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The Market Gardener Podcast Ep. 56

$300K From 3/4 Acre Market Garden & Pastured Chickens (And They're Not Overworking?!)

with Noah East

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About this episode

In this episode, we sit down with Noah East, co-owner of Wild East Farm and founder of Small Scale Revival, to explore how human-scale design, efficient systems, and clear values create a thriving small farm. We dive into Noah’s journey from managing a high-volume 8 acre vegetable farm to co-founding a mixed enterprise farm in North Carolina, examining how human-scale farming benefits both personal well-being and soil health. Noah explains how they integrate market gardening, agroforestry, and rotational livestock without overworking or scaling beyond ideal capacity. We explore their practical strategies for small-farm viability, including balancing wholesale with retail outlets and securing long-term land access through flexible leasing. Finally, we discuss the philosophy of thrift, relational agriculture, and why cultivating life outside of work is essential for long-term sustainability. 

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[00:00] Intro 

[03:10] Defining “ancestrally consistent” human-scale farming

[15:00] Origins of Wild East Farm and homesteading background

[17:30] Overview of the 44-acre mixed farm and livestock integration

[29:00] Management roles, delegation, and preventing burnout

[35:40] Systemizing micro-processes and setting work-week boundaries

[42:30] Business strategy: Wholesale food hubs vs. direct retail

[46:40] Financial transparency, farm earnings, and frugal living

[58:10] Creative land access models and long-term lease structures

[01:23:00] Applying the Wendell Berry concept of thrift to daily life

[01:37:50] Relational agriculture and Small Scale Revival consulting

[01:47:40] Rapid Fire: Favorite books, best advice, drums etc.

Mentioned Links & Resources

Wild East Farm

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Welcome to The Market Gardener Podcast!

Your gateway to the vibrant world of organic small-scale farming. JM Fortier and Chris Moran explore the big ideas, challenges, and solutions that shape our food system. Join us and the leading voices in sustainable agriculture as we dive into insightful conversations that empower, educate, and inspire action.

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