The Rookie Farmer Podcast
Episodes
Chef Turned Farmer: Value-Added Products, No-Till Systems & Scaling Smart (TRFP 38)
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 garde...
Cooperative Farming Secrets: How 4 Worker-Owners Are Changing Agriculture in the South (TRFP 37)
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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: run...
Small Farm Financial Breakdown: Gross Sales, Net Profit & Hard Lessons Learned (TRFP 36)
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 gros...
Running a Profitable Market Farm in an Irish Village of 700 (TRFP 35)
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
From City Farm to Homestead Paradise: A Solo Farmer's Success Story (TRFP 34)
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 re...
The (MANY) Truths About Growing and Selling Food in Winter (TRFP 33)
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While "winter growing" might conjure up images of heated high tunnels, covered beds, and doing wash pack in freezing water, you might just be surprise...
Market Director Reveals What REALLY Makes a Farmers Market Successful
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive into some insider secrets to farmers market success courtesy of Brian Strickland, Director of the Athens Farmers Market. Bria...
50 to 7,000 Chickens in 6 Months: The Truth About "Pasture Raised" Eggs
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk to Patrick Samuels of Sunnyside Egg Co. as he shares how he scaled from 50 backyard chickens to 7,000 birds across multiple f...
From Struggling to Thriving: 2 Farms Share What's Working (TRFP 30)
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're mixing it up in this new farm blog episode as host Alec welcomes a returning guest, Richard from Sun & Soil Farm, for an unfiltered conversation...
Former Pesticide Scientist Switched to Growing Nutrient-Dense Citrus (TRFP 29)
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, farmer Alec welcomes pesticide scientist-turned-citrus farmer Herb Young of Squeeze Citrus to discuss why and how regenerative farmin...
Value-Added Herbs: Turning Half an Acre into Multiple Income Streams (TRFP 28)
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Rookie Farmer Alec Smith welcomes herb farmer Emily Erickson Mills as she shares how she transformed her passion for herbalism into a...
7 Fall Crops (Surprisingly) Crushing It (TRFP 27)
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Coming in with a new farm blog episode with Alec Smith as he shares their experience transitioning into their first full-time winter season! He talks ...
From Leasing to Owning: How This Organization Buys Farms for Young Owners (TRFP 26)
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, farmer Alec sits down with Krisztian Varsa, Director of Farms Fund at the Conservation Fund and Marc Bernard of Rustic Road Farm in I...
Disaster + Budget Cuts = Farming Crisis: The Hurricane Helene Truth (TRFP 25)
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Rookie Farmer Podcast, we're talking to farmer Steven Beltram of TendWell Farm and Roland McReynolds, Executive Director of Car...
Big Wins, Epic Fails, & An Extra $1,000 a Month (TRFP 24)
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, farmer Alec shares the reality of transitioning to full-time farming, including the mental health challenges and day-to-day grind tha...
The $0 Startup Cost E-Commerce Platform Every Small Farm Needs (TRFP 23)
29 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alec welcomes GrownBy's Director of Accounts and Partnerships, Eric Sannerud, to talk about GrownBy: a farmer-owned cooperative e-com...
Turning Garlic Into Gold: The Seasoning Strategy for Year-Round Income (TRFP 22)
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chett Clayton of Hillside Harvest Farm shares his journey from growing 25 pounds of garlic to 700+ pounds annually. He talks about how he and his wife...
$1,500 Markets: Rookie Farmer Goes Full-Time - Farm Blog (TRFP 21)
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this farm blog episode, Alex shares his experience transitioning from working part-time at Crystal Organic Farm to full-time farming at Crop Cultur...
The Non-Profit Farm Making a Big Impact (TRFP 20)
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sara Landry shares their answer to food insecurity: by starting Collective Acres, a nonprofit farm that donates 80% of its harvest to food banks and s...
Farming While Disabled: How Two Rural Farmers Beat the Odds in a Food Desert (TRFP 19)
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alec sits down with Cyndi and Savannah of Love Equals Farm in his hometown of Tennessee to talk about how they turned their disabilit...
