Dawn's Dirt

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. ______________________________________________   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   ______________________________________________   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  ______________________________________________ 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/    ______________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________   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   ______________________________________________   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  ______________________________________________ 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/    ______________________________________________ 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. ______________________________________________   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   ______________________________________________ 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/    ______________________________________________ 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 ranch mama and Sales Mama School founder, Sausha Davis, to talk about what it really looks like to build a business when you've got kids, cows and a whole lot of chaos. We get into her leap from a miserable six-figure corporate job into coaching, how she structures her days on the ranch so she doesn't burn out, and why she believes every woman can create her own income stream—whether that's beef boxes, horses, or farm to table sales. Sausha breaks down her "people before profit" approach to sales, the four buyer personalities every farmer and maker needs to know, and why proof of concept matters more than perfect logos or pretty branding. If you're a farm girl, homesteader or side-hustling mama who's sick of waiting for permission, this episode will light a fire under your butt in the best way. ______________________________________________   Episode Highlights: women in agriculture, ranch mom entrepreneur, farm to table business, women in farming, rural business coaching, sales coaching for farmers, ranch life motherhood, homestead business tips, buyer personality types, small farm marketing, online business for moms, farm to consumer sales, mindset for women entrepreneurs, building confidence in business, sustainable ranching business strategies Takeaways:  Your energy and routines set the tone for your whole farm and business Kids watching you work is a gift, not a problem Entrepreneurship is available to every woman in some form You are the catalyst for change in your life Selling gets easier when you understand different buyer personalities Proof of concept matters more than perfect branding at the start People before profit naturally creates more profit over time   ______________________________________________   Links & Resources Mentioned   Sausha's Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/salesmamaschool  Sausha's Website | https://salesmama.biz/  Sausha's YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@salesmamaschool  The Sales Mama Podcast | https://open.spotify.com/show/3kzoSWTu2sVbZDPSVD9Lfj?si=4284f21abbe846d5&nd=1&dlsi=fa2ec505bf054611 ______________________________________________ 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/    ______________________________________________ Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com

In today's episode of Dawn's Dirt, I dig into the shocking reality of what small farmers are up against in Canada right now—from health inspectors threatening to shut down egg sales to the CFIA killing an entire flock of healthy ostriches simply because the rule book said so. I share real stories from my own farm, greenhouse, and markets to show how red tape, inconsistent regulations, and plain old government overreach are pushing everyday farmers out while turning food freedom into a maze designed to scare people away from getting started. But there's hope—and power—when you learn how to think creatively, build local networks, and reclaim your part in the food system. If you've ever wondered why farm-to-table feels "risky," or if you've felt called to grow food but fear the bureaucracy… this episode connects the dots you need to see. ______________________________________________   Episode Highlights: government overreach in farming, CFIA ostrich cull, ostrich massacre Canada, raw milk laws Canada, farm to table business, farmers market fraud, small farm regulations, Canadian food bureaucracy, egg regulations Alberta, local food systems, food freedom Canada, know your farmer   ______________________________________________   Episode Highlights: raw milk Canada, farm to table business, CFIA overreach, ostrich farm culling, small farm regulations, Canada dairy quota, farmers market resellers, Health Canada cloned meat, food freedom, backyard chickens, local food systems, government bureaucracy in farming Takeaways:  You don't have to let bureaucracy stop you from farming or selling food Knowing your local farmers is now a non-negotiable part of real food security Cheap grocery store food comes at the cost of small farms, quality and independence Creative thinking inside the rules can keep you compliant and still profitable Backyard gardens and chickens are powerful tools against food system control Supporting real farmers today is how you secure your family's options tomorrow You can turn almost any piece of land into a small farm-to-table business   ______________________________________________ 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/    ______________________________________________ Produced by Carley Butler Media – Helping podcasts elevate their voice and reach the world. Learn more at www.carleybutlermedia.com