. Jared breaks down the real numbers behind his operation, including how his quarter-acre market garden can realistically target $50,000+ per acre in gross revenue — dwarfing the returns of conventional commodity farming. You'll also get an inside look at an innovative consignment-style market model that gives him flexibility, steady income, and his weekends back. Click here to learn more about farmer Jared and Reuben's Roots. 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.

    1h 35m

  7. Apr 11

    Sculpting Your Retailers to Sell More Product (TRFP 40)

    In this lookback episode of the Rookie Farmer Podcast, host Alec welcomes a returning guest, Colton Simpson of Simpson's Market Garden in White Plains, Maryland. Colton shares the contrast between his optimism and the harsh challenges of running a farm business while breaking new ground and starting a new farm location. He also shares his strategies on how he approaches retailers and how he nudges them in a direction that benefits his business. Click here to learn more about farmer Colton and Simpson's Market Garden. 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.

    1h 22m

  8. Apr 4

    Safe Spring Bets, New Summer Experiements (TRFP 39)

    In this farm blog episode, Alec of Crop Culture Farm and Richard of Sun and Soil Farm talk about how they fared growing their crops in spring and how they're preparing for the summer growing season.  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.

    1h 6m
See All (46)

5
out of 5
10 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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