The Enormous Potential of a Small Farm | Assawaga Farm

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  • Опубліковано 27 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 128

  • @lambsquartersfarm
    @lambsquartersfarm Рік тому +61

    Enough income for 5 people, plus land plus living on the farm (mortgage?). Rural farm stand for 3 hours a week, one trip to a big city farmers market. I don't know how you make that work, but congratulations!

    • @RicksPhatPharm-vw2lb
      @RicksPhatPharm-vw2lb Рік тому +10

      It's obvious... with a green house you planting seedlings not seeds. So you can double the volume of growth in season! You could also extend seasons with tunnels and if your greenhouse is big enough with heating or cooling seasons don't matter ad you can grow vertically

    • @fullcirclefarm8830
      @fullcirclefarm8830 Рік тому +9

      A good farm at a good city market can do $10,000 each week, more then enough to sustain the farm.

    • @uteberg4781
      @uteberg4781 Рік тому +1

      @@fullcirclefarm8830And they are talking about that at the start of the video. They are doing a really great market and can sell a big van full. So that has to be much!

    • @tannerlane9669
      @tannerlane9669 Рік тому +1

      Not recession proof but yes if your frugal

    • @lambsquartersfarm
      @lambsquartersfarm Рік тому +2

      @@RicksPhatPharm-vw2lb like I said, sounds great ... lots and lots of variables in there to fill in the blanks on though. Salaries, mortgage, taxes, market (are that many customers lining up in rural CT?), infrastructure, heating...

  • @karensnow4690
    @karensnow4690 Рік тому +16

    I think one of the most important things you hit on is not to get too big. We need small sustainable farms like yours. But to keep farming, the farmers need good quality of life and that means time off to enjoy other things as well as working hard on the farm. That’s a fabulous lesson. Gorgeous farm! Thank you for what you do!

    • @nedhill1242
      @nedhill1242 Рік тому

      They are in a rare situation. Their location geographically that far north protects against competition and the affluent Boston market allows them to be small yet generate substantial revenues and profits. Most small farms and market gardeners (which is what they are) are not in that situation. They'd never be able to operate as they do somewhere like NC or SC.

  • @zgoat4127
    @zgoat4127 2 місяці тому +1

    We need more "Role Models" within Gardening for self sufficiency that are true to the land not the clicks and these two are great , thank you kindly for your efforts,, You have created a living poem,

  • @aileensmith3062
    @aileensmith3062 Рік тому +13

    You folks continue to share awesome videos of REAL people telling their REAL story. We never want to get that big or hire an employee and more. Although it is fun and interesting and hearing the ups and downs and them being self supportive on their one acre farm. Geesh we get tired and just thinking of maintaining a place that big!

  • @myurbangarden7695
    @myurbangarden7695 Рік тому +19

    Thank you for bringing this farm to our attention. We have learned So much.

  • @ajb.822
    @ajb.822 Рік тому +6

    I love these interviews, thanks ! On growing outside (vrs. adding lots of tunnels), it's nice to see growers who like to avoid tunnels unless needed, as there's research indicating that nutrition can be less, certain phytonutrient type things lacking in ( in the case I heard about: tomatoes) ones grown under any cover, glass or poly, vrs. direct sunlight. So, obviously food vrs. no-food, or keeping your farm afloat, is still a priority but that's just one example of a reason for us all not to get overly away from outdoor, close to natural as possible, ways of growing :).
    On the extreme seasons lately, yeah ! It was predicted by folks sharing news about the new-ish solar cycle we're in now, the Grand Solar Minimum, so I was more expecting it but still been tough, as I've moved and started new but also temporary (so, hard to know how much to invest in them, with limited resources and not being an expert grower even on good soil and "just" growing for ourselves primarily). On the historic drought - I'm not saying this is the case in the place you're at/were referencing - , it's interesting, what soil scientist Elaine Ingram has shared about historical records. That what most of us in the US have been experiencing as drought this past summer or 2, wouldn't have been considered an official drought back in like the 1800s records she's reading. That apparently our soil life, health, humus etc. has degraded ( or eroded) so badly that now we're suffering a lot more crop effects than they recorded, from same rainfall, or something like that. Just interesting (and motivating !), no offense or argument meant or anything !

