Dawn's Dirt

In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Jason Smith, a farmer-rancher from Eckville, Alberta, who lived through the kind of CFIA nightmare you pray never lands on your gate. Jason shares how he built a deer operation from the late 90s, followed every rule, tracked every tag, double-fenced his farm, and still ended up forced to destroy his entire herd after CFIA claimed Chronic Wasting Disease was present. Here's the gut punch: after it was all done, every single animal tested negative. We also dig into what this means for cattle producers right now as new traceability rules push toward government databases, more paperwork, and more pressure on small, family farms. If you care about food freedom, farm-to-table, and keeping farmers on the land, you need to hear this one.



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Episode Highlights: CFIA enforcement, chronic wasting disease explained, deer farming and hunting industry, quarantine and compensation process, government overreach in agriculture, paperwork and expanding regulations, traceability vs control, small farms under pressure, big ag consolidation concerns, Alberta-led solutions, farm-to-table importance, rebuilding community and family connection




Takeaways: 
Traceability is not the issue, government control and creeping requirements are
A "rule change" often becomes layers of paperwork that producers never agreed to
Small farms get crushed first when systems require constant computer reporting
Biosecurity and good husbandry do not guarantee fair treatment by regulators
Local farm-to-table systems strengthen trust, transparency, and community
When communication breaks down, families pay the price not bureaucrats
Protecting food freedom starts with producers organizing locally and loudly


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Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself, help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love!



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Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started!



Book Your FREE Call Today! 
 
Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ 
 
Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/
 
Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ 
 
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Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Jared from Ruben's Roots, a market gardener just outside the Battlefords in Saskatchewan who basically said "no plan, full send" and built a real business anyway. We get into the messy truth of year one (weed seed bank hell, irrigation learning curves, growing what you think will sell vs what actually sells), and how he turned carrots from his worst crop into his top earner through smarter systems, succession planting, and a few key tools. Jared breaks down his 30-inch bed setup, drip irrigation, DIY farm tools, and how he's scaling while still working a full-time job. Then we go there on organic certification, food labels, and why "naturally grown" plus trust and transparency can beat bureaucracy. If you're starting from scratch, this one is pure practical gold.
 
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Episode Highlights: market gardening, small scale farming, growing food for profit, starting a market garden, farm to table, local food systems, sustainable farming, naturally grown produce, organic vs organic certified, succession planting, vegetable crop planning, DIY farm tools, bed system farming, small farm business, market garden success




Takeaways: 
Let the market tell you what to grow and cut the "nice idea" crops fast
Standardize your beds and systems so everything gets easier to measure and repeat
Companion planting can solve problems without fancy sprays or drama
Tools that save your body save your business, even DIY ones
Succession planting turns random harvests into consistent income
Hire for the bottleneck that burns you out, not the task you love
"Local and transparent" often matters more than a certification badge


 
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Links & Resources Mentioned


 
Jared's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/reubens.roots/ 
Jared's Website | https://www.reubensroots.ca/ 
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Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself—help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love!



______________________________________________
 

Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started!



Book Your FREE Call Today! 
 
Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ 
 
Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/
Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ 
 
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Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I'm sitting down with Christie Green, a landscape architect in Santa Fe who's obsessed with food the same way I am, because food is never just food. We get into what it looks like to live in real relationship with what you eat, from gardening in tough desert conditions to hunting as a practice of presence, respect, and learning. Christie breaks down how to build soil that actually holds water, why "lazy gardening" is usually the smartest gardening, and how to start small without the Pinterest pressure. We also go deep on seasonality, calling out fake "farm-to-table," and why growing even one thing can flip a switch in your body and your brain. If you're craving food freedom, community, and a way back to what's real, this one's for you.



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Episode Highlights: food intimacy, hunting as ritual, composting basics, building soil in dry climates, sunken beds and bioswales, lazy gardener design, container gardening, perfectionism in gardening, seasonal eating, real farm-to-table accountability, food sovereignty, respectful dialogue across differences




Takeaways: 
Food hits different when you know the story behind it
Start small so you don't set yourself up to quit
In dry climates, the goal is soil that holds water, not just water on top
Put gardens where you will see them every day, not in the back 40
Gardening is an experiment, not a test you pass or fail
Seasonal eating connects you back to place and to your body
Food can build bridges when we lead with respect instead of being right


 
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Links & Resources Mentioned
 
Christie's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/radiclelandscape/ 
Christie's Website | https://www.christiegreen.net/ 
Christie's Book |  Moonlight Elk By Christie Green 
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Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself—help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love!



