Dirt & Drive

Dragon Creek Ranch
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship

Turning a small homestead into a real business. 

  1. Oct 6 ·  Video

    13: Is Your Homestead Actually Covered? Insurance for Farms, Farm Stands & Markets

    If you sell eggs at the end of your driveway, bring your products to a farmers market, or have people visiting your property, are you actually covered? In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with insurance broker Cheri Martinen to walk through the different types of insurance homesteaders, farmers, and small business owners need to think about. We cover what to consider when you're selling at farmers markets and vendor events, running a farm stand, or making a product you sell in person or online. We also get into the situations people rarely think to ask about: insuring your tractor and equipment, renting out an Airbnb on your property, hosting weddings and events, and running seasonal attractions like a pumpkin patch. Cheri breaks it all down in plain language, without the jargon. If you're building a homestead, growing a farm business, or just getting started with a farm stand, this episode will help you ask the right questions before something goes wrong. In this episode we cover: Insurance for selling at farmers markets and vendor eventsCoverage to think about for farm stands and products you make and sellProtecting equipment like tractorsInsurance for Airbnbs, weddings, and events on your propertyCoverage for visitors and seasonal attractions like pumpkin patchesThe insurance industry's "dirty little secret"🛡️ Connect with Cheri Martinen: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575834316721 https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheri-martinen-a6002725/ Instagram handle – cheri_martinen Amazon Books - https://amzn.to/4ATk4to (affiliate) Cheri Martinen – cherimartinen.com Bancorp Insurance – Bancorpinsurance.com 🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive:  https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod 🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean.   We sometimes share affiliate links to products mentioned and recommended in our podcast episodes, and if you click the link and purchase we make a small commission. All opinions are our own. Thanks for listening! This episode is for educational purposes only and isn't professional insurance advice. Talk to a licensed agent about your specific situation.

    13: Is Your Homestead Actually Covered? Insurance for Farms, Farm Stands & Markets

  2. Sep 15 ·  Video

    12: From Craft Fair Vendor to Store Owner: The Dixie Delight Story

    At what point does a vendor selling candles at craft fairs decide it's time to open an actual store? For Janet, owner of Dixie Delight Country Produce Store in Hiram, Georgia, that leap came after years of building her candle business one festival at a time. In this episode of Dirt & Drive, Janet walks us through that transition - from a table at craft fairs and vendor events to owning a full storefront filled with local produce, meats, honey, sourdough, pottery, and dozens of other local vendors. We also talk about a major setback along the way: the county took her original building through eminent domain, forcing her to start over. Today, she and her team operate out of the big red building on Bill Carruth Parkway - the one you can't miss, with a yard full of concrete statues and birdbaths out front. We dig into how she made the shift from making everything herself to curating a store full of other local makers and farms, and what it actually takes to manage a business like this day to day. If you've ever sold at a market or craft fair and wondered what it would take to open your own store, this episode walks through exactly what that transition looks like. In this episode we cover: Going from selling candles at craft fairs to owning a full retail store Surviving eminent domain and rebuilding the business from scratch Transitioning from making everything yourself to working with local vendors What it takes to manage a store with dozens of local products under one roof What life inside Dixie Delight Country Produce Store looks like today 🍎 Follow Dixie Delight Country Produce Store: https://www.facebook.com/dixiefarmersmarket https://tiktok.com/@dixiedelightproduce https://instagram.com/dixiedelightproduce 🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive:  https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod 🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

  3. Aug 13 ·  Video

    11: She Wanted Goats. She Got Alpacas. Now She Runs a Rescue.