No-Till Farmer Goes Rogue: Why Dogma Doesn't Pay Bills (TRFP 18)
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this farm blog episode, Alex shares the unfiltered truth about small-scale as he puts his no-till dogma in his back pocket and starts using tillage...
Wholesome Wave Georgia: Feeding Families AND Supporting Local Farmers (TRFP 17)
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this sobering episode of The Rookie Farmer Podcast, Alec talks to Abigail Darwin of Wholesome Wave Georgia, one of the many organizations revolutio...
Cannabis Grower Turns Market Gardener: Lessons from Two Plant Worlds (TRFP 16)
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Derek of Rosemary's Oasis shares how his background in medicinal cannabis cultivation equipped him with unexpected advantages in market gardening. He ...
Spreadsheet Secrets: Mapping Out a Solid Crop Plan for Your Farm (TRFP 15)
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brittany Peters of Sun and Soil Farm returns to the show to share her proven methods for deciding which crops to grow, when to plant, and how to maint...
The Sumi Soaker: Could This Japanese Irrigation Tool Transform Your Farm? (TRFP 14)
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this packed Farm Vlog episode, farmer and podcast host Alec Smith reveals his long-awaited Sumi Soaker verdict: does it work for him and his farm? ...
Pay Premium, Get Premium: The Real Cost of Quality Farm Tools (TRFP 13)
09 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Rookie Farmer podcast, the tables are turned as host Alec welcomes podcast host Diego Footer as he shares his journey from fina...
Changes We Made to Double Farm Sales (TRFP 12)
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Alec welcomes his farm mentors Nicolas and Jeni of Cryistal Organic Farm in Newborn, Georgia as they talk about their 30-year fa...
Honest Talk: Managing Farm Growth, Employees & Market Competition - Farm Vlog (TRFP 11)
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alec looks back at his first year of growing food and selling them. He shares how much they made the past year, talks about some prac...
From Backyard to Profit: Scaling a 2500 sq ft. Market Garden in One Year (TRFP 10)
11 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Breaking into market gardening isn't just a dream—it's a tangible reality for those willing to learn and adapt. In this episode, host Alec is joined...
Seed Secrets: Choosing the Perfect Varieties for Your Farm (TRFP 09)
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Any farmer worth their salt knows that seed choice can make or break the entire farming season. In this episode of The Rookie Farmer Podcast, host Ale...
Gearing Up for Year 2 Farming: Hiring, Scaling, and Staying Sane - Farm Vlog (TRFP 08)
28 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Farming isn't just a job—it's a strategic business that demands constant innovation and personal growth. In this episode, Alec Smith talks about how...
Certified Naturally Grown: The Grassroots Certification That's Changing Small-Scale Agriculture (TRFP 07)
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Small-scale farmers, the path to low-cost certification is here: Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). In this episode, host Alec welcomes CNG Executive Di...
$50K on 1/4 Acre: How This Couple Crushed Their Farm Income Goals (TRFP 06)
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Small farms can generate a good income with the right strategy - and Sun and Soil Farm does just that. In this game-changing podcast episode, Richard ...
Lessons Learned in Winter Growing - Farm Vlog (TRFP 05)
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this second farm vlog, farmer Alec shares a good problem to have as they expand their farm operations: selling out of everything they grow at their...
Farming From the Heart: Rediscovering Indigenous Roots (TRFP 04)
07 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Join rookie farmer Gabby Fultz on her inspiring journey to build a regenerative farm from scratch in Durango, Colorado. Gabby shares her triumphs and ...
What's Really in Your Soil? A Master Agronomist Reveals All (TRFP 03)
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, farmer Alec welcomes agronomist and soil scientist Bill McKibben from Logan Labs for a dive deep into all things soil. They talk abou...
The Highs and Lows of a Rookie Farmer's First Season - Farm Vlog (TRFP 02)
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this first farm blog episode, farmer Alec Smith introduces himself and shares the story of how he first found out about regenerative agriculture, h...
Rookie to Pro: Secrets of Small-Scale Farming Success (TRFP 01)
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to The Rookie Farmer Podcast, a brand new series on the Modern Grower Podcast Network hosted by Rookie Farmer Alec Smith! Farmer Alec kicks ...