Why I’m Bad at Farming (and why I’m Not) + Farmers Market Dos and Donts

33 Comments

1. 

   @bradliston8990 6 months ago

   I feel like being able to pinpoint what we are good at, and what we could improve upon is a great self reflection exercise in all aspects of life. Being humble enough to acknowledge that you are not as good at something as someone on your team may be is a massive life skill that I wish everyone could learn/ should learn. Even just to see the efficiency that can come from something like that is great. We're not all the same person and that's a strength that we should play.

2. 

   @chrismain7472 6 months ago

   6:40 You're good at hiding wisdom bombs in asides. I had never considered daisy chaining a row cover for storage. That's freaking genius! I appreciate you. I have been spooling mine around landscaping timbers, which is very … fun in the high winds of the plains.

3. 

   @LuanneMcCollum 6 months ago

   for sure knowing your strengths and weaknesses is very helpful

4. 

   @brokenmeats5928 6 months ago

   I love ALL No-Till Growers videos!

5. 

   @katelinncarrier9155 6 months ago

   I can't stand for long periods so i sit on my cooler right up against my table and greet people, I promptly get up when someone even remotely looks interested and usually great them and ask if they have any questions please ask. Im an introvert so i try to read each customer and engage depending on their mood

6. 

   @jerrymartens7196 6 months ago

   Just a thanks for the daily. Always lots of good information!

7. 

   @SommaRob 6 months ago

   … A failure to plan is a plan for failure. Don’t know who said this but doing stuff on the fly is freedom and fun, but not a formula for success. I get 100% the strong plan (and love it) but also, the deviation is a constant pull… Sometimes we choose the career that can teach us the things we most need to grow.

8. 

   @mollytheda9273 6 months ago

   Am gutted to hear about the passing of Casey Piscura. What a loss to our Colorado Local Food Community. His Wild Mountain Seeds is just 40 minutes from us in New Castle. Sending love and remember to take care of yourself and each other.

   Not easy to move on from, but loved your content of thinking about what you’re good at and not. To add to that self analysis exercise, I would always encourage keeping the following framework of business in mind.

   In my former profession, Corporate Human Resources, I used to talk about whatever business sector I was working for in a very simplified form; that all businesses are product centric, PRODUCT is King or Queen, Sales and Marketing after that, and then IT, HR, Facilities, Finance/Accounting were all the functions that supported Product and Sales/Marketing.

   This is a framework that every business follows regardless of large corporation or small market garden – product offering rules and drives every decision, then sales and marketing, then everything else.

   When folks are considering their strengths and weaknesses, they can overlay onto this framework and really pinpoint their opportunities.

9. 

   @hollytritt7068 6 months ago

   I’m super new to farming, just started last year. I came into it after a huge life transition and wanted to start over. Farming has helped me heal deep wounds – feeling supported by natures seasons, cycles, and transformations. For that, I’m good at being grateful each time I walk out into the field. Thankful for the land being the greatest teacher and friend.

10. 

    @cliffpalermo 6 months ago

    Red gardens here on YouTube. He's located in Ireland and has done some really good garden studies

11. 

    @rachellemazar7374 6 months ago

    I too find I work more efficiently when I set a time frame for the work

12. 

    @seaviewhomestead 6 months ago

    I’m no good at planning either. I’ve tried, actually measured out the garden and beds, drew it all out on graph paper, labeled where everything was going. Looked great going into April, but by mid June it looked like a third graders etch-a-sketch.

13. 

    @billshepherd5090 6 months ago

    It also helps to have everyone agree on what plant where and when. I gave my mom 4 beds and she took 4 more, ttl of 8.

14. 

    @stevehatcher7700 6 months ago

    When the mid/late season stress kicks in hard and I'm falling farther and farther behind because of weather and climate issues, causing either weed issues, and/or pest issues, and/or disease or plant stress issues – impacting yields, and thus sales (income), meanwhile the air conditioner unit in the walk in cooler is experiencing major technical issues that need to be addressed, drop everything addressed (plus costs), because nearly $1000 worth of lettuce mix needs to go into that cooler in 2 days, meanwhile the truck is experiencing brake issues that need to be fixed for wholesale deliveries in 3 days, and some lines in the irrigation system have sprung some major leaks that need repairs or replacement, and I'm physically exhausted and the nagging pains in my elbows and/or hips are flaring up again, is when I have to stop and tell myself "Steve, you're really f*cking good at this! Just get the sh!t done!"

