The Market Gardener Podcast

Welcome to The Market Gardener Podcast! Join hosts JM Fortier and Chris Moran as they engage with influential members of the global small-scale farming and organic regenerative agriculture community.Our podcast is your gateway to insightful conversations about farming, food, small businesses, and thought leadership in the world of sustainable agriculture. We're here to shine a positive light on the practices and principles that drive small-scale farming, agroecology, and community building. Tune in for high-level discussions that inspire and empower a new era of positive farming.

The Market Gardener Podcast is a science podcast hosted by JM Fortier, with 56 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

JM Fortier hosts The Market Gardener Podcast, a science show with 56 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #55

  55: From Vegan To Animal Farmer: Why Animal Agriculture Matters For Health, Ecology & Climate | Abey Scaglione

  Aug 13, 20262 hourS5

  In this episode, we sit down with Abey Scaglione, author of Radical Farm and farmer at Ruckle Heritage Farm in Salt Spring Island, BC, to explore the ecological, nutritional, and ethical case for well-sourced animal foods in our food system. We dive deep into Abey’s journey from being a low-fat vegetarian and Pilates instructor in Los Angeles to managing a holistic livestock farm in British Columbia, examining why so many former vegans evolve into supporting well-managed animal husbandry once they understand real food systems. Abey reflects on the emotional complexity of raising and harvesting livestock; she deconstructs common environmental arguments against meat; and she explains the relationship between the natural carbon cycle and rotational grazing practices. We explore Abey’s homesteading experiences, from calf-sharing with dairy cows and raw milk cheese-making to the benefits of mobile chicken tractors and mob grazing for soil fertility. Finally, we discuss the economics of small-farm profitability, the shift from self-sufficiency to community sufficiency, and how consumer choices ultimately drive change in our food system. Abey’s book Radical Farm : https://www.radicalfarmbook.com/ Timestamps [00:00] Intro [01:40] Radical Farm book. [03:45] The former vegan arc: Unpacking animal agriculture, ethics, and maturity in food choices. [12:05] Overcoming low-fat diet trends, disordered eating, and returning to traditional real foods. [21:04] Navigating the emotional complexity of farm life and slaughtering animals. [32:17] Regrowth, bale grazing, and debunking methane myths in ruminant agriculture. [53:40] Getting started with livestock: Poultry, rotational systems, and culling layers. [01:03:00] The realities of keeping a dairy cow, calf-sharing, and the case for raw milk. [01:29:30] Farm economics, land management, and shifting from self-sufficiency to community sufficiency. [01:39:36] Rapid-fire questions: Lessons on acceptance, Bruce Springsteen, and supporting pastured pork. Sponsors Dubois Agrinovation: Get 10% off by choosing the promo code ‘MasterClass – Jean-Martin Fortier’ when you create an account. Some exceptions apply. https://duboisag.com Links/Resources Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here http://themarketgardener.com/starthere/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Growers & Co: https://growers.co/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/ Follow Us Website: https://themarketgardener.com?utm_medium=social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=podcast-saison5 Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners Guest Social Media Links Abey Scaglione: Book: https://www.radicalfarmbook.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abeyonthefarm/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abeyonthefarm Farm: https://rucklefarmsaltspringisland.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rucklefarm/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuckleFarm# JM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

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  Episode #54

  54: How To Stop Fighting Nature & Grow A High-Yield Orchard | Permaculture Orchard Design with Stefan Sobkowiak