  • @C.Hawkshaw
    @C.Hawkshaw Рік тому +2

    Thanks for being diplomatic and forthright at the same time!

  • @margerybedford4184
    @margerybedford4184 Рік тому +20

    Great content/filming...thank you : )
    I love Yoko's focus on managable simplicity. It inspires me to consider how my family can access our local market with our organic/of-grid produce.
    Also, we are finishing off a VERY SLOW growing season in Ontario, Canada, too.

  • @christituck4409
    @christituck4409 Рік тому +7

    I would cherish the opportunity to get to work side by side with these 2 individuals, or other farmers like them, just to be able to absorb their knowledge. There is nothing like hands on training to hone ones skills. This channel as a whole, has been very beneficial and key for me, to build my knowledge for my personal garden. Thank you to all who take the time to share!!!

    • @Tippler0611
      @Tippler0611 10 місяців тому +2

      Was thinking this too! A work study program, especially if not affiliated with a school but just for interested folks, would be amazing. Places like youtube are fabulous but any ag programs out there are still focused on old-school destructive farming techniques. I've not seen anything that was a practical sustainable ag education, much less anything hands on

    • @kaoticmind09
      @kaoticmind09 7 місяців тому

      @@Tippler0611 agreed. I really want to do the same.

  • @gregdabney237
    @gregdabney237 Рік тому +2

    Great story, it can be simple, stick to your plan and enjoy your blessings. Those who continue to use your bounty are the best critics. Let's be happy and wish Yoko and Alex a great bounty of health and sustainable wealth. Remember, this beautiful farm is on 1 acre!! They are doing a lot right on their farm. Be Well Yoko and Alex!! Best wishes from Colorado.

  • @timbushell8640
    @timbushell8640 Рік тому +6

    An excellent farm, and with so little compost.
    Excellent series too. Thank you all.

  • @hhwippedcream
    @hhwippedcream Рік тому +6

    Totally agree with keeping it small and manageable, especially when getting to know rhe land and its pressures/needs. Great vid and awesome expert interviewer and interviewees! Thanks for putting this out!

  • @lisamcdonald1415
    @lisamcdonald1415 Рік тому +8

    Great videos, love the farm. Honestly can’t wait for Jesse videos again in the office season

  • @thetoal666
    @thetoal666 Рік тому +1

    I live in Connecticut, love those two. I often look at what they do to see what is possible in my own garden.

  • @douggibson9084
    @douggibson9084 Рік тому +3

    Thanks Yoko and Alex, very mythological thinking. Thanks Guys.👍👍

  • @KPVFarmer
    @KPVFarmer Рік тому +9

    Beautiful farm, great content! Thank You!

  • @theadventuresofzoomandbettie
    @theadventuresofzoomandbettie Рік тому +1

    This was brilliant, and really, the scale of farm we are starting to build towards now. At least this is the goal!

  • @manolopapas
    @manolopapas Рік тому +4

    Very interesting, thank you farmer Jesse, you are awesome

  • @kristianbonis483
    @kristianbonis483 7 місяців тому

    If you’re ever around Huntsville Arkansas you should check out dripping springs garden. It’s a beautiful 3.5 acre vegetable and flower farm. They have been on that property for over 30 years and are super knowledgeable about all things gardening. Mark and Mike are the two owners.

  • @01Erena
    @01Erena Рік тому +4

    Hello from Litchfield County CT. Road trip!

  • @thefishfin-atic7106
    @thefishfin-atic7106 Рік тому

    8:45 AMEN BROTHER!!!! I was just talking about this crazy weather with some folks at my garden plot, and some old time gardeners said it was never like this in their hayday. The weather was usually fairly predictable, and if it was a bit dry or cold, it only lasted a few days, but 2023 in Toronto, we had rain almost every single day, then the smoke from the fires, then the cold weather, and all our ground crops rotted out, and everything else barely grew.

