BellCast: Winter Urban Farming Blues

In this episode, Micheal Bell returns to the Small Scale Life Podcast to discuss progress at Half Acre Farm. There have been a few changes and improvements since our interview in October 2017!  Michael and I discuss urban farming in cold weather and high winds, and we will discuss the effect on his crops and his plan moving forward.  We discuss some future projects and building soil using Regenerative Agriculture techniques discussed in a recent seminar by Gabe Brown.  We also discuss the NFL games last weekend including the Minneapolis Miracle.

As a programming note, this is the first episode of the BellCast: a monthly podcast on Small Scale Life focused on the ups and downs of urban farming on Michael’s Half Acre Farm.  Michael has been farming at this location since purchasing the land in 2016, and he sells produce locally to friends, colleagues and others.

Topics

In this podcast, Michael Bell and I discussed the following:

Minneapolis Miracle and Football Games

New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Patriots Super Bowl and Dynasties

Introductions

Who is Michael Bell?

Half Acre Farm - Humble Beginnings

2000 square feet to 15,000 square

30 inch wide garden beds that are 25 feet long

Urban Farming 

Winter Conditions: Wind Storm and Cold Weather this Year

Crops:  Damage and Destruction

Low Tunnels: Success or Failure?

Long Term Weather Outlook in Texas

Bouncing Back: Planting New Crops

Salinova

Zucchini

5 Tomato Varieties

50 Large Cherry

25 Super Sweet 100's

10 Glacier (will blossom in 38 degree F temps)

Marigolds

25 Black Cherry Tomatoes - they get big!

Aggressive pruning and blight control - how to control blight

Selecting crops based on vegetable and profit potential

Customer Service and Sales

Breaking Bad News

Getting New Customers - Developing the "Waiting List"

Grocery Store Clients

Instagram connecting People and Customers

Eating Real Food - Michael's Salad Mix creates a Unique Taste which Sells Itself

Regenerative Agriculture

Rebuilding Soil using Regenerative Agriculture Techniques - Gabe Brown

Rancher and Soil Expert from North Dakota

Regenerated Soil in 3 or 4 Years on His Ranch

Five Laws to Regenerate Soil

Urban Farm

Backyard Gardens

Micheal's West Texas Project

Tom's Central Wisconsin Project

Philosophy and Continuous Learning

Time waits for no one

Getting things figured out; having a successful life

Why Michael and I REALLY do chores

Farm Expansion and Logistics

Greenhouse Purchased!  How to transport?

Future Greenhouses of Half Acre Farm

Keeping the Greenhouses Warm

Putting It All Together

Key topics discussed and next steps