    She was looking for goats. Instead, someone online was trying to give away a few alpacas... and Laura said yes. That one decision turned into L&R Alpaca Haven Farm, a full-blown alpaca rescue and breeding operation in Douglasville, Georgia. In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with Laura to talk about how her farm grew from a spontaneous rescue into something much bigger. We cover what it actually takes to care for alpacas day to day: feeding, health, and handling their wool, and how rescue work is different from simply running a farm to turn a profit. We also dig into how she funds it all: applying for grants, partnering with local businesses for fundraising, and hosting events right on the property! Including alpaca yoga, glass blowing, sourdough bread classes, art classes, and seasonal events throughout the year. If you've ever wondered what it takes to run an animal rescue as a real, sustainable business... or you just want to know what alpaca yoga is actually like... this episode has it all. In this episode we cover: How L&R Alpaca Haven Farm started with a spontaneous "yes" to free alpacasThe difference between running a rescue and running a farm for profitDaily care: feeding, health, and handling alpaca woolFinding grants and fundraising through local business partnershipsHosting events like alpaca yoga, glass blowing, and sourdough classes to fund the rescue🦙 Follow L&R Alpaca Haven Farm: https://www.silverliningsanimalrescueinc.org/ https://www.facebook.com/LRAlpacaHaven https://www.instagram.com/lralpacahaven 🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive:  https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://www.tiktok.com/@lralpaca 🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening! #AlpacaRescue #AlpacaYoga #DouglasvilleGA #AnimalRescue #GeorgiaFarm #DirtAndDrive

    11: She Wanted Goats. She Got Alpacas. Now She Runs a Rescue.

  4. Jul 28 ·  Video

    10: From a Few Cows to a Full Business: Ithica Beef, Villa Rica, GA

    What does it actually take to turn a handful of backyard cows into a real, licensed, USDA-inspected beef business? In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with the woman behind Ithica Beef, a small farm in Villa Rica, Georgia, selling six to seven cows a month straight from their own pasture to their on-site store. We talk about how it all started, what it took to get USDA licensed, approved, and inspected, and the real startup costs behind building a beef business from scratch.  We also get into the relationships that make this business worth it: why she loves hearing from customers that her beef doesn't upset their stomach the way store-bought meat does, and the pride of building something with her husband, right on their own property. If you've ever wondered what it really takes to running an actual beef business, this episode walks through it start to finish. In this episode we cover: How Ithica Beef got started, from a few backyard cows to a full operationGetting USDA licensed, approved, and inspected: the real process and costsWhat it takes to start raising and selling cattleBuilding trust and relationships with customersRunning a family business, side by side, on their own land🐄 Visit Ithica Beef:  https://www.ithicabeef.com/ https://www.facebook.com/p/Ithica-Beef-100064569053709/ https://www.instagram.com/ithicabeef/ https://www.pinterest.com/ithicabeef/ 🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive:  https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod 🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

    10: From a Few Cows to a Full Business: Ithica Beef, Villa Rica, GA

  5. Jul 16 ·  Video

    9: They Bet Their Retirement on Jojo's Fresh Market - And It's Finally Paying Off

    Three years ago, a husband and wife team took their entire retirement savings and bet it all on a small local market. The first two years weren't even profitable. Today, Jojo's Fresh Market in Paulding County, Georgia is finally starting to turn a corner, and it's become something much bigger than a grocery store. In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with the couple behind Jojo's Fresh Market in Dallas, Georgia to talk about what it really costs to bet everything on a small business :financially and emotionally. We talk about how they built relationships with local farmers and even backyard gardeners, buying produce from people with nothing more than a small home garden. We get into how they decide which local vendors and products make it onto their shelves, what it takes for a small producer to get a foot in the door, and why they believe so deeply in supporting small over big. If you've ever dreamed of opening your own store, getting your products into a local market, or you just want to hear an honest story about what it takes to keep going when the numbers aren't there yet, this episode is for you. In this episode we cover: Betting their entire retirement on a business with no guaranteeSurviving two years without profitHow they source from small farmers and backyard gardenersWhat it takes for a small producer to get into a store like theirsWhy they believe in small business over big distributors🥬 Visit Jojo's Market:  https://jojosfreshmarket.com/ https://www.facebook.com/p/JoJos-Fresh-Market-61557779307554/ https://www.instagram.com/jojosfreshmarket/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@jojosfreshmarket 🎙️ Follow Dirt & Drive:  https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod 🐉 Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

    9: They Bet Their Retirement on Jojo's Fresh Market - And It's Finally Paying Off

  6. Jul 7 ·  Video

    8: The Farm That Became Hawkins: Stranger Things, Christmas Trees, and a Family That Never Stops