15. 

    @kalimacklin4569 6 months ago

    Row cover daisy chain…genius

16. 

    @dorcasrodriguez2901 6 months ago

    ❤❤❤

17. 

    @theburnhams2925 6 months ago

    "Humbled by Clay(s)" Excellent book title! Opposite problem here on the sandbar. (fl) Always enjoy your videos. Thank you.

18. 

    @theburnhams2925 6 months ago

    Great "Remay" storage strategy. Hope the technique isn't patented. Always enjoy your videos! Thank you.

19. 

    @hoosierpioneer 6 months ago

    I have spent over a year with an illness that made it impossible for me to stand at my market longer than a few minutes at a time. I think the presence of my cane helped my customers be accepting on my being seated. I'm a one person show and can't afford help. This year I expect to stand most of the time.

20. 

    @hoosierpioneer 6 months ago

    Nancy, the new Pied Piper.

21. 

    @MVbailegardens 6 months ago

    Identifying what I'm good at, and not good at, would be very helpful. So far, life's been an experiment & learning experience. Faster progress if I had a way to figure some of that out before hand.

22. 

    @pier-annelachance4960 6 months ago

    We started with our holistic goals too and it is hard sometimes to remind yourself your goals. It is a great point to determine strengths and weaknesses so you can be realistic. Thanks for the advice

23. 

    @plarh8r163 6 months ago

    I love being a farmer but this seems like commercial after commercial farming

24. 

    @bent5732 6 months ago

    Anyone here know a good guide to make a market garden business plan? Honestly just an example of a good one would be rad!

25. 

    @lymuric 6 months ago

    Ermahgerd, love your Maintenance Phase shirt! Also love the idea of getting support for things you’re not good at – this blew my mind when I first learned in a “from the laboratory to leadership” class that people kinda suck at improving their weaknesses; your effort is better spent on using your strengths and leaning on others who are strong in areas where you are weaker. Love your videos – I take notes constantly for my garden planner. Thanks for sharing your deep knowledge and charm. It’s inspiring.

26. 

    @thecampfirechef8531 6 months ago

    I love going out in my yard and playing my fiddle for my garden. They say that sound waves can have a positive effect on plant growth. Whether or not that’s true, I have no idea, but it at least heals my soul a little bit.

27. 

    @KP-jv1hy 6 months ago

    I believe using non Sulphur purple bacteria to help use that phosphorus and possibly getting some more mycorrizhae associated plants to use it up along with the cereals

28. 

    @Dana-i3c6l 6 months ago

    2/13 0826 I have a question(s) it’s about feng shui of a homestead/ farm.How would you recommend establishing a farm? We have 8ac, no structures. Water and septic run like an L on the left hand side. City water but there is a well have no idea if it good. Well company can get up the hill with there truck to test it. Heard rumors thru the grapevine it is high sulfur. If you could start from scratch and set up your farm to your liking how would you do it?

29. 

    @sashafaminoff553 6 months ago

    Aw maaan Jessie, daisy chaining row cover!! Never thought of that in all my farming years. Thanks!

30. 

    @reno_death 6 months ago

    R.I.P. Casey. Damn this unfair world.

31. 

    @WAYNESVILLE 6 months ago

    Joel Salatin spoke about how farmers think they're special and should just get paid regardless without doing things like time studies and all that like big companies do.
    How can you improve if you don't know what you need to improve on?

32. 

    @ShawnMcHatten 6 months ago

    Best off the cuff comment. 4:00 minute mark. Farming is about growing food… a farming business is about selling it.

33. 

    @mattheweiland8529 6 months ago

    Another thought-stimulating episode. Thank you Jesse!