In Her Boots Podcasts

We kick off a new series with Rachel Armstrong, who grew up on a farm in Minnesota, headed off to law school, then saw the need for legal education for farmers and founded the nonprofit Farm Commons. Rachel’s story reminds us that there are many roles for women in the sustainable agriculture world and to experiment, research and—as she did—create new things that support our good food movement. Rachel is the founder and Executive Director of Farm Commons, a nonprofit that empowers farmers to understand and create their own solutions to business law challenges in an ecosystem of support. She strives to make farm law approachable and relevant to every farmer.

We are finishing up our In Her Boots series with Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics, talking about the bright future of organic local grains and the role women can play. From planting regional-specific grains to starting a mill, there are lots of business opportunities to think about. In Her Boots Podcast The In Her Boots Podcast celebrates the collaborative spirit of women farmers, sharing ideas and inspiration with each other, and champions women farmers in the sustainable and organic farming movement. Whether you’re a woman with a dream of starting your own farm or already have your hands deep in the soil, there’s something for you here. Hosted by Lisa Kivirist, founder and coordinator of the In Her Boots project. A farmer herself, Lisa runs Inn Serendipity Farm and B&B with her family in Wisconsin and is the author of Soil Sisters: A Toolkit for Women Farmers. Audio engineer is Liam Kivirist of Techsocket.net. Funded initially by NorthCentral SARE. This podcast is available on iTunes and Stitcher. ________________________________________________________________________ Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics Episode 108: Halee Wepking on Marketing Local Grains We continue with Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics to talk about how she direct markets organic grains to local bakeries and consumers. There are legalities to navigate, she cautions, as she shares how important it is to educate bakers when you’re trying to sell them on grains that are new to them. Episode 107: Halee Wepking on Marketing through Local Food Hub to Manage Risk Artisanal bakers and craft brewers have created a demand for local grains. Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics explains how to access these markets and manage risk by marketing through a regional food hub. Episode 106: My Farm Story with Halee Wepking Today we sit down with Halee Wepking as she shares how a Craigslist ad and a unique land transition plan launched her family’s farm, Meadowlark Organics. From a degree in modern dance to stints as a professional cook, Halee’s inspiring journey reminds us to follow our heart and stay open to opportunities. Halee Wepking and her husband, John, run Meadowlark Organics, working with Paul Bickford on his 800-acre farm, shifting the focus from organic feed crops to a diversity of food-grade small grains, buckwheat, edible dry beans, and open-pollinated corn. Halee is mom to two young kids, Henry and Lyda, and also manages a grass-fed beef herd.

We continue with Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics to talk about how she direct markets organic grains to local bakeries and consumers. There are legalities to navigate, she cautions, as she shares how important it is to educate bakers when you're trying to sell them on grains that are new to them. Halee Wepking and her husband, John, run Meadowlark Organics, working with Paul Bickford on his 800-acre farm, shifting the focus from organic feed crops to a diversity of food-grade small grains, buckwheat, edible dry beans, and open-pollinated corn. Halee is mom to two young kids, Henry and Lyda, and also manages a grass-fed beef herd.

Artisanal bakers and craft brewers have created a demand for local grains. Halee Wepking of Meadowlark Organics explains how to access these markets and manage risk by marketing through a regional food hub. Halee Wepking and her husband, John, run Meadowlark Organics, working with Paul Bickford on his 800-acre farm, shifting the focus from organic feed crops to a diversity of food-grade small grains, buckwheat, edible dry beans, and open-pollinated corn. Halee is mom to two young kids, Henry and Lyda, and also manages a grass-fed beef herd.

Today we sit down with Halee Wepking as she shares how a Craigslist ad and a unique land transition plan launched her family's farm, Meadowlark Organics. From a degree in modern dance to stints as a professional cook, Halee’s inspiring journey reminds us to follow our heart and stay open to opportunities. Halee Wepking and her husband, John, run Meadowlark Organics, working with Paul Bickford on his 800-acre farm, shifting the focus from organic feed crops to a diversity of food-grade small grains, buckwheat, edible dry beans, and open-pollinated corn. Halee is mom to two young kids, Henry and Lyda, and also manages a grass-fed beef herd.

For our last episode with Marie Raboin of Brix Cider, we tap into her conservation expertise and learn about smartly using cover crops as livestock forage and how that helps your business bottom line while building soil fertility. Marie Raboin runs Brix Cider, a hard cider company, farm-to-table restaurant and small orchard with her husband, Matt. They’re also raising two young kids, Teddy and Vera. Marie has worked in conservation agriculture for over 15 years with organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Land Conservation, and UW Extension. She also was the director of agroecology for an NGO in Malawi, Africa. With degrees in soil science and agroecology, Marie has focused her work on supporting farmers that practice conservation agriculture, specifically managed grazing and cover cropping systems.