    Before "Stranger Things" made it famous, this farm was already a legacy in the making. In this episode of Dirt & Drive, I sit down with the sisters behind Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm - the real-life corn maze and farmland where Stranger Things was filmed, including Hopper's cabin. But long before the cameras showed up, this was a Christmas tree farm started by their dad back in the 1970s. We talk about what it was like watching their family land turn into a worldwide filming location, how it brought tourists from around the globe, and - more importantly -  how they've built a business that goes far beyond the fame. From pumpkin patches and escape rooms to birthday parties, farm photography, and animal encounters, this family has figured out how to turn every inch of their property into an experience that keeps people coming back all year long. This is a story about hard work, family, and how a small homestead can grow into something bigger than anyone imagined -  Stranger Things or not. In this episode we cover: How Sleepy Hollow Farm became a Stranger Things filming locationBuilding Hopper's cabin and hosting the corn maze scenesTurning a Christmas tree farm into a year-round experience businessPumpkin patches, escape rooms, birthday parties, and moreWhy experiences - not just products - might be the future of the small family farmFollow Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm:  https://www.sleepyhollowtrees.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SleepyHollowTrees https://www.instagram.com/sleepy_hollow_farm/ https://www.escapewoods.com/ Follow Dirt& Drive: https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

    8: The Farm That Became Hawkins: Stranger Things, Christmas Trees, and a Family That Never Stops

  7. Jun 30 ·  Video

    7: How We Almost Lost Everything (And Found Our Farm's Purpose with Tallow)

    Before there was Dragon Creek Ranch, there was years of grinding... eBay flipping, estate sales, a brutal home sale, and a closing that almost didn't happen twice. And even after we finally got here, a family setback nearly made us lose it all before we ever got started. In the middle of all of that, I was also quietly losing a battle with my own skin. Years of rosacea and eczema, hundreds of dollars spent on prescriptions and creams, nothing working. Then somebody recommended tallow. My reaction? "Ew. Absolutely not." Thirty days later I caved. And three days after that, my skin started clearing up for the first time in years. This is the full origin story of Dragon Creek Ranch. The grind, the setbacks, the skin transformation, and the wedding favor that accidentally launched a business. If you've ever wondered why I do this... this is your answer. Grab your coffee. Pull up a chair. This one's personal.  Follow Dirt& Drive: https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

    7: How We Almost Lost Everything (And Found Our Farm's Purpose with Tallow)

  8. Jun 16 ·  Video

    6: How To Get Started Selling At Markets & Vendor Events (Step-By-Step)

    Thinking about selling at farmers markets, festivals, or vendor events? This episode walks you through every single step: from getting your business license and the right insurance, to setting up your booth, prepping for weather, taking payments, and capturing customers after the event. I'm sharing exactly what I did to go from zero to $900 in sales at my very first event. Whether you make soap, skincare, food, or crafts... this is the setup guide I wish I'd had. Follow Dirt& Drive: https://www.youtube.com/@dirtanddrivepod https://instagram.com/dirtanddrivepod https://tiktok.com/@dirtanddrivepod Follow Dragon Creek Ranch: Shop Tallow: http://dragoncreek.org https://facebook.com/dragoncreekranch https://instagram.com/dragoncreek.ranch https://tiktok.com/@dragoncreekranch https://www.youtube.com/@Dragon_Creek_Ranch If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s building something from the ground up. Dirt & Drive Podcast: Real conversations about building a business, working the land, and creating something that lasts. Before you head out to pasture, remember, this is just people sharing opinions not medical, legal, or business advice. The opinions expressed here don't necessarily reflect the views of the host, Dragon Creek Ranch, or the Dirt & Drive Podcast. Always remember to do your own research. It's ok to get your hands a little dirty, but keep your rap sheet clean. Thanks for listening!

    6: How To Get Started Selling At Markets & Vendor Events (Step-By-Step)
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About

Turning a small homestead into a real business. 

Information

  • Creator
    Dragon Creek Ranch
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dirt & Drive
  • Show Website
    Dirt & Drive

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