Farm Small Farm Smart Daily

Can you accept in the beginning that what you are doing may not work?

Because, guess what, it might not.

But as long as you keep trying something will..

You just have to be willing to continue on until then. And if you are willing to accept that, then save yourself the time, money, and stress and quit now.

This path isn't for everyone and that's fine.

Regardless of what decision you make, just be content with you own decision.

Do yourself a favor and think about this long and hard, because it is a life changer. 20 years from now, do you want to look back and say you went for it, or regret not going for it.

Hopefully this show will lead you down the path of no regrets, and make your journey a little bit easier.

More about The Urban Farmer at permaculturevoices.com/tuf27

Direct download: TUF027-09302015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

In this talk Greg Judy talk covers the steps used to find leased land and build a multi-species grazing operation from scratch.

Livestock can be a blessing or a curse. It's all in the management. With smart management livestock become a multiplier on the landscape. By using a variety of livestock to manage the forages it allows better utilization of plants. Harvesting much more solar energy through the wide selection of different plant leaves.

This is a message that Greg Judy has come to learn, live by, and not preach.

Greg's story is remarkable. He is someone that went from almost broke to financially successfully and paying off his farm and house in three years. He did it by grazing cattle on land that he didn't own, leased land.

This talk was presented live at PV1 in March 2014.

Greg will be speaking at PV3 in March 2016.

Learn more about Greg at permaculturevoices.com/b28.

Direct download: b028-09282015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 5:30am PST

Denis Hayes talks about a lifetime of work in environmentalism - the challenges, successes, the changing environmental problems, and how he has endured numerous political changes in Washington.

Denis was the organizer of the first Earth Day in 1970, headed the Solar Energy Research Institute under President Carter, and is now president of the Bullitt Foundation. In 1999 Time Magazine named him Hero of the Planet.

In this episode we go through his early life in a polluted Washington paper milling community to how he became an environmental activist. We also discuss the creation and organization of the first Earth Day in 1970 and how the scope of the environmental problems have changed since then.

Learn more about Denis at permaculturevoices.com/cd3.

Direct download: CD003-09252015.mp3
Category:permaculture -- posted at: 5:30am PST

Work to learn, not to earn...

Understand where you want to go, understand why you want to get into it, figure out a smart systematic way to get there, and work hard in the process.

And give yourself the forgiveness to make mistakes, but have the wherewithal to analyze those mistakes so you can adapt going forward.

That's what this episode is all about.

Taking the time to think long term and setting yourself up for long term success in the beginning.

Part of setting yourself up for success is knowing some of the common pitfalls, so you can avoid them.

In this episode we delve into more common reasons why many farmers struggle.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/tuf26

Direct download: TUF026-09232015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

Peter and Grant met at a Darren Doherty workshop in 2012 as landless farmers with the shared dream of regenerating landscapes.

Since then, they’ve both landed properties, planted thousands of trees, and developed large-scale permaculture farms. They will share their stories of how they acquired land and rapidly deployed permaculture in different ways in different places, amid different contexts.

Peter farms at Mastodon Valley Farm in the ridges and valleys of southwestern Wisconsin, and Grant at Versaland in the rolling hills of Iowa. This talk was presented live at PV2 in March 2015.

View the slides from this presentation at permaculturevoices.com/b27.

Direct download: b027-09212015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

This is an excerpt of an interview that I conducted with Joel Salatin on May 22, 2013 in Big Bear Lake, CA.

Listen to another podcast with Joel at permaculturevoices.com/89

Direct download: A5-JoelSalatin2013One.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

It's August 25, 2015 which means we are at the tail end of summer and shorter, cooler days are coming as fall nears.

We are in one of those unique periods in the year known as the shoulder season, the transition periods at the end of one season and the beginning of another.

They can be tricky time periods for farmers to navigate.

Day lengths start getting shorter, temperatures start getting cooler, and the weather starts to change.

As a farmer this is one of those time periods where it critical to be able to adapt.

You need to be able to understand the changes that are taking place in your biome and plan your crop rotations accordingly.

With an ever changing climate each situation is different and each climate is different, making these shoulder seasons tough to explain.

This episode should shine some light on the topic and give you a general approach that works.

It's this approach, and methodology, that lies at the core of every farmers ability to adapt.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/tuf25

Direct download: TUF025-09162015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

Appropriate technology plays a critical role in permaculture systems. Developing, documenting, and sharing these tools and systems can turn dreamers into true permaculture practitioners.

Grant will discuss home and hot water heating using regenerative energy sources, year-round food preservation in a permacultural context, and functional transport including cargo bikes among other topics.

This talk was presented live at PV2 in March 2015 by Grant Schultz of Versaland.com.

Learn more about Grant at permaculturevoices.com/b26

Direct download: b026-09142015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

Hello Diego,

My name is Russ. I am married, and have two awesome children and I used to be an alcoholic...

This episode is the story of Russ and how permaculture helped him get past alcoholism and change his life.

Learn more at permaculturevoices.com/111

Direct download: PVP111-09112015.mp3
Category:permaculture -- posted at: 6:00am PST

As a farmer, how do you communicate what you have to sell each week, how much it costs, and when you need orders placed by, so you can deliver it on time?

You use what is called a fresh sheet.

At it's simplest a fresh sheet is a list of what you are selling currently on the farm, and for what price.

A fresh sheet is more than a current inventory list. It also reminds ever-busy chefs that you have product that they probably want.

If you've never made a fresh sheet before, this episode may prompt you to make one.

It's a whole bunch of little tips and tricks to help you design, create, and maintain an effective fresh sheet.

Listen to past episodes at: https://www.paperpot.co/podcast

Increase farm efficiency with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on Instagram:http://bit.ly/2B45VKQ

 

Direct download: TUF024-09082015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

Learn the tools, techniques, and costs of establishing a productive silvopasture – a production system that produces yields from every layer. Beginning with bare land, you’ll understand harvest planning and sourcing trees, seed, livestock, and equipment. Also learn what can potentially be built, bartered or bartered.

This talk was presented live at PV2 in March 2015.

See the slides for this talk at permaculturevoices.com/b025.

Direct download: b025-09042015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

This episode is all about the art of farming.

Creating a framework, and understanding the overlying philosophy about why you do what you do, and leaving yourself some room to maneuver within that philosophy.

Learn more about Curtis at permaculturevoices.com/tuf23

Listen to past episodes at: https://www.paperpot.co/podcast

Increase farm efficiency with the Paperpot Transplanter and Other Small Farm Equipment at https://www.paperpot.co/

Follow PaperpotCo on Instagram:http://bit.ly/2B45VKQ

Direct download: TUF023-09012015.mp3
Category:permaculture,agriculture,farming -- posted at: 6:00am PST

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