  • @carlcecil79
    @carlcecil79 Рік тому +1

    Love the produce at Assawaga! CPC, the Quiet Corner of Connecticut

  • @maryanne2666
    @maryanne2666 Рік тому

    Really appreciated the discussion about having employees or not.

  • @mystique_meadows_oh
    @mystique_meadows_oh Рік тому

    Definitely grabbing a copy of the book. Your content is great too.

  • @DaytonasGarden
    @DaytonasGarden Рік тому +14

    I really want to do exactly this! This is my dream. These guys are so cool

  • @amywalker9553
    @amywalker9553 Рік тому

    "Understanding that not everyone knows whats straight".....i feel the wonky bed pain too!! 😅😂

  • @jennablorezone8Band9A
    @jennablorezone8Band9A Рік тому +5

    Love these farm tours! 👏👩🏼‍🌾. I’m amazed at how they sustain themselves and employees with their limited retail time. Did I miss something, is it only one week at farmers market in town + three hours at their place, and that’s it? Would love more information on that, as we are getting into small farming. I ordered Richard Perkins book on regenerative agriculture, so I’m curious if they follow some of his guidelines in regards to finances/management ?
    Beautiful farm and their perimeter fencing caught my eye as well. 👍🏻👍🏻

  • @iainhamilton8575
    @iainhamilton8575 Рік тому

    Love the handbook…got,it a couple of weeks back and re-reading already😊

  • @dandan8333
    @dandan8333 Рік тому +3

    It's definitely a dream lifestyle!
    I tried to do something similar and spend winters in Guangxi until cv19 restrictions. It was nice visiting a family farms each week; never too old to share with friends. Our family has over 450 members in its family tree. It's truly amazing...
    Can't believe how difficult it is to find anyone willing to learn/work in our local area. In China, it's easy to gather a list to choose from.
    Thanks again, and have a great week!

  • @jvin248
    @jvin248 Рік тому +9

    Surprising they only run the retail three hours on Sundays. I ran retail produce for years and the core hours they should consider is 10am to 4pm Sat and Sun. They should also track sales by weekend through the season to know when customer fluctuations normally occur like buying extra to take to the two week vacation cottage (nearly a regional migration in some states) and then buying extra when they return home. Otherwise you have shortages or overages without some anticipation and historical insight. They have a very nice looking operation.

  • @LittleKi1
    @LittleKi1 Рік тому +2

    Great video. Extremely generalized comment about people romanticizing farming: if employers want employees to stay on, don't ask them to work stupid. There's a difference between working hard and working stupid and when hardworking people are asked to labor needlessly, that's when they walk. Efficiency in every step of the process is absolutely vital for employee retention.

    • @C.Hawkshaw
      @C.Hawkshaw Рік тому

      It sounds like you have personal experience in the agricultural field. Could you elaborate? Just because, l don’t really know what you mean. I have never worked on a farm, but l worked outdoors in Seattle for 25 years, pruning trees.

    • @LittleKi1
      @LittleKi1 Рік тому +2

      Every job can be done relatively easily if done at the right time and with the right equipment. If you're on track, let's say you can get six tasks done in a day. You'll be tired at the end of the day but you got six tasks done. Now, imagine not getting it done at the right time and it becomes a lot harder.Then you might spend the entire day getting a single task done. But the other five still need to be done. Now you're behind and doing six times the work. Imagine you have a municipal client with a tree limb that needs to come down. Instead of taking it down in summer when they notice it, they let it go down in a November storm. And it takes out power lines. Which then requires you, PSE, and a road crew to fix it, all while everyone else also needs those resources. But, in the case of farming, you don't get PSE and the road crew...it's still just you with all the work and it all could have been avoiding by pruning the limb before the winter storms. That's working stupid. I hear a lot about farms not being able to keep capable people....smart people expect smart systems.@@C.Hawkshaw

    • @neophytebutterfly
      @neophytebutterfly Рік тому

      I agree with your examples of working smarter. Is there an app for that?🤪😂😂😂

  • @angespag5687
    @angespag5687 Рік тому +1

    Great video! Great insights. You guys are good at your business.

