This course is all about demonstrating
techniques with real farmers.
Four farms in four completely different climate zones and market places. Each of these farms offer a unique experience from the size of the operation and crew to the specialization of crops, products and infrastructure. From the leanest and lowest capital investments to the best of what money can buy. These four farms cover all the bases of what is most currently at the forefront of market gardening for profit today.
Steadfast Farm
Steadfast is a 1.5 acre farm (150 one hundred foot beds) in Queen Creek, Arizona. It’s
a very lean, yet very profitable farm that sells organic vegetables through restaurants,
farmer’s markets, and CSA. Erich Shultz has moved the farm’s location three times and
is a shinning example of how you can start farming without owning land, but keep your
infrastructure, tool’s, and crew lean enough, that they can move if you have to. Arizona
is a hot and dry climate and it has many challenges to growing that we don’t see in
many other places in North America.
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La Ferme des QuatreTemps
FQT is the newest farm project of JeanMartin Fortier (author of The Market Gardener).
It is a research focused farm on six acres of organic vegetable production (450 one
hundred foot beds). They grow a wide variety of vegetables that are sold through
farmer’s markets, CSA, and restaurants. The design of the farm has implemented many
ideas inspired by permaculture and regenerative agriculture.
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Dogpatch Urban Gardens
Dogpatch Urban Gardens (DUG) is a quarter acre urban farm with 50 forty-two foot beds. It’s a tiny farm that is very profitable. What makes them unique is that they also run a distributer network alongside
the farm. They grow high value quick growing vegetables like salad greens, baby root
veg, and microgreens, then they source the lower value crops from neighboring farms
to sell at their onsite farm stand. DUG sells primarily through their farm stand, but also
to restaurants and CSA. Jenny Quiner has built an incredible business model that
literally started in her backyard and has now become a serious local food hub in Des
Moines.
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Rose Creek Farms
Rose Creek is a very unique market garden inside of an intentional community called
Rose Creek Village rural Tennessee, 1 hour drive from Memphis. Under an acre of
mixed organic vegetable production with 90 one hundred foot beds. They market to
grocery stores, food hubs, restaurants, farmer’s markets, CSA and a weekly online
ordering platform. Rose Creek blends community living with profitable and innovative
market farming.
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Some of the
small farms in the industry
You will have the chance to see and use all the most utilized tools, infrastructure, and technology that market growers are using today. Whether it’s seeders, harvesters and machines like the BCS walk-behind tractor, we cover everything.
provide a deeper understanding into the many different approaches & contexts.
All the bed prep, planting, maintenance, harvesting, packing, and delivering.
You’ll learn specifics down to the fine details of every aspect of farming.
You will have the chance to see and use all the most utilized tools, infrastructure, and technology that market growers are using today. Whether it’s seeders, harvesters and machines like the BCS walk-behind tractor, we cover everything.