The Market Gardener Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Woody DeLauder, founder of Rootbound Farms, a small but highly productive suburban farm based in Southern Maryland. Woody shares how he transformed his suburban lawn into a thriving, human-powered market garden that generates over $100K annually, with the help of his secret best-seller: handmade soap, all while navigating zoning restrictions, skeptical neighbors, and the realities of farming in a residential neighborhood. 
We explore Woody’s journey from being a fourth and fifth grade teacher to becoming a full-time grower and entrepreneur, and how growing food in his front yard became a catalyst for rebuilding community in the suburbs. Woody reflects on the cultural challenges of suburban life, the loss of shared spaces, and how food production can reconnect neighbors through visibility, conversation, and generosity. 
Rootbound Farms: https://www.rootboundfarms.com/ 

Timestamps
[0:00] Intro
[3:40] The good, the bad, and the ugly of social media 
[7:30] What’s broken in modern suburbia and the idea of “living room kids”
[13:00] Turning lawns into gardens and rethinking suburban norms
[19:30] Front-yard farming, neighbor resistance, and zoning challenges
[27:15] Building community through visibility, food, and conversation
[35:30] From teacher to farmer: changing careers and redefining success
[43:00] Farm economics: small footprint, low overhead, and real revenue
[52:30] Influences from Curtis Stone, Eliot Coleman, and small-scale pioneers
[1:01:00] Social media, virality, and the cost of visibility
[1:23:40] Seasonality, local food culture, and rebuilding appreciation for real food
[1:29:00] Long-term vision: education, community farms, and inclusive spaces
[1:44:50] Rapid Fire Q&A: books, advice, influences, and staying small

Sponsors
Real Organic Project: Get Involved. Get Certified. Join the movement to fight the co-opting of organic.
Johnny’s Selected Seeds: Sign up for Johnny’s newsletter to receive the latest news, products, and more. New members get $10 off their next order of $50 or more!
Market Gardener Institute: Join the Masterclass waiting list today!

Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute:  https://themarketgardener.com 
Masterclass:  https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass 
Newsletter:  https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter
Blog:  https://themarketgardener.com/blog 
Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books
Growers & Co: https://growers.co
Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/
The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us
Website: http://themarketgardener.com 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners 

Guest Social Media Links

Rootbound Farms:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rootboundfarms/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OurRootboundLife
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rootboundfarms?_t=8h03SuFkTBD&_r=1
Website: https://www.rootboundfarms.com/ 

JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

In this episode, we sit down with Yuzuru Kajiya, a famous farmer from Japan who supplies top-tier, three-star Michelin restaurants across Japan and Asia. Yuzuru shares his journey from touring elite French restaurants in his youth to starting his own farm focused on growing unique, exotic, and high-quality produce, a contrast to traditional Japanese farming. We explore Japanese culture and how values like craftsmanship and perfection translate into his farm and the restaurants he works with, and how Japan’s uniquely low land cost is failing to attract new young farmers. Yuzuru also reflects on how his Canadian education in horticulture and exposure to Western culture shaped his mindset, enabling him to succeed by adopting new methods and focusing on the culinary farmer niche.
Consider this episode your gateway into Japanese farm and food culture; we’re sure you’ll find it as interesting as we did!

Kajiya Farm: https://kajiyafarm.jp/ 

Timestamps
[0:00] Intro
[8:00] Yuzuru’s farming education and youth in Canada
[10:18] Touring 3-Star Michelin restaurants around the world
[13:15] Discovering unique farmers in Europe and Asafumi Yamashita’s influence
[24:18] Yuzuru’s strategy to focus on unique, exotic crops and direct sales to chefs
[27:31] The taste-test trip to Paris to gain confidence and connections
[30:42] Business explodes with the launch of the Michelin Tokyo guide
[32:01] Finding and training the right workforce
[43:24] Japan's changing economy and the farming landscape
[53:51] Japanese small tools and market gardening techniques
[1:00:44] High-value specialty crops, edible flowers, and foraging
[1:18:41] Japan’s incredible shipping system
[1:33:53] Rapid Fire Q&A: One-Straw Revolution, Personal Advice, and Snowboarding

Sponsors
Real Organic Project: Get Involved. Get Certified. Join the movement to fight the co-opting of organic.
Market Gardener Institute: Join the Masterclass waiting list today!

Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute:  https://themarketgardener.com 
Masterclass:  https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass 
Newsletter:  https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter
Blog:  https://themarketgardener.com/blog 
Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books
Growers & Co: https://growers.co
Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/
The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us
Website: http://themarketgardener.com 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners 

Guest Social Media Links
Yuzuru Kajiya:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kajiyafarm/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kajiyafarm/ 
Website: https://kajiyafarm.jp/ 
JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Adams, New Jersey grower and founder of Eastbound Acres, to explore what it really means to be a small-scale farmer in the most densely populated state in the United States. We dive deep into the challenges of farming in a landscape dominated by suburban sprawl, fast-food chains, and skyrocketing land prices, and we explore Chris’s mission to rebuild local food awareness in a place where agriculture has all but disappeared from daily life. Chris breaks down how he built multiple farms over 13 years; why sales, not production, remain the biggest barrier for growers in his region; and how he’s using tools like Local Line, CSA credit systems, and ultra-efficient market gardening practices to build a viable business on under half an acre.
Learn more about Chris’s work at Eastbound Acres: https://eastboundacres.com/