  • @ildarmingazov2304
    @ildarmingazov2304 Рік тому +4

    Hey there!

  • @waynesell3681
    @waynesell3681 Рік тому +1

    Amazing farm and people! Home gardener here, sure could use the help of second set of hands alot of times.

  • @karenmccleary7616
    @karenmccleary7616 Рік тому +1

    Again…TONS of info! Thanks.

  • @agedskator
    @agedskator Рік тому

    I enjoyed this series Jesse, thanks for doing this.

  • @steverobinson5492
    @steverobinson5492 Рік тому

    Man I have enjoyed these farm tours. Thanks!! Well done and very informative.

  • @vojzwoli8702
    @vojzwoli8702 Рік тому +1

    Very thenks ❤

  • @gardeningwithkirk
    @gardeningwithkirk Рік тому

    Lovely video guys from Gardening with kirk ❤

  • @lesliehollands2689
    @lesliehollands2689 Рік тому +1

    That's a heck of a nice spot to be farmin'

  • @BC-yv8ew
    @BC-yv8ew Рік тому +1

    You have a great channel. Fantastic videos.

  • @FlylightD
    @FlylightD 9 місяців тому

    I needed someone to tell me I was awesome today. Thanks for that. 😂

  • @iancolburn4054
    @iancolburn4054 Рік тому +4

    How much do/did they pay their employees? I wonder how much of the difficulty in finding and retaining farmworkers is related to wage/salary/working conditions

  • @dantheman9135
    @dantheman9135 Рік тому +2

    Much appreciated...

  • @mourlyvold64
    @mourlyvold64 Рік тому

    Smart operation, cool folk.

  • @AlSwearengen4
    @AlSwearengen4 Рік тому

    This vid gave me a lot to think about. Thanks!

  • @David_Vienna_Europe
    @David_Vienna_Europe Місяць тому

    Danke!

  • @jenclark1418
    @jenclark1418 Рік тому +3

    Can you please post a link to where you buy your netting? I currently use alot of Proteknet and would love to look into alternatives, thank you!

  • @usnyder1
    @usnyder1 Рік тому +1

    Thanks so much! Really enjoyed the videos with these two lovely farmers. Inspirational. I am wondering about their row hoops--what gauge wire and how do they keep them in their perfect hoop shape?

  • @tjinnes
    @tjinnes Рік тому

    Clever people. Very good thanks.

  • @gardeningingatineau
    @gardeningingatineau Рік тому

    You're incredibly inspirational ❤

  • @lytieulien99
    @lytieulien99 Рік тому

    Your farm is very wonderful, I like it very much

  • @SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY
    @SundryTalesOfConstance79WESTY Рік тому +1

    Nooice! 😎 STOC

  • @vintagegarden93
    @vintagegarden93 Рік тому +1

    Wow so amazing

  • @VollmarOrganic
    @VollmarOrganic Рік тому

    Thanks!

  • @garethnaylorartist
    @garethnaylorartist Рік тому

    Great video.

  • @gotoflooring81
    @gotoflooring81 Рік тому

    So good.

  • @CliffordAllison
    @CliffordAllison Рік тому

    Great video ! So how do you handle employees male / female. Do they have separate bathrooms? Do you provide them a facility to eat lunch? Do they come into your house?

    • @erincarr9411
      @erincarr9411 Рік тому +1

      A Portapotty is all you need regardless of gender/sex. A hand washing station. Most farms I've worked on had a covered space for lunch tables, some supplied lunch some didn't. If you don't provide lunch, a microwave is good.

  • @emkn1479
    @emkn1479 Рік тому +1

    I would totally work on a farm like this. Is there a database to be able to find out if there’s anything semi local to me?

  • @stonedapefarmer
    @stonedapefarmer Рік тому

    Dream of having a farm stand, but it won't work on my current site because of lack of safe public access. People already yeet themselves off the embankment at the end of our driveway at least once a year without giving a reason for increased traffic.

  • @that_auntceleste5848
    @that_auntceleste5848 Рік тому

    I've discovered your videos fairly recently. The question that keeps burning in my mind is how old is too late to start? The more i garden and learn the more i feel like i missed my calling in life.

