EP2: Why do farmers keep farming if they don’t make any money?

Summary

In this episode, Antonio and Janice break down why it’s so tough for farmers nowadays to make money from farming. They share 8 big reasons why farmers are still attracted to the farm life anyway, including their own personal stories explaining why they wouldn’t trade it in for anything. They also discuss the very real challenges new farmers currently face in trying to make their farm dream a reality and how we can solve this problem.

Connect with us on:

• Instagram: @cavaleirofarm
• Facebook: @cavaleirofarm
• Website (Cavaleiro Farm): http://cavaleiro.farm/
• Website (Urban Crops): https://urbancrops.ca/
• Email: antonio@cavaleiro.farm

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Timestamps:

0:50: The agenda for this episode

1:56: Overview: why people dream of living the farm life

3:09: It’s not just older farmers wanting to live the farm life: who else is moving to farms these days

4:25: The big knowledge gap and loss between older and newer farmers

5:40: Our list of 8 reasons for why farmers keep farming despite its challenges

5:40: Reason #1: Cash out or farm for life?

6:56: Reason #2: How farming keeps you in physical and mental balance

7:49: How Antonio’s mindset had to change moving from the city to farm life

8:53: Learning the lesson of acceptance through working on the farm and with nature

10:02: How Antonio has gained more mastery over his body through farming

11:33: Reason #3: Artificial versus natural ways of being

14:38: Reason #4: Farmers are entrepreneurs – how that {helps} farmers design the work/lifestyle they want and not let age (or anything else) become a limitation to continue farming

17:33: Reason #5: The hustle versus the simple life

18:48: Let’s be real: sometimes farming is the hustle + how that changes over time

19:59: What Janice’s work break looks like after too much time on the computer

21:43: How Janice’s experience eating food has changed from her office cubicle to the farm

22:28: Reason #6: Variety is the spice of farm life

23:39: The different business ventures Antonio has tried on his farm over 6 years that have kept things interesting

25:25: Various ways that farmers provide value and make money outside of farming full-time

27:24: Reason #7: Possibly the most obvious reason why farmers live the farm life

28:45: Reason #8: The bigger picture of why many of us farm

29:30: How Antonio uses food to build relationships with people in his community who support his farm in turn

31:38: We don’t just grow on our farm: how Antonio and Janice work with other landowners and farmers to build better farms

32:54: Win-win: how landowners can help new farmers access the farm life while making their land better

36:45: How you can connect with us