Farm Marketing Solutions show

Farm Marketing Solutions

Summary: The Growing Farms Podcast is your weekly behind the scenes look at family farms from across the United States. The GFP follows my start in agriculture as I seek advice from farmers from all over the land. I share my expertise in farm marketing, small farm business, and farming as a career while operating a farm myself. The best way to learn how to farm is through other farmers. The guiding principle of the GFP is the documenting and free sharing of information. Whether you have been farming for years, you are a Homegrown Greenhorn, or you are starting to consider a career in agriculture, there is something we can all do to grow our farms.

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  • Artist: John Suscovich: Farm Marketing and Sustainable Farming Expert
  • Copyright: Copyright © Farm Marketing Solutions, Your Farm Marketing Source 2013

Podcasts:

 GFP 003: Jesse LaFlamme of Pete and Gerry’s Organic Eggs, Diversifying Your Farm Income, and Telling Your Story | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:07

Show Summary: The third episode of the Growing Farms Podcast brings you a quick update into my life starting a farm. I briefly discuss the work that goes into producing the podcast and keeping the website as functional as possible. I have been putting in some serious hours to make sure I bring you the highest quality content.The topic of the episode then turns to our main theme, diversifying your farm income. There are two ways that I have seen this successfully done. Either you take a look around your farm and figure out what business ventures can compliment each other, or you hire other farmers to work for you. I give examples of both, which leads into the interview for this episode. In this episode you will learn about:Diversifying Farm Revenue Streams Fantastic Business Opportunity in Organic Egg Production Telling Your Story to Market Your Farm  Interview with Jesse LaFlamme of Pete & Gerry's Organic Eggs:Jesse is an inspirational farmer and businessman. Jesse (and family) own and operate a medium-scale organic egg farm in Monroe, NH.  Pete & Gerry's has been in the family for four generations, starting in the late 1800's. They have changed the face of the farm through the years, adapting to meet the needs of the market.Today Pete & Gerry's produces organic, cage-free eggs for sale in grocery markets around New England. Not only do they farm themselves, but they are responsible for keeping 37 other family farmers in business. By defying convention and seeking horizontal integration instead of vertical integration (as most commercial farms do) they have kept more farmers on the land, and provided a better habitat for their hens.I have strict standards on the food I buy at the store. When I cannot get eggs at a farmers' market or from a farmer friend, I buy Pete & Gerry's. Jesse will be the first one to tell you to buy from the farmers' market first, but if you cannot make it, he'll be there to fill the gap. Happy chickens lay better eggs!Right Click Here to Download the MP3  Items mentioned in this episode include:U.S. Egg Farm Statistics 2010 Egg Recall (Fox News) Gary Hirshberg, Chairman of Stonyfield Organic Egg Industry Magazine Farm Futures Coastal Enterprises in Maine Northern Country Investment Council Fair Food Network Pete & Gerry'sTake aways: What else could you be doing to diversify your income?Are you telling your story? Why not? Everyone has a story, and they always think it is boring. Truth is, it's not, and people want to hear it.--My skills are ever-evolving as an interviewer. Thanks for taking the time to listen in, and let me know what you think. You can leave a comment below, send me an e-mail, reach me on Facebook or Twitter, or leave a rating in iTunes if you liked the show.Click to subscrible to iTunes Click to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes Feed)

 GFP 002: Josh Volk of Slow Hand Farm: Innovative Farm Marketing Techniques, The Importance of Community Building, Balancing Life, and A Life Long Learning Process | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 53:31

