The greatest crop I've ever grown
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres The winter in south Texas isn’t a time to take off or slow down. Thanks to a mild winter, we are lucky enough to grow all 12 months of the year. Take that, California! Our winter is pretty much like what I think the rest of the country experiences during […]
A day in my life: 15 miles and one noisy cat
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres A day in the life of this farmer can vary, but since I began farming full time, I wake up in a great mood. I can usually get a few giggles and smiles out of my pre-coffee, drowsy wife, a feat in its own right, I assure you. But I digress. […]
Nine months, 20 chickens, and $300: BOOTSTRAP AT EMADI ACRES FARM
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres Moving from a decent paying job to a job that reduces your income to below the poverty level is scary! But once you’re at the bottom, you know there is only one way to go. I conceded to my wife before I quit my teaching job that she would be […]
Death happens (and other facts about being a farmer) – BOOTSTRAP AT EMADI ACRES
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres We asked each of our Bootstrap Bloggers to tell us the top five things people should know about farming. This is Derek’s list: 1) Love thy organic matter Simply put, always accumulate organic matter. If you farm, whether it’s mulch, hay, manure, leaves, topsoil, cardboard, etc, take what’s free. People […]
Weddings and chickens: A farm business plan – Bootstrap at Emadi Acres Farm
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres The beauty of farming is that there are many avenues to make money, though you have to work extremely hard to get it. I have a silly dream of having all of my business commerce happen here on the farm. Not that I am necessarily a hermit, I just never […]
Getting by with a little help from your friends … Plus savings and grants
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres So many stories about farming in the media feature people who left their well-paying jobs in corporate America to start a farm business. The stories always include the folks admitting how difficult their type of farming is, but conclude with how prosperous they have become in their venture. If you […]
"Nature boy" finds his calling – BOOTSTRAP AT EMADI ACRES FARM
By Derek Emadi, Emadi Acres As far back as I can remember, one of the only places I felt peace as a hyperactive kid was on my grandparent’s property. Their land was located in a small town west of San Antonio, Texas. The town was small enough that my cousins, brother, and I could walk […]
Bootstrap at Emadi Acres Farm – Meet Derek
Welcome to our 2015 Bootstrap Blog series! We’ve been introducing you to our four Bootstrap Bloggers, who are all in their first or second year of running a farm. Throughout the season, each Bootstrap Blogger will write about the highs and lows, glory moments and curveballs that come with farming. The seed of my farm started in […]
Farmshare Austin currently seeking veggie grower students
This just in from our Texas Young Farmer affiliate! Farmshare Austin (FSA) is a new 501c3 in Austin,TX dedicated to educating the next generation of organic vegetable growers in Central Texas. This fall we will accept our first class of students who will live and work on our educational farm as part of an intensive […]
States Expanding Cottage Food Laws
In April we wrote about Value-Added Producer Grants and how these federal awards can potentially help small farmers. However, with the contents of the 2013 Farm Bill facing uncertainty, state legislatures are providing inexpensive ways for farmers to produce limited quantities of value-added products.