    • @beyondorganicgardening
      @beyondorganicgardening Рік тому +4

      If you’re still here on this planet, there’s still a calling and purpose for your life. The key is to fully submit yourself to it, even before you know exactly what it is. Keep digging and seeking just how you are right now!

    • @erincarr9411
      @erincarr9411 Рік тому +3

      I highly suggest working someone else's farm before starting your own. For many reasons.

    • @uteberg4781
      @uteberg4781 Рік тому +1

      I had to move to an other country to be able to, but started last year at the age of 56 and with help of my friend and my 15 years old son. The older you are, the more time you should give yourself for building up everything on the farm. But its no problem to get started even at my age. ;)

  • @donisenberg3032
    @donisenberg3032 3 години тому

    I have 36, 50’ beds in zone 8a.

  • @mathgasm8484
    @mathgasm8484 10 місяців тому

    My dad is big on tilling and I broke it so I got the broadfork. I am trying to go for more no till.

  • @jasonhatfield4747
    @jasonhatfield4747 Рік тому

    I would love to be able to take the winters completely off, but I enjoy raising animals too much to get rid of that side of things. We're lucky to have a good farm sitter though, so we can get away for a few weeks here and there.

  • @jarredkushnerd13
    @jarredkushnerd13 Рік тому +1

    Couldn't imagine bringing employees in for an acre and being done by Thanksgiving

  • @koreanature
    @koreanature Рік тому

    My best friend, It's always great. Your video is excellent quality. We liked and enjoyed to the end. Thanks

  • @robertslaton2607
    @robertslaton2607 9 місяців тому

    But we enjoyed your video thank you

  • @christiangoris91
    @christiangoris91 8 місяців тому

    How can I get a job at your farm, love your approach and perspective

  • @lqrte
    @lqrte Рік тому

    Do you have any tips on controlling/killing jumping worms?

  • @barbaravanerp4598
    @barbaravanerp4598 Рік тому +2

    Is it my imagination or does everyone on this channel want to be the farmer and not the employee? They seem to appreciate their employees.

  • @erincarr9411
    @erincarr9411 Рік тому

    I know it was in a different video, but how many beds and how long?

  • @joshua511
    @joshua511 Рік тому

    How do you keep rabbits and neighbor's cats away from the crops? I'm guessing the entire garden area is fenced in?

  • @GarrettXHolder
    @GarrettXHolder Рік тому +1

    one day...

  • @ericfulda4196
    @ericfulda4196 Рік тому

    Love the info, and bought the book, watch, follow and like the video's, but hate the intro music, really annoying. Just IMO.

  • @pmgrogersanderson9426
    @pmgrogersanderson9426 Рік тому +3

    PLease hire me, how much per Month? Im from the Philippines and i'm willing

  • @dekelpolak4190
    @dekelpolak4190 Рік тому

    Do our thoughts influence nature?
    Indeed, our thoughts influence nature.
    We live in a single global-integral system of nature, we influence it with our thoughts, and we receive feedback accordingly.
    Similar to laws that operate on mechanical, electronic, electromagnetic and other material and biological scales, when we press, push or constrain something, we receive a response. Likewise, when we think positively or negatively about others, we accordingly receive a response.
    The global-integral reality in which we live is a closed system, and we receive responses from it according to our attitudes to it.

  • @greeneileen
    @greeneileen Рік тому +1

    It definitely seems like something is going unsaid here. I wish she'd just dish ;)

  • @rtom675
    @rtom675 Рік тому +2

    Imagine being an employee of theirs, turning into the no till podcast excited to hear about your (former) employees’ thoughts on running a farm and just getting sh*t on for the whole time! Wondering if they could use the wintertime to write a manual/think about their hiring/on boarding processes…

    • @kjw79
      @kjw79 Рік тому

      Yeah, everyone tells new farmers not to feel bad for knowing everything at first, and give yourself grace making mistakes. But I tell ya that is not the same grace shown to the new employees!

