Farm Your Way to Freedom: Building a Debt-Free Farm Business (CC53)

Join Dallas Half Acre Farm owner Michael Bell as he shares his practical, low-pressure approach to building a profitable part-time farm business. Michael, a full-time PE teacher with retirement on the horizon, reveals his simplified CSA model that focuses on just 3-4 high-value crops while requiring minimal infrastructure and startup costs. Learn how he serves 35-40 customers weekly with a flexible, bi-weekly delivery system that eliminates upfront payments and traditional CSA stress. Whether you're approaching retirement, looking for supplemental income, or wanting to test the farming waters before diving in full-time, this episode provides a refreshingly realistic roadmap for creating a debt-free farm business that grows at your pace—perfect for beginners and part-timers who want to farm without the financial pressure. Learn more about Michael Bell and Dallas Half Acre Farm here. Interested in watching the series? Hop on over to our YouTube Channel!   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   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.  

In this episode, host Diego welcomes returning guest Jill Duncan as she embarks on the journey of moving her farm a little ways away from an urban center outside the city. She shares how she's moving her farm operations, the challenges of the move, how she's maintaining her customer base, and how she's planning and laying out her new farm given her market garden experience.  Click here to learn more about farmer Jill Duncan and Loving Roots Urban Farm.  Interested in watching the series? Hop on over to our YouTube Channel!   Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights!   Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at Modern Grower. Follow Modern Grower:  Instagram  Instagram Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:  Carrot Cashflow  Farm Small Farm Smart  Farm Small Farm Smart Daily  The Growing Microgreens Podcast  The Urban Farmer Podcast  The Rookie Farmer Podcast  In Search of Soil Podcast Check out Diego's books:  Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon   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.  

In this episode, host Diego welcomes Kelly Dafor, a farmer-to-be at the beginning of their farming journey. Kelly is looking to transition out of the oil and gas industry and into agriculture. She shares the reason for the transition, her plans and goals for her farm, the challenges she expects to have, and the gains she looks forward to.  Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.modern grower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast Check out Diego's book, Sell Everything You Grow, which is only $0.99 on  Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF

Dustin LaBat of Specklebelly Farms in Weimar, Texas shares their you-pick farming model that includes not only vegetables but also cut flowers and blackberries, which is the biggest draw. He talks about the labor, economics, and marketing strategies that go into running their farm, as well as how blackberries can be an incredibly profitable crop for market farmers. Lastly, he touches on plant sales, farm stand sales, and restaurant sales as complementary income that allows their farm to run all year round.  Check out Specklebelly Farms here! Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.modern grower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast Check out Diego's book, Sell Everything You Grow, which is only $0.99 on  Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF

Tony Barlow of Barlow Roots Market returns to the show to look back on their 10-year market gardening journey. He shares the practical financial mindset with which he ran Barlow Roots, as well as how they manage their finances both inside and outside the business.  Sign up to Tony's newsletter here! Click here to learn more about Barlow Roots Market! Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.modern grower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast Check out Diego's book, Sell Everything You Grow, which is only $0.99 on  Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF

Jay Tracy of CucumberShop.com shares his interesting journey of starting a hobby, which later turned into a business of breeding and selecting the best of over 70 different varieties of cucumbers and selling cucumber seeds online.  Click here to learn more about Jay Tracy and Cucumber Shop! Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.modern grower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast Check out Diego's book, Sell Everything You Grow, which is only $0.99 on  Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF

Brian Sakurada of Shiwa Green Farm in Iwate, Japan joins host Diego to share his interesting farming journey and how he began selling organic produce not just in his local area but all over Japan. He also talks about the differences between farming in the US and farming in Japan, as well as the reality of organic farming in Japan.  Click here to learn more about Brian Sakurada and Shiwa Green Farm!  Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.modern grower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast Check out Diego's book, Sell Everything You Grow, which is only $0.99 on  Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF

This is the audio version of my newsletter Seeding Thoughts. Subscribe and read previous issues of the newsletter here.   Time slips away quickly, especially when raising children, leaving parents wishing they could relive precious moments. The key is to proactively manage your present by implementing "Sacred Time" - non-negotiable slots in your schedule dedicated to important relationships and activities. By deliberately planning and prioritizing these moments, you can shape your life around what truly matters, ensuring that when you look back, you'll see a story of love, connection, and time well spent.   Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.moderngrower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast

This is the audio version of my newsletter Seeding Thoughts. Subscribe and read previous issues of the newsletter here.   Going to bed on time is a crucial yet often overlooked strategy for boosting productivity and overall well-being. It sets off a positive chain reaction, leading to more energetic mornings, better focus, and improved performance throughout the day. By prioritizing consistent sleep habits, you're not just preparing for a productive day, but creating a foundation for success in various aspects of life, from work to relationships and personal health.   Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.moderngrower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast

Farmer, business owner, and author Megan Neubauer from Pure Land Farm returns to the show to give us an update of her latest growing season running a Pick-Your-Own Farm. Megan talks about the changes they made with their growing practices and the strategies they use when there's either too much or not enough produce to pick, and she also shares the new season passes that they offer their pickers. You can learn more in Megan's book: Pick-Your-Own-Farming Get time and labor-saving farm tools at shop.modern grower.co Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network: Farm Small, Farm Smart Farm Small, Farm Smart Daily The Growing Microgreens Podcast Check out Diego's book, Sell Everything You Grow, which is only $0.99 on  Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF