Dawn's Dirt

In this episode of Dawn's Dirt, I sit down with Greg from Sunshine and Green Farms in Suffolk, England, and we get into what it really takes to build a profitable small-scale vegetable farm. We talk about growing food as a real business, not just a hobby, and why direct-to-consumer sales are giving farmers more power in a broken food system. Greg shares how he started with almost nothing, built a four-acre farm from the ground up, and created a model that works without depending on big retailers or government handouts. We also unpack why local food matters, how decentralized food systems create resilience, and why young farmers need to get back on the land. If you care about food freedom, profitable farming, and taking back control of what ends up on your plate, this conversation will light a fire under you.



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Episode Highlights: small-scale farming, profitable vegetable farming, local food systems, food freedom, direct-to-consumer sales, decentralized agriculture, young farmers, farm profitability, community-based food, breaking supermarket dependence, resilient farming models, sustainable local food




Takeaways: 
Small farms can be profitable when they focus on direct sales and smart marketing

A decentralized food system is more resilient than relying on a handful of massive players

Farmers gain more control when they sell to people instead of selling into commodity markets

Profitability comes from the whole farm business, not just one crop

Young farmers do not need to start big to build something meaningful

Government subsidies can disappear quickly, but strong local markets create stability

Convenience, quality, and trust are key to getting people to buy local food consistently



 
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Links & Resources Mentioned
 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sunshineandgreen/ 
Website | https://sunshineandgreen.co.uk/ 
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SunshineandGreen/ 
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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 sit down with Alberta beef producer Lance Neilson of Nielsen Beef to talk about the CFIA's proposed cattle traceability changes and why so many ranchers are saying "absolutely not." Lance breaks down the current system (brands, manifests, RFID) and explains how the new proximity reporting would add a pile of cost, tech, and paperwork to cow-calf producers with zero clear economic upside. We get into how these rules could quietly push small operations out, scare folks away from 4-H and cattle shows, and speed up consolidation in rural Canada. Then Lance brings receipts from the UK, where similar systems have meant surprise inspections, more red tape, and yes, fewer small farmers. If you care about food freedom, farm-to-table beef, and keeping entry-level farming possible in Canada, this one's a must-listen.
 
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Episode Highlights: CFIA traceability changes explained, cow-calf producers vs feedlots impact, proximity reporting and the "wider net" problem, costs of tag readers and extra labor, risks to 4-H and cattle shows, rodeo paperwork burden, why "trade expansion" claims don't add up, boxed beef vs live cattle trade reality, BSE timeline and border closure truth, UK cattle passport cautionary tale, consolidation and loss of small farms, farm-to-table marketing through social media




Takeaways: 
If there's no clear economic benefit, the burden is just bureaucracy
Proximity reporting can punish good farmers years after a single event
More reporting requirements usually favors big operations over small ones
"Trade protection" arguments need to separate boxed beef from live trade
BSE showed traceability speed doesn't guarantee borders reopen faster
The UK is a real-world case study of how regulation can trigger consolidation
Social media + direct-to-consumer sales can help small farms survive and grow


 
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Links & Resources Mentioned
 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/neilsonbeef/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/neilsonbeef
TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@neilsonbeef 
Website | https://albertabbqbox.com/ 
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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 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!



______________________________________________
 

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 
______________________________________________



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