  • @amandajones661
    @amandajones661 Рік тому

    How many acres are y'all growing?

  • @izimpendulozikamgibe9732
    @izimpendulozikamgibe9732 10 місяців тому

    Can i just come lend a hand for a year just for an experience😊?

  • @Barbaralee1205
    @Barbaralee1205 Рік тому +12

    Ah… employees… the pain point of any small business. How well I know!

  • @sharnie528
    @sharnie528 Рік тому

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @amandajones661
    @amandajones661 Рік тому

    What state are they in?

    • @janetk3611
      @janetk3611 Рік тому +1

      Connecticut. About an hour from Boston.

    • @amandajones661
      @amandajones661 Рік тому

      @@janetk3611 awesome! Thank you!!

  • @brendaannelovesjesus
    @brendaannelovesjesus Рік тому

    How many acres is considered a small farm? How many acres would I need to feed my family and harvest just enough to take care of ourselves financially every month. Nothing big.

  • @brownguy9920
    @brownguy9920 Рік тому

    Bottom line is small farms can't pay helpers over poverty wages and there is VERY VERY little job security. America has changed. People can no longer work for 15 20 bucks and live...thank your local congressman

  • @brbierdeman
    @brbierdeman 8 місяців тому

    Could you just buy a trailer for the van to transport more? Cheaper than investing in another van. Maybe it has to be cooled, I don't know anything!

  • @titosrevenger
    @titosrevenger Рік тому +5

    Stop referring to them as your employees and you might get them to stick around for the whole season. Use words like "team" if you want them to feel like they belong.

    • @MrThatguy333
      @MrThatguy333 Рік тому +3

      make it a worker co-operative and offer the opportunity to become fellow owners after a training period of 1-2 years.

    • @neophytebutterfly
      @neophytebutterfly Рік тому +2

      I agree. Farming is hard work, and really the only benefit to “the employee “ is knowledge of the process. It’s too low paying to stick around when we don’t have the social safety net in this country for workers at this pay grade, let alone middle class.
      That said, it’s a real dilemma as a small business owner, farmer, decent human being, to make a living for yourself as well as your employees.

    • @titosrevenger
      @titosrevenger Рік тому +3

      @@neophytebutterfly I'm mostly just irked by the way they refer to their employees like they're the useless servants who can't do anything without step by step instructions.

    • @Jacques.Bodaire
      @Jacques.Bodaire Рік тому +3

      People are clued into this. No "team". No "family". It's all bullshit and employees know that. It's a contract. I think they have it right that the people they hire don't know what they're signing up for (labor wise) but signing up for just 8-ish months out of a year is super tough on a person off the street who is looking for gainful employment.
      Also, the employees aren't idiots but they're not invested. The only incentive to work well is to continue getting a paycheck. But you as the farmer/business owner assumed all the risk to create this endeavor and its hard to consider taking on a partner because the business may also be your family plot. I can't imagine taking on a partner who now has a stake on a property I took a loan out for and they don't. It's a complex issue and although winter growing may not be for these 2, it may make sense from a business perspective so they can long term retain staff.

    • @cxsey8587
      @cxsey8587 8 місяців тому

      You sound like an HR rep. Don’t sugar coat it. They’re employees, and they seem to treat them well. Get the stick out of your ass.

  • @camperjack2620
    @camperjack2620 Рік тому +1

    Glad you switched to Saturday. Sunday is the Lords day, you should be in a King James Bible believing church. Honor the Sabbath to keep it holy. Nice farm.

  • @JurassicJolts
    @JurassicJolts Рік тому +4

    Instead of making fun of your employees maybe you should improve your interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and training program. The way you talked about your employees highlights your bad leadership and inability to train.

  • @robertslaton2607
    @robertslaton2607 9 місяців тому

    Saturday is the seventh day of the week. If you believe in Jesus Christ it's His Sabbath of rest. The no.1 reason not to work.

  • @HDPE.nets.factory
    @HDPE.nets.factory Рік тому

    We producte HDPE nets for plants protection, like anti hail net, shade net, anti insect nets, etc. Pls consider us if need.