FarmStart

Farmer case studies are a terrific means of learning how other people deal with the challenges common to many new farmers. We’ve listed several collections of farmer case studies – some collected in Southern Ontario by FarmStart, others profiling US farmers, collected by organizations in the United States.

Sowing Seeds, Reaping Profits

FarmStart’s Sowing Seeds, Reaping Profit is a series of seven case studies featuring innovative Ontario farmers with non-traditional backgrounds. It shares practical production tips, innovative marketing approaches and creative ways to successfully negotiate the myriad challenges that new farmers face in their start-up years and beyond.

Achim Mohssen-beyk, Reachview Farm – As President of Quinte Organic Farmers Co-op, Achim Mohssen-Beyk fronts a movement to revitalize agriculture in Prince Edward County.

Caitlin Hall, Reroot Organic CSA – A young farmer with a non-farm background, Caitlin Hall is using her experience as a CRAFT intern to run a successful new organic CSA.

Elisabeth Bzikot, Best Baa Farm and Ewenity Dairy Co-op – UK-born Elisabeth Bzikot is a pioneer among sheep dairy farmers in Ontario. As Chair of Ewenity Dairy Co-op, she markets sheep cheeses and yogurts at venues throughout the Golden Horseshoe and beyond.

Linda Crago, Tree and Twig Heirloom Vegetable Farm – A second-career farmer with a passion for unusual heirloom vegetables, Linda Crago runs a successful small farm enterprise on just 2.5 acres.

Linda Laepple, Laepple Organic Farm – Linda Laepple’s agricultural roots extend through countless generations of Bavarian farmers. Today, she and her family pursue that tradition at their Waterloo Region organic farm.

Shin Kang, Skyview Farms – Originally from South Korea, Shin Kang has farmed in Ontario for over thirty years. At Skyland Farms, Shin grows vegetables for direct sale to Toronto’s Korean community.

Ute Zell, Smiling Goat Farm – Having immigrated from Germany in the 1990s, Ute Zell has some important lessons to share on the subject of farming in a new country.

Meet our New Farmers!

FarmStart’s New Farms Incubator Farm Program supports new farm enterprises by offering access to land, equipment, and infrastructure at reasonable rates, and by providing participants with mentorship and training in business planning, technical skills, and ecological farming methods.

The following profiles introduce our participants, a group of new farmers whose diverse entrepreneurial strategies contain the seeds for a more just and sustainable regional food supply.

Matt Reeves – A young grower with a background in biodynamics and horticultural therapy, Matt has a strong belief in the healing power of sustainable vegetable production for marginalized people.

Simon Jacques - A young farmer and organic inspector, Simon is a pioneer in organic coloured bean production in Ontario.

Tarrah Young – FarmStart’s first graduate, Tarrah is drawing from skills honed in the New Farms Incubator Farm Program to develop an organic vegetable, pork and turkey operation on land she recently purchased close to Hanover, Ontario.

Finding the Niche: Case Studies of Beginning Small Scale Farmers

Katherine Griffin, Mount Horeb, WI Wisconsin Rural Development Center
1991 / 37 pp / $5.00 / Available for purchase from the New England Small Farm Institute Bookstore

Inspiring case studies featuring families and individuals succeeding in non-traditional farming. Provides ideas and insights into the challenges farmers face and the resourcefulness they bring to bear in realizing their goals and dreams.

The New American Farmer: Profiles of Agricultural Innovation, 2nd Edition

Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN)
2005 / 200 pages / $16.95 US / Free PDF

Hailing from small vegetable farms, cattle ranches and grain farms covering thousands of acres, the producers in The New American Farmer, 2nd edition have embraced new approaches to agriculture. They are renewing profits, enhancing environmental stewardship and improving the lives of their families as well as their communities. The second edition builds on SAN’s popular first book. The authors have updated many of the profiles originally researched and written in 2000 and added 14 new profiles to represent every state and two U.S. territories. The book now features more than 60 successful farmers and ranchers.

1000 Stories of Regenerative Agriculture

The New Farm
Free Online

The New Farm has set a goal of gathering together 1000 or more stories about organic, regenerative agriculture that illustrate holistic, values-based ways to farm satisfyingly and successfully. Stories are sorted by region.