We are back with Marie Raboin of Brix Cider on how she manages staff in the orchard and the rest of her businesses. Learn how to identify and manage human risks on a specialty crop farm like hers, and, how to retain employees by keeping it all fun in the process. Marie Raboin runs Brix Cider, a hard cider company, farm-to-table restaurant and small orchard with her husband, Matt. They’re also raising two young kids, Teddy and Vera. Marie has worked in conservation agriculture for over 15 years with organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Land Conservation, and UW Extension. She also was the director of agroecology for an NGO in Malawi, Africa. With degrees in soil science and agroecology, Marie has focused her work on supporting farmers that practice conservation agriculture, specifically managed grazing and cover cropping systems.

Every business, including a farm, has legal risks associated with it. Hear how Marie identifies and manages legal risks in running her farm and cider business. Find and hire the experts, advises Marie. Even if you pay more upfront, it will definitely payback in the long term when direct marketing value-added products. Marie Raboin runs Brix Cider, a hard cider company, farm-to-table restaurant and small orchard with her husband, Matt. They're also raising two young kids, Teddy and Vera. Marie has worked in conservation agriculture for over 15 years with organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Land Conservation, and UW Extension. She also was the director of agroecology for an NGO in Malawi, Africa. With degrees in soil science and agroecology, Marie has focused her work on supporting farmers that practice conservation agriculture, specifically managed grazing and cover cropping systems.

Get a dose of entrepreneurial inspiration as we hear how Marie Raboin of Brix Cider launched an orchard, hard cider company, and farm-to-table restaurant in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. Marie explains how she learned to ask for help, embrace the unknown, and tap into a collaborative women farmer network. Marie Raboin runs Brix Cider, a hard cider company, farm-to-table restaurant and small orchard with her husband, Matt. They're also raising two young kids, Teddy and Vera. Marie has worked in conservation agriculture for over 15 years with organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Land Conservation, and UW Extension. She also was the director of agroecology for an NGO in Malawi, Africa. With degrees in soil science and agroecology, Marie has focused her work on supporting farmers that practice conservation agriculture, specifically managed grazing and cover cropping systems.

Everyone's talking about cover crops. In this conversation, farmer Clare Hintz of Elsewhere Farm shares how she uses cover crops for livestock forage. Take a “birds-eye” view of her farm and “see” her American Guinea hogs and how she employs them and other means to add soil fertility and control pests in her perennial fruit orchard. Clare Hintz runs Elsewhere Farm, a production permaculture farm near the south shore of Lake Superior in Herbster, Wisconsin. The solar-powered farm features perennial fruits and nuts interplanted on five acres, intensive market gardens, and rare-breed pigs and chickens. Clare also serves on the MOSES Board.

On today’s episode, Clare Hintz of Elsewhere Farm discusses how she, as a solo woman farmer, manages risk through value-added products, like the pickles she makes for her CSA box, and how to do things safely when farming alone. Clare Hintz runs Elsewhere Farm, a production permaculture farm near the south shore of Lake Superior in Herbster, Wisconsin. The solar-powered farm features perennial fruits and nuts interplanted on five acres, intensive market gardens, and rare-breed pigs and chickens. Clare also serves on the MOSES Board.

We welcome back farmer Clare Hintz of Elsewhere Farm on the banks of Lake Superior in Wisconsin. Clare shares how she identifies and deals with risks on her specialty crop farm. She explains how you can you work fast but safely, manage labor, and more importantly, take care of your farm’s most important asset:  you! Clare Hintz runs Elsewhere Farm, a production permaculture farm near the south shore of Lake Superior in Herbster, Wisconsin. The solar-powered farm features perennial fruits and nuts interplanted on five acres, intensive market gardens, and rare-breed pigs and chickens. Clare also serves on the MOSES Board.   Note: These are bonus episodes with Clare focusing on risk management topics. Check out podcast episodes 40-43 for more on her farm story.

We wrap up our series with Alicia Razvi of Wooly Thyme Micro Farm with important advice to encourage women in sustainable and organic agriculture to step up to the leadership plate. Hear how she became the first female Muslim to be a chapter president in the National Farmers Union. Alicia Razvi is the owner and operator of Wooly Thyme Micro Farm in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, a two-acre farm that specializes in CSA, halal butchered poultry, jams and chutneys, and home-baked goods. She is president of the Wood-Portage-Waupaca County Chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union.

Today we dig deeper with Alicia Razvi of Wooly Thyme Micro Farm to learn how she manages risk through diversification. Not putting all the eggs in one basket is a strategy that has worked well for Alicia, especially during those beginning CSA years. She shares her risk-management strategies from interplanting produce to planning for those “just in case” moments. Alicia Razvi is the owner and operator of Wooly Thyme Micro Farm in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, a two-acre farm that specializes in CSA, halal butchered poultry, jams and chutneys, and home-baked goods. She is president of the Wood-Portage-Waupaca County Chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union.

We continue our conversation with farmer and food entrepreneur Alicia Razvi of Wooly Thyme Micro Farm, talking about diversifying by adding a value-added cottage food business. Hear how Alicia manages risk by using abundant fresh produce for canning and also making baked goods--ventures that allow her teen daughter to be involved in the business. Alicia Razvi is the owner and operator of Wooly Thyme Micro Farm in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, a two-acre farm that specializes in CSA, halal butchered poultry, jams and chutneys, and home-baked goods. She is president of the Wood-Portage-Waupaca County Chapter of Wisconsin Farmers Union.