Nov 5, 2019
In this episode, I talk to Stephen Ciancioso who's in his first
few years of market gardening in Hawaii. He reflects on how he got
to where he is now, what advice he has for beginning farmers based
on his experience, and how leasing not owning the land he's growing
on has been essential for getting his farm business off the
ground.
You'll also hear:
>> Why a caretaking scenario is a win-win situation to access
land in a high-cost area
>> How landscape fabric and soil inoculants are helping
alleviate fungal issues in his hot and humid environment
>> Strategies for growing in a tropical climate
>> How setting up a weekly routine has been a game-changer
for running his market garden by himself
>>Why having high-quality products and keeping the long term
in mind is crucial when selling at farmers' markets.
>> Why delaying buying land helps you stay flexible as a
farmer
About the Guest:
Stephen Ciancioso runs Buena Vista Gardens, a 1/3rd of an acre
market garden on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. He is are in full
production year-round and distributes through two farmers' markets,
one health food store, and one restaurant. Currently, he
specializes in head lettuce, bunched greens, baby greens, and
carrots. He's going into my third year starting my own operation
and he's very excited to see where it can go!