Show Summary: With the success of the first episode, I am really excited to be bringing you the second episode of the Growing Farms Podcast. The podcast is meant to do two things: follow my story as I start a farm so that we can learn from each other, and to share advice from other farmers from all over the map.I start this episode with a look into what my life is like right now, winter 2013. I am on the hunt for land, and I am at it tirelessly. I am speaking with land trusts, meeting with land owners, other farmers, and anyone whose ear I can grab for a minute or two. I am making every effort to keep it all organized with my computer, my paper maps, my trusty notebook, and my white board (see picture below). I am sharing this experience because I know I am not the only one out there looking for farm land. Whether you're just starting out, or your expanding your farm, I know I have helpful advice to share.Then begins the featured interview I did with Josh Volk of Slow Hand Farm out near Portland, OR. Josh has a lot of wisdom to share, and is doing some very interesting and innovative things when it comes to running his farm. In this episode you will learn about:How I intend to monetize the site through affiliate links. How I go about finding land based on a proven system. A reality I am facing in a poor job market. Networking with other farmers and building a community. Innovative farm marketing techniques. Setting prices and farm planning. Balancing life by farming part time. Accepting that life is a learning process.Interview with Josh Volk of Slow Hand Farm: Josh operates a 40 member vegetable CSA which services the city of Portland, OR. In addition to his farming efforts, he also runs a consulting business to help get farmers off the ground (no pun intended). Josh is an all around good guy and has great advice when it comes to running a farm, whether you do it part time or full time.Plus, Josh shares with us his innovative farm marketing technique that is helping him connect with his customers and build a community around his farm.Right Click Here to Download the MP3  Items mentioned in this episode include:Ecology Action with John Jeavons Delivering Mattresses by Bicycle Foxglove Farm in B.C. with Michael Ableman Northwest Farm to Farmer Exchange (08' article) PACSAC, Portland Area Community Supported Agriculture Cooelition Slow Hand Farm with Josh Volk, Portland, ORFarming Books Mentioned (Affiliate links = I earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. I already own these books, that is why I am recommending them.)How to Grow More Vegetables, Eighth Edition (Book by:John Jeavons)Take Aways: How good is your book keeping? Are you able to track how well a crop is doing? Is there something you can be doing to make your life easier and your work more beneficial toward increasing your bottom line?What simple yet innovative marketing techniques can you apply to your farm? A little bit goes a long way.What are you doing to build a community around yourself and your business? What more can you be doing, even if it just to smile a little more often?--My skills are ever-evolving as an interviewer. Thanks for taking the time to listen in, and let me know what you think. You can leave a comment below, send me an e-mail, reach me on Facebook or Twitter, or leave a rating in iTunes if you liked the show.Click to subscrible to iTunes Click to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes Feed)

 GFP 001: Show Introduction | How do you define success as a farmer? Why is it important to do so? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 41:26

Show Summary: This is the very first episode of the Growing Farms Podcast. You may have caught the sneak preview, and now it is time for the real thing! I will be bringing you episodes and interviews each week from farmers from across the country.This episode introduces  me, the host. It introduces the show, it's concept, and I conduct my first interview with Connecticut farmer Erick Taylor on how he defines success as a farmer.I am thrilled to be bringing you this podcast. I feel like my life's work so far has culminated in bringing these projects to you: Farm Marketing  Solutions, the Growing Farms Podcast, and starting a farm of my own. In this episode you will learn about:Your host, me, John Suscovich. You will take brief look at me, where I've been, where I am, and where I am going, so you know who you will be listening to every week. The show, the Growing Farms Podcast. I'll give you an overview of what the show is about:Sharing notes on getting started in farming and agriculture. Highlighting the different types of farming through interviews with farmers from across the Country.Interview with Erick Taylor of Devon Point Farm: How do you define success as a farm and why is it important to do so?Personal Success Economic Success Environmental Success Community SuccessIs there anything you know now that you wish you knew when you were starting out? Erick & Patty Taylor own and operate Devon Point Farm in Woodstock, CT. They run a 200 member vegetable CSA, a closed herd of grass-fed Red Devon beef cattle, and raise a few other animals on their 93 acre farm. Right Click HERE to Download the MP3 Items mentioned in this episode include:Howard Stern FoodCyclist.com Alastair Humphreys DevonPointFarm.com WWOOFUSA.org SmartPassiveIncome.com with Pat Flynn PodcastAnswerMan.com with Cliff Ravenscraft FoodCyclistFarm.com Currier and IvesTake-Aways: What is your definition of success?Is success the fast car, big house, and slick suit jacket and tie? Or do you prefer working outside, spending time with family and friends, and doing work that is fulfilling?What mark are you going to leave on the world with the work you do?--My skills are ever-evolving as an interviewer. Thanks for taking the time to listen in, and let me know what you think. You can leave a comment below, send me an e-mail, reach me on Facebook or Twitter, or leave a rating in iTunes if you liked the show.Click to subscrible to iTunes Click to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes Feed) 

 Growing Farms Podcast Sneak Preview | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 2:08

The clock is ticking. We missed the end of the world, Christmas is right around the corner, and the new year is almost upon us. 2013 will herald the beginning of the world's greatest farm podcast! That's right folks! You heard it here first.Starting January 2nd and then continuing every Tuesday from now until the next Mayan Calendar runs out I will be bringing you the Growing Farms Podcast.Before the actual launch I wanted to give you a sneak preview, as my loyal audience on the show I have been working so hard to create. (Not going to lie, this also gives me a chance to make sure everything works properly before the actual launch.)I have interviews from some really great farmers and ag professionals from across the country already with more scheduled in January. I am having a blast planning my farm, working on the podcast, and developing Farm Marketing Solutions. Thanks for taking the journey with me. I promise not to disappoint.Click to subscrible to iTunes Click to Subscribe via RSS (non-iTunes Feed)

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