The Rookie Farmer Podcast is the go-to resource for aspiring market gardeners and small-scale farmers. Hosted by Alec Smith, farmer at Crop Culture Farm in New Bern, Georgia, this podcast provides wisdom, knowledge and real-world experience to support the rising movement of small-scale agriculture.
Each episode features discussions with veteran growers, industry experts, and fellow "rookie" farmers who share lessons learned in starting up and running profitable, sustainable farms. Alec dives into topics like effective crop planning, selling to chefs and restaurants, creative CSA models, and much more. He also provides regular updates on his own half-acre vegetable farm as it grows.
Whether you are a new grower just starting out or a few seasons into your farming journey, The Rookie Farmer Podcast will inform and inspire you to take your small farm to the next level. Tune in and join a passionate community of small-scale farmers who are revolutionizing the food system, one farm at a time.
Cold Called (and Rejected By!) 100 Restaurants (TRFP 59)
Ever wondered what it really takes to start a farm, fail, and rebuild it from nothing in a brand-new place? Join Alec and Evan Young of Rainbow OMG in Victoria, Australia, for an honest look at bootstrapping a market garden with no budget, no local farming community, and no guarantee it will work.
Click here to learn more about farmer Evan and Rainbow OMG!
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. (https://www.instagram.com/cropculturefarm/)
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
Click here to watch the video version! (https://youtu.be/b0l-AhbSRH8)
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.
24 Oct 2026
Market Gardening in Sweden: Farming Where Nothing Grows for 6 Months (TRFP 58)
Think you've got a short growing season?
Meet Ellinor, a part-time market gardener in Sweden who grows on a third of an acre at 58° north, with no farmers markets, a rainwater-only watering system, and a full-time IT job. She shares how she sells direct through a self-serve farm stand and REKO rings, why she'd rather reinvest in labor than infrastructure, and how she makes a limited season and a narrow sales window work.
You might just be surprised how similar market gardeners' challenges are no matter where they're farming.
Click here to check out farmer Ellinor and Askö Grönsaker. (https://www.instagram.com/asko.gronsaker/)
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. (https://www.instagram.com/cropculturefarm/)
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
Click here to watch the video version! (https://youtu.be/b0l-AhbSRH8)
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.
10 Oct 2026
10% Left from the Farmers Market (TRFP 57)
In this farm blog episode, Alec and Richard talk about successes (and failures!) when it comes to carrot germination, what they do to their unsold produce, and some learning opportunities in the near future.
Click here to learn more about farmer Richard and Sun and Soil Farm. (https://www.instagram.com/sunandsoilfarm/)
Click here to check out farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm. (https://www.instagram.com/cropculturefarm/)
Click here to shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link.
Click here to watch the video version! (https://youtu.be/b0l-AhbSRH8)
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.
Who has been a guest on The Rookie Farmer Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Richard
Brian Strickland
Patrick Samuels
Herb Young
Emily Erickson Mills
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
12 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
52
Social presence
97
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact The Rookie Farmer Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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