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Farm Small Farm Smart

Insights for vegetable farmers and market gardeners who earn, or want to earn, a living growing vegetables profitably. In each episode, I talk with a beginning or experienced farmer, diving deep into their story to find out what makes their market farm successful. I focus on in-the-field farming. Soil preparation, weed management, post-harvest processing, appropriate technology, farm tools and equipment, and growing crops. Hosted and produced by Diego Footer's Modern Grower Podcast Network.

Recent Episodes

Increasing Carbon Stores in the Soil - Gardening Beyond Basics 90

Increasing Carbon Stores in the Soil - Gardening Beyond Basics 90

October 4, 2026 14:46

In this episode, Dr. Johannes Lehmann of Cornell University talks about where the long-term carbon stores in the soil actually come from.

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

The Profit Pie: Why Smart Farmers Choose Their Market Before Their Land (3 of 3)

The Profit Pie: Why Smart Farmers Choose Their Market Before Their Land (3 of 3)

September 28, 2026 13:24

Margin tells you how much to keep. Volume tells you how much to grow. But none of it matters without the right place to sell it.

In part 3 of the Profit Pie series, we break down the four sales channels: farmers markets, CSAs, restaurants, and wholesale, and how to match the channel to what your farm actually needs, not just the one with the highest margin.

Watch the episode here!

Interested in watching the series? Hop on over to our YouTube Channel! 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

Putting Fungi in the Soil - Gardening Beyond Basics 89

Putting Fungi in the Soil - Gardening Beyond Basics 89

September 27, 2026 18:02

In this episode, author and educator Peter McCoy of Mycologos discusses putting fungi into soil by building up the soil. 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

The Profit Pie: 70% Profit Margin Doesn't Pay the Rent (2 of 3)

The Profit Pie: 70% Profit Margin Doesn't Pay the Rent (2 of 3)

September 21, 2026 16:00

In Part 1, we built the Profit Pie, the framework for how much you keep on every bed. Here's what it doesn't tell you: a 70% margin on a bed doesn't pay the rent. Margin is how much you keep per bed. Income is margin times volume. Get one wrong and the whole thing falls apart.

Watch the episode here!

Interested in watching the series? Hop on over to our YouTube Channel! 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

Depending on What You Grow - Gardening Beyond Basics 88

Depending on What You Grow - Gardening Beyond Basics 88

September 20, 2026 13:23

In this episode, compost specialist and owner of Living Roots Compost Tea Troy Hinke breaks down the nuances of making and using compost tea depending on what you're growing and what your goals are. 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

Refusing Expansion (MFB 61)

Refusing Expansion (MFB 61)

September 17, 2026 7:51

Most entrepreneurs see growth as progress. What if the smartest move is to stop?

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

The Profit Pie: What Actually Moves Your Farm's Profit (1 of 3)

The Profit Pie: What Actually Moves Your Farm's Profit (1 of 3)

September 14, 2026 18:24

Ask most farmers what has the biggest effect on profit and they'll say inputs: seeds, soil, amendments, the stuff you put in the ground.

They're wrong. 

After a decade of interviews, here's the profit pie: every factor that touches your profit, ranked from biggest lever to smallest.

Watch the episode here!

Interested in watching the series? Hop on over to our YouTube Channel! 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

Farming on the Conservation Reserve Program - Gardening Beyond Basics 87

Farming on the Conservation Reserve Program - Gardening Beyond Basics 87

September 13, 2026 11:17

In this episode, soil specialist and consultant Dr. Jim Hoorman of Hoorman Soil discusses farming within the bounds of the Conservation Reserve Program. 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

7 Years, 100k Invested, Zero Products (MFB 60)

7 Years, 100k Invested, Zero Products (MFB 60)

September 10, 2026 17:41

Struggling founders: detailed plans slowly, never execute.

Successful founders: Build basic version, get it to customers, learn what actually matters, iterate.

Difference isn't intelligence — it's velocity. The main thing: Build product, get it to customers.

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Trichoderma and Plants - Gardening Beyond Basics 86

The Symbiotic Relationship Between Trichoderma and Plants - Gardening Beyond Basics 86

September 6, 2026 18:24

In this episode, Professor Emeritus at Cornell University College of Agricultural and Life Sciences breaks down what happens in a symbiotic relationship between trichoderma species and plant species. 

:movie_camera: Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! :herb:

:arrow_right: Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower.

Follow Modern Grower:
:arrow_right: Instagram
:arrow_right: Instagram

Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
:loud_sound: Carrot Cashflow
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart
:loud_sound: Farm Small Farm Smart Daily
:loud_sound: The Growing Microgreens Podcast
:loud_sound: The Urban Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: The Rookie Farmer Podcast
:loud_sound: In Search of Soil Podcast

Check out Diego's books:
:book: Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon 
:book: 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.