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:
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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.

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.

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.

In this episode, rookie farmer Alec Smith sits down with chef-turned-farmer Cory Babb of Firelight Farm in Arkansas, who built a thriving market garden business after 15 years in the restaurant industry. Cory shares how he scaled from a handful of caterpillar tunnels to over an acre of no-till production, diversified his income through value-added products like pickled carrots and cowboy candy, and strategically balanced farmers market and restaurant sales.

Click here to learn more about farmer Cory and Firelight 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.

Ever feel like land ownership is such a far-fetched goal that most of the time feels a little too impossible? Four Georgia farmers have an answer: running a cooperative farm. In this episode, Alec sits down with Monica Ponce, greenhouse manager and one of four worker-owners at Love Is Love Cooperative Farm in Georgia, to unpack how their worker-owned cooperative went from breaking ground in 2021 to generating over $200K annually in plant sales alone.

Click here to learn more about farmer Monica Ponce and Love is Love Cooperative 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.

In this episode of the Rookie Farmer Podcast, rookie farmers Alec and Richard pull back the curtain on their real farm financials for 2025: their gross sales, net profit, biggest expenses, and what they plan on doing differently this coming season. Tune in to learn how two small farms are using data, crop planning, and the right tools (including an honest review of the Jang seeder!) to set themselves up for their best year yet.

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.

In this episode, host Alec talks to farmer Peter Lee about how he built a thriving market garden in rural Ireland serving just 700 people, proving you don't need a massive market to succeed. Peter shares challenges of Irish growing conditions—from polytunnel potatoes harvested in May to slow-growing winter greens—and how he leveraged farm mentorship to scale from backyard hobby to profitable venture.

Click here to learn more about farmer Peter and Bird and Blossom 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.

In this episode of The Rookie Farmer Podcast, host Alec Smith welcomes farmer Jill Duncan of Loving Roots Urban Farm as she shares her journey from renting farm land in the city to owning a thriving 1/3-acre market garden: growing on two farms at the same time, keeping her customer base, and the growing pains of moving to a new location. She also talks about how she grows lettuce year-round, builds deep customer relationships that drive business growth, and manages a profitable solo operation growing high-value crops.

Click here to learn more about farmer Jill and Loving Roots Urban 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.