______________________________________________
 

Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started!



Book Your FREE Call Today! 
 
Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ 
Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/
Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ 
 
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Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I'm sittin' down with James Cornwell of Nine Pines Farm — a farmer through and through who went from milking cows and smelling like silage to the Navy, then right back to the land where he belongs. We talk about what it really takes to build a profitable farm-to-table business without drowning in debt, why direct marketing beats begging at farmers markets, and how knowing your numbers is the difference between a farm and an expensive hobby. James breaks down pastured poultry, egg pricing, wholesale vs retail, and even the truth about "organic" chicken. We also get into faith, family, and the mindset shift that changed everything: it's not your farm… it's God's. If you want to feed people, build community, and make farming sustainable again, this one will light you up.



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Episode Highlights: farm-to-table, pastured poultry, food freedom, direct marketing, small-scale farming, pricing your products, chicken math, egg profitability, wholesale vs retail, farming without debt, faith-based farming, family farms




Takeaways: 
Treat your farm like a business or it becomes a money-sucking hobby
Know your true cost per dozen eggs and price like you mean it
Direct-to-consumer sales build stronger customers than markets do
Education is marketing and marketing is what keeps the farm alive
"Organic" doesn't always mean access to outdoors or better welfare
Scaling often requires adjusting ideals while keeping your standards
Faith, family, and teamwork are fuel when farming gets hard


 
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Links & Resources Mentioned
 
Nine Pines Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/Ninepinesfarm717 
Nine Pines Website | https://ninepinesfarm.com/ 
Nine Pines Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/Ninepinesfarm 
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Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself—help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love!



______________________________________________
 

Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started!



Book Your FREE Call Today! 
 
Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ 
 
Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/
Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ 
 
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Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I'm lighting a fire under your farmers market booth and walking you through the five biggest mistakes that are quietly killing your sales. I share stories from running a 36,000 sq ft greenhouse, 20 acres of vegetables, and a whole lot of market days to show you exactly why your pricing probably sucks, why your booth looks "fine" but isn't selling, and how your body language and phone habits are costing you real money. We dig into bundle pricing, display psychology, traffic flow, and how to turn simple "hello"s into long-term, loyal customers. If you're ready to treat your market table like a real business, charge what you're worth, and leave the market with a fuller till (and heart), this one's for you.



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Episode Highlights: farmers markets, pricing mistakes, bundle pricing, booth display, traffic flow, customer engagement, sales psychology, small business, vendor confidence, relationship-building, market strategy, product value




Takeaways: 
Price your products like a real business, not a charity
Stop undercharging for eggs, produce, and preserves
Use bundle pricing to naturally increase every customer's spend
Make your booth look full, inviting, and easy to navigate
Stand up, say hello, and actually talk to people
Build relationships so customers come back week after week
Get off your phone if you want to make money


 
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Love what you're hearing on Dawn's Dirt? Don't keep it to yourself—help us grow! Share the show with your friends, like this episode, and leave a quick 5-star rating. Your support means the world and helps us keep bringing you the content you love!



______________________________________________
 

Want to turn your homestead into more than just a hobby? I've been there. As a former farmer, I built a profitable business from my land, selling out at local markets, preserving food through canning, and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars from what I grew and raised. Now, I help others do the same. Whether it's garden coaching, raising animals, selling eggs, or turning your harvest into income through canning, I'll show you practical ways to bring real value from your homestead. Let's talk about your goals and how we can make your land work for you. Book a free call today using the link below, let's get started!



Book Your FREE Call Today! 
 
Visit Dawn's Website | https://www.dawnsdirt.ca/ 
 
Dawn Dirt's Instagram |  https://www.instagram.com/dawns_dirt/
Dawn's Dirt Podcast Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dawnsdirtpodcast/ 
 
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Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com