Timestamps
[2:15] Farming in a densely populated and developed area.
[3:29] The need for agriculture education and awareness in New Jersey.
[9:57] Historical context of farmland loss in New Jersey due to urban sprawl.
[12:23] Chris's journey to farming: from soil science to starting a farm from a class project.
[15:20] "Food Inc." documentary as a catalyst for change.
[16:58] Evolution of the farm model: transitioning from tractor-oriented to super-small market garden style.
[23:00] Achieving high efficiency and streamlining labor (working three hours a week on a half-acre).
[27:01] The difficulty of sales and marketing in a densely populated area and the problem with fake farm markets.
[30:02] Using local line software for sales, forecasting, and streamlining the business.
[41:17] Juggling the farm with a main business and the importance of setting hard boundaries.
[1:28:24] Rapid fire Q&A (books, advice, failures, and the link between wrestling and farming discipline)

Sponsors
Real Organic Project: Get Involved. Get Certified. Join the movement to fight the co-opting of organic.
Market Gardener Institute: Join the Masterclass waiting list today!

Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute:  https://themarketgardener.com 
Masterclass:  https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass 
Newsletter:  https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter
Blog:  https://themarketgardener.com/blog 
Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books
Growers & Co: https://growers.co
Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/
The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us
Website: http://themarketgardener.com 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners

Guest Social Media Links

Chris Adams:
Website: https://www.eastboundacres.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastboundacres 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089652433399
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-adams-a9b451382/ 

JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

In this episode, we sit down with Julia Shanks, consultant, teacher, and author of The Farmer’s Office, to talk about the crucial role of business acumen in small-scale farming. We dive deep into financial management practices, routine bookkeeping, using QuickBooks, and how to properly deal with debt as a small farm business owner. Julia stresses that farmers are entrepreneurs who must understand their numbers, especially profit, not just revenue, to create sustainable, fulfilling farms. You’ll get loads of actionable advice, relatable stories, and examples of small farm owners who are financially successful and happy. 
Learn more about Julia’s books, courses, and more at The Farmer’s Office

Timestamps
[2:47] Contrast of business savvy farmers vs. those who ignore their numbers
[6:00] Why frequent financial tracking and setting profit goals are essential. 
[19:38] Julia's journey from aviation and culinary arts to farm financial consultant.
[28:10] Advice for new farmers: starting with a clear desired take-home income. 
[32:14] Navigating cyclical cash flow and the challenge of building a financial runway. 
[44:28] Deciding what to grow: prioritizing personal goals over sheer lucrativeness.
[1:05:15] Strategies for managing debt stress and scenario planning for investments. 
[1:10:00] The business pivot: how frequent financial checks enable rapid course correction.
[1:26:14] Calculating cost of production (e.g., for a tomato) and factoring in labor. 
[1:43:23] Rapid Fire Q&A

Links Julia mentioned
How to track POS sales in QuickBooks: https://youtu.be/lZKEdZSXHSA?si=piT11k_9jCbF_7ae
Upcoming Excel Templates workshop:
www.thefarmersoffice.com/excel 
Free webinar: How to Grow Your Farm Business: More Profits (Not More Production).
https://thefarmersoffice.com/freewebinar/ 
Quickbooks 7-Day Challenge: https://thefarmersoffice.com/qbo-7day/

Sponsors
Real Organic Project: Get Involved. Get Certified. Join the movement to fight the co-opting of organic.
New Society Publishing: Use code market25 for 25% off all books

Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute:  https://themarketgardener.com 
Masterclass:  https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass 
Newsletter:  https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter
Blog:  https://themarketgardener.com/blog 
Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books
Growers & Co: https://growers.co
Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/
The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us
Website: http://themarketgardener.com 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners 

Guest Social Media Links

Julia Shanks:
Website: https://thefarmersoffice.com/ 
Book: https://newsociety.com/book/the-farmers-office-second-edition
Instagram: https://instagram.com/TheFarmersOffice 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFarmersOffice 

JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

In this heartfelt solo episode, Jean-Martin Fortier reflects on the idea that small-scale farming is the true counterculture of today; a colorful, creative, and deeply rooted way of life that stands in contrast to mainstream consumerism and the obsession with wealth. He explores three key pillars: culture, diversity, and resiliency, highlighting how small farms foster biodiversity, preserve tradition, and offer an authentic alternative to homogenized food systems. Jean-Martin shares his personal journey and observations from farms around the world, emphasizing that these local, human-scale farms are not only feeding communities but also nurturing ecosystems. This is an uplifting, passionate tribute to the global movement of growers fighting back with resilience, creativity, and community.

Timestamps
[0:00] When did it become cool to get rich? Reflections on what “being cool” used to mean.
[4:31] Why small-scale farming is the ultimate counterculture today.
[8:06] Farms as colorful, original spaces that resist mainstream homogenization.
[13:05] The farm as a lifestyle: freedom, connection, and shared struggle.
[21:39] Rediscovering crate art and the creativity of early 20th-century farms.
[23:11] Diversity in farming and why it's essential to human health and culture.
[34:07] Small farms as key players in restoring biodiversity and rewilding.
[39:28] Scaling out, not up: how a network of small farms builds resiliency and food sovereignty.

Sponsors
Tessier: Use promo code MGI10 for 10% off and free shipping on your first purchase for the Eastern North American regions https://info.serres-guytessier.com/en/tessier-mgi10?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Tessier+MGI+podcast

Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute:  https://themarketgardener.com 
Masterclass:  https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass 
Newsletter:  https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter
Blog:  https://themarketgardener.com/blog 
Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books
Growers & Co: https://growers.co
Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/
The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/

Follow Us
Website: http://themarketgardener.com 
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute 
Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners

JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier