Something Good From Climate Change: New Updates To Hardiness Zones post thumbnail

Something Good From Climate Change: New Updates To Hardiness Zones

The US Department of Agriculture has updated the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for 2023. The map reflects changes in zones due to climate change. It is based on the
admin no comments
Saving Farmers Time: Online Bookkeeping Applications post thumbnail

Saving Farmers Time: Online Bookkeeping Applications

Falling behind on the bookkeeping and then having to catch up has got to be my least favorite part of running a business. For small farms the daily needs
admin no comments
Squash Tsunamis and Tomato Typhoons: Why Use a Garden Planner to Plan Your Garden? post thumbnail

Squash Tsunamis and Tomato Typhoons: Why Use a Garden Planner to Plan Your Garden?

When I was a small child I was very, very lucky. My parents were building our home on acreage on the Southern Oregon Coast, right next to my grandparents.
admin no comments
“Grow Your Own” the Ultimate DIY post thumbnail

“Grow Your Own” the Ultimate DIY

I’ve been a DIY fan as far back as my teen years. I distinctly remember my fascination with replicating, as close as possible, the taco salad I enjoyed at
admin no comments
Building Resilience in the Event of a Zombie Apocalypse, Revisited post thumbnail

Building Resilience in the Event of a Zombie Apocalypse, Revisited

Perhaps somewhat prophetically, one of our early blogs in 2012 was about three low-cost or no-cost methods for building resilience into farming operations during challenging environmental conditions, such as
admin no comments
Reunited… and it Tastes So Good: Consumer trends in the direct-to-consumer economy and promising new markets for small farmers. post thumbnail

Reunited… and it Tastes So Good: Consumer trends in the direct-to-consumer economy and promising new markets for small farmers.

As Joni Mitchell reminded us so long ago, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone…" But, at what has seemed like the 11th hour of the demise
admin no comments
Micro-Farm Labor: What’s it Cost? post thumbnail

Micro-Farm Labor: What’s it Cost?

  In my previous post “Micro-Farm Labor: What’s it Take?” I reviewed the hourly labor requirements for a minimally-mechanized, micro-farming operation such as what we have at our pilot
admin no comments
Micro-Farm Labor: What’s it Take? post thumbnail

Micro-Farm Labor: What’s it Take?

I hold the unique and curious position of being a Working Share Farm Manager at our ¼ acre pilot study CSA farm, HeartEye Village CSA, handily operating in the
admin no comments
Beginner Farmer Beware: Just How Hard IS Farming Anyway? post thumbnail

Beginner Farmer Beware: Just How Hard IS Farming Anyway?

As consumers of food in the US we’re spoiled. There is just no ifs, ands or buts about it… The industrial food system has been subsidized for so long
admin no comments
Wonders Never Cease: FSA Offers Small Farm Loans! post thumbnail

Wonders Never Cease: FSA Offers Small Farm Loans!

THIS JUST IN! USDA Finalizes New Microloan Program Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack unveiled a new microloan program today that will expand access to credit for small farmers and ranchers
admin no comments