163. Andy Borak on Stewardship, Sustainability, and Small-Scale Success
The Thriving Farmer Podcast - Podcast tekijän mukaan Michael Kilpatrick - Tiistaisin
On today’s episode we’re hosting Andy Borak, Owner and Operator at Red Fern Farm, situated along the banks of Bold Beaver Creek in Floyd County, Virginia. Red Fern Farm is a small family micro farm - keeping their farm small ensures their ability to use bio-intensive practices and beyond organic methods to manage all of their ventures. As a Certified Naturally Grown producer, Red Fern Farm is dedicated to the use of sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices in their efforts to steward the land. They pride themselves on offering the highest quality natural eggs, honey, and vegetables. Join us today to hear about how Andy and his team keep this small farm thriving! You’ll hear: How Andy got interested in farming at a young age 1:13 About the overall setup of Andy’s farming operation 5:37 About the main crops Red Fern grows in their tunnels 8:00 How Andy ensures important tasks are accomplished on the farm 13:04 How Andy would change the setup of his farm if he could go back in time 17:28 How Andy gets his kids involved with the farm 18:51 How Andy markets the farm 21:56 The most common mistakes Andy sees newer farmers making 27:41 Andy’s favorite farming tool 30:22 The best time to start farming, according to Andy 31:45 About the Guest:Andy is a farmer, educator, outdoor professional, husband, and father. He wanted to be a farmer all of his life and with the establishment of Red Fern Farm in 2019, that dream became a reality. Red Fern is a bio-intensive micro-farm dedicated to environmental and land stewardship with an emphasis on no-till, no spray, and human powered techniques. By focusing on high rotation crops, Andy is able to make a small amount of growing space profitable. Small-scale ecological farms can change the world! Resources: Website - https://www.redfernfarmva.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RedFernFarmVA/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/redfernfarmva/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCighrOGMfr3Lt17-k1p35dw