There seems to be this notion that unless you have a tractor and hundreds of acres, you're a 'pretend' farmer. Here's what farming in 2025 and beyond is going to look like.
I'm in my late 50's wno lives on an acre of land myself. Three years I started my little one acre farm here in the desert of Arizona. I'm doing it becauce I'm tired of paying too much for everything to Big AG.
The first year I just planted in pots. Then year two, I added 2 greenhouses and just a couple of raised beds. This winter we have expanded even more and just built nine new raised beds all out of recycled materials and will also be building a chicken coop and building what I call a Grow House that will be where I start all my seeds to grow for next planting season. I know it's not much yet, but I will also not be using a tractor or any gas powered machinery. I do it all by hand just like my mother and grandparents did and how they taught me. I call my little growing area my farm and one day it will cover my whole acre.
So keep up the great work as I enjoy reading your successors and failures. Farmers all started small in the beginning and I believe more people should grow their own food. It tastes so much better, plus when you grow your own, you know there isn't any poisons or anything else dangerous in them.
I'm also documenting my progress here on Substack and if no one reads it, one day someone will find it useful lol
Don’t listen to the naysayers. You are on the right track. No till gardening is the way to go and it’s ok if your garden is not in neat rows. The natural approach has worked for centuries. Down with big ag, up with regenerative farming.
Beatrix Potter is a great roll model. She had her "social media" (children's books) for extra income and used the cash to buy small Englush farms, got knee deep in her local farming community, and worked to improve her local sheep herds ending up kickstarting the creation of UK's Lake District National Park.
A great resource in case you ever start working with livestock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pI7IYaJLI. Allan Savory pioneered Holistic Management, which is a form of grazing that restores desertified land and maintains healthy soil. We are told too often that livestock are a problem, when, if fact, it's the manner by which we graze these animals that causes negative impact. We wiped out massive herds that used to graze intensively owing to predators. This ecological disaster ultimately led to soil degradation. The worst thing for soil is either no grazing or not enough. This perspective is paradigm shifting. This is wonderful news, like so much else coming out of permaculture.
Hi Alexandra -- We are cheering you on! Ignore the naysaysers.
My mother, a giant home gardener of 5'1" wonders if you have stronger corn varieties than she. She believes her bean plants would pull over her cornstalks since they manage to pull over her bean poles occasionally. She says corn roots tend to be shallow, and her father, formerly a farmer in Wisconsin, always used bean poles.
I wonder if heirloom varieties would have deeper roots. Hybridization varieties may have had root depth or stalk strength bred out of them... unintentionally, I'm sure, but when you hybridization for one trait, there are often unintended companion traits.
This reminds me of the street I grew up on in Westchester, NY. Every neighbor ( mostly the Italians) grew vegetables and grapes in the small plot in front or in back of the house. We're talking maybe a 10x10 plot. They made wine, delicious tomato sauce, canned them too. Had squash, zucchini, beans, herbs. Shared the bounty with neighbors. It really doesn't take much. You do though need to get off the cell phone and get outside. Liked the "no chairs", "hung on the wall". Always something to do!
Something interesting - When you travel by train between cities in Italy and even Germany you see this backyards in droves growing their own things. Something I found interesting is this 2-3 acre plots around Frankfurt where the Government provides the homeless with a small lot and a tiny house so they can grow their food and they also sell their vegetables in their local markets. Unfortunately this has been changing as Homelessness is now growing in Germany.
As am in my mid-50s, I've been consistently impressed by your entrepreneurial journey on Instagram since its inception. Your strength and accomplishments are truly inspiring, and I commend your vision for the future. This post resonated deeply, and despite limited direct experience, I fully grasp your objectives and wholeheartedly support your endeavors. My childhood memories of roadside farm stands evoke a similar appreciation for the resurgence of this model, and I would welcome the opportunity to participate in a farm-to-table experience. I am interested in learning more about your fresh and healthy products. Despite the distance between New Jersey and upstate New York, I hope to visit your facility in the near future. I wish you continued success and happiness.
A neighbor always takes his fallen leaves to the green waste. No more. They are mine for the effort of bagging and loading into my truck to bring home. I asked why he didn’t leave them on his perennial beds and he said he was to anal, likes the bare ground. My win!
Alex, naysayers will always exist. Focus on each day, stay positive and experience will come. Farming is no easy thing, until the day you need a tractor!
I'm in my late 50's wno lives on an acre of land myself. Three years I started my little one acre farm here in the desert of Arizona. I'm doing it becauce I'm tired of paying too much for everything to Big AG.
The first year I just planted in pots. Then year two, I added 2 greenhouses and just a couple of raised beds. This winter we have expanded even more and just built nine new raised beds all out of recycled materials and will also be building a chicken coop and building what I call a Grow House that will be where I start all my seeds to grow for next planting season. I know it's not much yet, but I will also not be using a tractor or any gas powered machinery. I do it all by hand just like my mother and grandparents did and how they taught me. I call my little growing area my farm and one day it will cover my whole acre.
So keep up the great work as I enjoy reading your successors and failures. Farmers all started small in the beginning and I believe more people should grow their own food. It tastes so much better, plus when you grow your own, you know there isn't any poisons or anything else dangerous in them.
I'm also documenting my progress here on Substack and if no one reads it, one day someone will find it useful lol
Oh I will have to read along with you - I love that!
Don’t listen to the naysayers. You are on the right track. No till gardening is the way to go and it’s ok if your garden is not in neat rows. The natural approach has worked for centuries. Down with big ag, up with regenerative farming.
Amen!
Beatrix Potter is a great roll model. She had her "social media" (children's books) for extra income and used the cash to buy small Englush farms, got knee deep in her local farming community, and worked to improve her local sheep herds ending up kickstarting the creation of UK's Lake District National Park.
Yes - I just finished the book and cried!! All that she did!! Unbelievable human.
A great resource in case you ever start working with livestock: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pI7IYaJLI. Allan Savory pioneered Holistic Management, which is a form of grazing that restores desertified land and maintains healthy soil. We are told too often that livestock are a problem, when, if fact, it's the manner by which we graze these animals that causes negative impact. We wiped out massive herds that used to graze intensively owing to predators. This ecological disaster ultimately led to soil degradation. The worst thing for soil is either no grazing or not enough. This perspective is paradigm shifting. This is wonderful news, like so much else coming out of permaculture.
Hi Alexandra -- We are cheering you on! Ignore the naysaysers.
My mother, a giant home gardener of 5'1" wonders if you have stronger corn varieties than she. She believes her bean plants would pull over her cornstalks since they manage to pull over her bean poles occasionally. She says corn roots tend to be shallow, and her father, formerly a farmer in Wisconsin, always used bean poles.
We look forward to reading your updates!
That is a good question - I am sure I will know more about the answer to this come the fall! I was going to experiment with a few different varieties.
I wonder if heirloom varieties would have deeper roots. Hybridization varieties may have had root depth or stalk strength bred out of them... unintentionally, I'm sure, but when you hybridization for one trait, there are often unintended companion traits.
This reminds me of the street I grew up on in Westchester, NY. Every neighbor ( mostly the Italians) grew vegetables and grapes in the small plot in front or in back of the house. We're talking maybe a 10x10 plot. They made wine, delicious tomato sauce, canned them too. Had squash, zucchini, beans, herbs. Shared the bounty with neighbors. It really doesn't take much. You do though need to get off the cell phone and get outside. Liked the "no chairs", "hung on the wall". Always something to do!
Something interesting - When you travel by train between cities in Italy and even Germany you see this backyards in droves growing their own things. Something I found interesting is this 2-3 acre plots around Frankfurt where the Government provides the homeless with a small lot and a tiny house so they can grow their food and they also sell their vegetables in their local markets. Unfortunately this has been changing as Homelessness is now growing in Germany.
As am in my mid-50s, I've been consistently impressed by your entrepreneurial journey on Instagram since its inception. Your strength and accomplishments are truly inspiring, and I commend your vision for the future. This post resonated deeply, and despite limited direct experience, I fully grasp your objectives and wholeheartedly support your endeavors. My childhood memories of roadside farm stands evoke a similar appreciation for the resurgence of this model, and I would welcome the opportunity to participate in a farm-to-table experience. I am interested in learning more about your fresh and healthy products. Despite the distance between New Jersey and upstate New York, I hope to visit your facility in the near future. I wish you continued success and happiness.
Thank you so much! Stop by the farm stand if you're ever up this way.
Tractor Schmactor!!!! All ya need is a strong back and a good ole lightweight wheelbarrow!
Amen!! It's time to get fit like the Amish!! I'm tryna be Amish fit in 2025.
Alexandra, google "warren hoe" for gardening tools. Very useful.
Check out Charles Dowding website - https://www.charlesdowding.co.uk/. He's big on not-till
farming and has done it for 40+ years. You need a lot of compost which you can make or get
from you Amish friends. Also check out hoop houses. The ones made from cattle panels are low
cost and effective. They can extend your growing season in both spring and fall. Link to one hoop house design - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO9j9Tow_oQ
I'm no farmer but people I know are turning away from industrial farming in droves.
You will do fine.
If you can figure out how to plant Silver Queen corn this far north, let me know. I'll drive over and grab a couple dozen ears. :-)
A neighbor always takes his fallen leaves to the green waste. No more. They are mine for the effort of bagging and loading into my truck to bring home. I asked why he didn’t leave them on his perennial beds and he said he was to anal, likes the bare ground. My win!
Good on you Alexandra. I am going to share you w a friend in Vermont. If I were still up there I would be a regular. You go!
Alex, naysayers will always exist. Focus on each day, stay positive and experience will come. Farming is no easy thing, until the day you need a tractor!
Publishing a directory of farm stands sounds like a great idea - for a crowdsourcing project.
Love this! I was part of a csa a few years back and we volunteered on pickup days to get everything ready.