  Jul 30, 20262h 18mS5

  In this episode, we sit down with Stefan Sobkowiak, permaculture educator and renowned Youtuber at The Permaculture Orchard , to explore how to design and manage holistic, diverse agricultural ecosystems. We dive deep into his guiding philosophy that “nothing beats easy,” his background in wildlife biology, and the catastrophic tent caterpillar outbreak that transformed his conventional apple orchard into a biodiversity lab. Stefan deconstructs Bill Mollison’s three phases of abundance and introduces his innovative “grocery store” design concept, explaining how grouping companion trees by harvest date completely revolutionizes the pick-your-own farm experience. The conversation highlights the powerful ecological synergies of combining perennial fruit trees with nitrogen-fixing species, annual vegetables, and pastured poultry to naturally optimize soil fertility. Finally, we discuss his playful "magic model" for farm planning, his perspective on utilizing AI as a personalized learning tutor, and how his parent’s experience during World War II instilled in him the importance of food security, resilience, and human relationships. Timestamps [00:00] Intro [05:16] Reflecting on Diego Footer and the profound early community legacy of Permaculture Voices. [08:52] "Nothing beats easy" - Choosing crops based on what grows like a weed. [15:33] The side quest from wildlife biology to landscape architecture to building functional animal habitats. [20:51] Professor Caterpillar - Surviving a catastrophic monoculture harvest and shifting to permaculture design. [30:22] Simulating a volcano: Unlocking high-yielding soil dynamics through compost and basalt rock dust. [45:31] Bill Mollison’s blueprint: Replanting a diverse layout with nitrogen-fixing guilds. [56:07] Launching a low-cost nursery. [01:08:03] Deconstructing Mollison's three phases of abundance and tracking regional seed adaptations. [01:21:25] Seasonal taste cravings and how nutrient density triggers our instinctive diet. [01:42:10] Designing the "grocery store" layout to group crops by seasonal harvest dates. [02:05:1]1 Rapid Fire Q&A: Reading Sir Albert Howard, using AI as a tutor, and generational memory. Sponsors Dubois Agrinovation: Get 10% off by choosing the promo code ‘MasterClass – Jean-Martin Fortier’ when you create an account. Some exceptions apply. https://duboisag.com/ Links/Resources Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here : https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/ Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books Growers & Co: https://growers.co Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/ The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/ Follow Us Website: http://themarketgardener.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners Guest Social Media Links Stefan: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/stefansobkowiak Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefansobkowiak/ Website: https://miracle.farm/ Masterclass: https://permaculture.study/ JM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

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  Episode #53

  53: How To Make Any Soil Amazing With Cover Crops: Grow Your Own Fertility! | JM Fortier

  Jul 16, 202637 minS5

  In this solo episode, Jean-Martin Fortier reveals the ultimate secret weapon for healthy soil and high-yield market gardening: cover crops and green manures. While beginner market gardens often focus strictly on profitable cash crops, long-term farm sustainability and profitability depend on embedding cover crop systems directly into seasonal crop rotations. Jean-Martin explains how standard cover crops eliminate erosion by protecting bare winter soils, while legume-rich green manures supercharge on-farm fertility by injecting nitrogen and building massive subsoil root networks. He breaks down his practical, low-machinery techniques for terminating cover crops on permanent beds and you’ll discover how hitting the "golden ratio" of keeping one-third of your garden in cover crop at all times can drastically reduce external fertilizer inputs and unlock deep, long-term soil ecology. Timestamps [00:00] Intro and the importance of multiplying small, localized farms. [04:35] Why cover crops are the underutilized secret weapon of market gardening. [05:53] Two fundamental pillars for long-term farm success: Crop rotation and cover crop programs. [07:53] Protecting bare winter soils from leaching and weather degradation. [08:51] The difference between standard cover crops and legume-rich, nitrogen-fixing green manures. [11:18] How to schedule dynamic cover crop successions between your regular cash crops. [14:51] The "golden ratio": Keeping one-third of your garden in cover crops at all times. [17:43] Step-by-step technical guide to terminating cover crops using a flail mower. [19:09] Using a walk-behind rotary plow and silage tarps for rapid residue digestion. [26:09] Advanced strategies to supercharge growth: Pre-planting broadforking, seed inoculation, and tactical manure application. Dubois Agrinovation: Get 10% off by choosing the promo code ‘MasterClass – Jean-Martin Fortier’ when you create an account. Some exceptions apply. Gloco: Biodiversity, without compromise. Ecocert: Working towards a sustainable world. Links/Resources Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here : https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/ Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books Growers & Co: https://growers.co Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/ The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/ Follow Us Website: http://themarketgardener.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners Guest Social Media Links JM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

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  Episode #51

  51: How This Alaskan Farmer Makes 85K On JUST Storage Crops (With 49% NET!) | Sam Knapp

