Heather and Alby Brandon know that raising nearly 20 acres of mixed fruit and vegetable crops requires constant experimentation and evolution. On their family farm in West Kingston, R.I., the Brandons have learned to adapt year after year to grow their business successfully.
Over time, they’ve found that starting small and scaling up carefully helps them manage risk and respond to what works best in their fields. “It’s just trial and error. You have to try different things,” says Heather. “It’s an ongoing process,” adds Alby. “Every year feels easier. We get more done, it feels like we’re more on top of the weeds, the harvests, and everything else.”
Every year brings something new – changing weather, evolving pests, and other unexpected challenges. That’s why the Brandons value connecting with other nearby farmers and working together to share equipment and production strategies.
They advise younger farmers to work with more experienced growers to learn the ins and outs of the business, because taking advice from other farmers is much more efficient than figuring everything out on your own. “I think it’s very important that you work…at least five to 10 years with a much more experienced grower,” says Alby.
This video is one in a series produced by SARE titled Practical Tips for Beginning Farmers. Based on their own experiences when starting out, farmers from across the country share advice about common challenges facing beginning farmers in today's agriculture. To view the entire series, visit www.sare.org/resources/practical-tips-for-beginning-farmers/.
For information on grants and resources available from SARE, visit www.sare.org.