Today we are joined by micro-farming expert Ben Hartman to discuss the physical and mental health benefits of growing your own food. In our country, farmer’s currently have the highest rate of suicide of any other occupation. Ben addresses this crisis, revealing the problem with modern-day farming and why micro-farming is a big part of the solution. He discusses the personal impact that becoming a farmer had on himself and his family. He shares the rewards of farming, from supporting your community to being more connected to the Earth. Ben gives tips to get started today from what to plant and how to start your own food traditions.
0:00 Intro
3:13 Lean Micro-Farm: Farming in Small Spaces
3:50 The Problem with Modern Farms
6:26 Why Farming is Good For Us
9:01 Mental Health Benefits of Micro Farming
14:02 Right Livelihood: The Reward of Farming
15:36 Midwest Leading Agricultural Innovation
18:21 How Food Brings Us Together
22:38 Tips for Growing Food in the Winter
25:39 A Farmer’s Favorite Vegetables
27:30 Ben’s Daily Nutrition
31:19 Finding Inspiration Ancient Wisdom
36:26 Community Building Through Food
38:20 The Healing Power of Plants
45:46 Food Traditions & Getting Started
58:00 Conclusion
Ben Hartman is the author of three books, including The Lean Micro Farm (ChelseaGreen, 2023) and The Lean Farm (Chelsea Green, 2016), winner of the prestigious Shingo Institute Research and Professional Publication Award. In 2017, Ben was named one of fifty emerging green leaders in the United States by Grist. Ben and his wife, Rachel Hershberger, own and operate Clay Bottom Farm in Goshen, Indiana, where they make their living growing specialty crops on ⅓ acre of land in production. Ben has developed an online course in lean farming, which can be found at claybottomfarm.com, and he has consulted for USAID.
The Lean Microfarm book: https://www.amazon.com/Lean-Micro-Farm-Embrace-Better-ebook/dp/B0C4Q92KLC
The Clay Bottom Farm https://www.claybottomfarm.com/