  Jun 18, 20262h 5mS5

  In this episode, we sit down with Sam Knapp, an Alaskan grower and author of Beyond the Root Cellar , to explore what it means to solve the biggest gaping hole in the local food system: winter food security. We dive deep into his journey from chemical engineering and a formative Fulbright grant in Sweden to establishing a successful, low-overhead storage crop farm in Fairbanks, Alaska. We highlight how Sam built a highly viable business on 1 acre by focusing on low-maintenance root crops like parsnips and utilizing efficient, manual systems instead of heavy machinery. Sam breaks down the structural design of his self-built cold storage facility, tips for managing humidity with Inkbird sensors and thermostats, and the reality of fighting thermal mass in the ground. Finally, we discuss how local growers can build predictable, highly profitable “off-season” revenue, his advice on avoiding the "YouTube Academy" trap by finding mentors, and his ultimate mission to democratize cold storage for local communities. Sam’s book: Beyond The Root Cellar Timestamps [00:00] Intro. [03:34] Shifting local foods from a summer novelty to reliable winter staples. [07:47] Pivoting from a PhD engineering track to an intense physical farm season in Sweden. [17:43] Arriving in Fairbanks and integrating into a resilient community of transplants. [25:03] Operating an off-grid farm through extreme sub-zero winter temperatures. [36:19] Designing a low-maintenance, part-time farm layout to balance summer field research. [46:13] Breaking down the real economics, gross revenues, and net profits of a 1 acre farm. [55:04] Debunking tractor dependency and utilizing manual tools for market gardening. [01:00:22] Structural mechanics of modern root cellars vs. traditional root cellars. [01:23:46] Utilizing residential cooling units and custom micro-environments to preserve crops cleanly. [01:47:47] Rapid fire Q&A, books, fitness and wellness, and traditional dance. Sponsors Dubois Agrinovation: Get 10% off by choosing the promo code ‘MasterClass – Jean-Martin Fortier’ when you create an account. Some exceptions apply. https://duboisag.com/ Johnny’s Selected Seeds: Sign up for Johnny’s newsletter to receive the latest news, products, and more. New members get $10 off their next order of $50 or more! http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here: https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/ Links/Resources Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here : https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/ Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books Growers & Co: https://growers.co Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/ The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/ Follow Us Website: http://themarketgardener.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners Guest Social Media Links Sam Knapp: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offbeetalaska/ JM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

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  Episode #50

  50: Why This Top New York Chef Is Dreaming Of Farming | Caroline Hahm

  Jun 4, 20262h 13mS5

  In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Caroline Hahm, chef at Di An DI restaurant in Brooklyn NY, to explore the beautiful intersection of professional kitchens and sustainable farming. We dive into her journey from leaving Cornell to working in fashion, and explore how the documentary Food Inc. and her grandmother’s garden entirely reshaped her worldview. Caroline shares her tumultuous journey of learning her craft from scratch, discovering farming along the way, and how she ultimately ended up as a culinary leader. She breaks down the economic realities of sourcing ethically for Asian cuisine, paying farmers full price, and subverting toxic kitchen cultures through mindful leadership. Finally, we discuss her guiding mission to live a life of service and her dream of building a hospitality space tied directly to its own market garden. Timestamps [00:00] Intro. [02:08] Reflecting on dinner at the Old Mill. [08:12] Suburban childhood mentalities and shifting views on gardening. [14:51] Leaving university to pursue volunteer work and experiencing true poverty. [22:05] Transitioning into the fashion industry before Food Inc. changed everything. [27:42] Tending soil later in life and reconnecting with traditional Korean side dishes. [36:56] Volunteering at a rooftop farm and getting an unexpected start as a line cook. [44:06] Reflecting on the intense physical toll and toxic culture of professional kitchens. [51:34] Training under a wild Quebecois mentor and discovering new flavor pairings. [01:05:44] Pursuing nose-to-tail butchery, urban farming, and handling intense press reviews. [01:34:21] Analyzing the economic realities and structural underpricing of ethnic cuisines. [01:50:36] Rapid fire questions on leadership, work habits, and processing grief. Sponsors: Dubois Agrinovation: Get 10% off by choosing the promo code ‘MasterClass – Jean-Martin Fortier’ when you create an account. Some exceptions apply. https://duboisag.com/ Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here: https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/ Links/Resources Start Your Market Gardener Journey Here : https://themarketgardener.com/starthere/ Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books Growers & Co: https://growers.co Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/ The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/ Follow Us Website: http://themarketgardener.com Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners Guest Social Media Links Caroline Hahm: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/carolinehahm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diandi.nyc/ Website: https://www.diandi.nyc/ JM: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier

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