S4 ● E125 The Farmers Progress is a numbers game...

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Richard Perkins is a globally recognised leader in the field of Regenerative Agriculture and is the owner of Europe’s foremost example, Ridgedale Farm, Sweden. He is the author of the widely acclaimed manual Regenerative Agriculture, regarded as one of the most comprehensive books in the literature, as well as Ridgedale Farm Builds and Farm,Fish,Hunt,Pick,Bake.

Follow me on Facebook: / ridgedalefarmab

Richard Perkins is a globally recognised leader in the field of Regenerative Agriculture and is the owner of Europe’s foremost example, Ridgedale Farm, Sweden. He is the author of the widely acclaimed manual Regenerative Agriculture, regarded as one of the most comprehensive books in the literature, as well as Ridgedale Farm Builds and Farm,Fish,Hunt,Pick,Bake.

His approach to no-dig market gardening and pastured poultry, as well as his integration of Holistic Management, Keyline Design and Farm-Scale Permaculture in profitable small-scale farming has influenced a whole new generation of farmers across the globe. Garnering more than 16 million views on his blog, and teaching thousands globally through his live training at the farm and online, Richard continues to inspire farmers all over the globe with his pragmatic no-nonsense approach to profitable system design.

[kirstenwhitworth]

This was an excellent and very informative video. Process of planning videos are rare and invaluable, imo. Thank you very much for posting it.

[PeterSedesse]

It is an interesting discussion seeing things from the other side. I am in the tropics, so we have 12 month growing season ( for small farms that collect rainwater). One idea I had is to find someone like yourself or Curtis Stone who really gets into the education and tech side of things and use that employee in the field in the growing months, but have them really step up your online activities during the non-growing season. There are a lot of profitable things you can doing online by leveraging your farm brand. That really is the heart of your problem. You need employees who can be ´profitable´ even during the non-growing months.

[michaellohre]

Ragnor is a great kid! Fun to see him and great video. Pragmatics as always and so important.

[sensibel]

Amazing content! pure system analysis...you all make some good work!!! Big up

[justinzunker]

What's your equivalent USDA growing zone? We're in zone 5, in Wisconsin. About 20-25 week growing season.

[tagarran]

Fascinating seeing the Chinese medicine texts in the background.

[tomvanfossen]

Hello Richard,
I'm sure you've had thoughts / analyzed things at every angle and suspect that most are not captured in your videos but have you considered drawing from those who enroll into your on-line training for future apprenticeships (given the timing of the course, I suspect you might have but just asking)? These people are already betting on themselves and might narrow your field by separating those who are serious or just "dipping their toes" as it were. They are being pre-trained before they arrive so you'll learn first hand how effective your on-line course really is. Moreover, you can always reimburse them at the end of the season for the cost of the training should they prove to be successful (another benny like strong wi-fi that doesn't show up in the pay stub but is a valuable incentive).

Also, your model is going to be always in need of new bodies (either for apprenticeships, 2nd or 3rd year people) and attrition will always take place so if you want someone to be ready to step in when someone leaves (aka Matt.. best wishes to him!), you'll need a steady reserve in place from which to draw from. Entry level people will be easier to find, but you might want to escalate your percentage of pay for returning members as if Nicholas is to projected to be at 67% of a full time, how's he going to pay his bills for the other 1/3 of the year? Basically you're putting your most talented / trusted people at risk of leaving and you'll be in a perpetual loop of sorting out new people each year. If true (maybe Nicholas doesn't have bills during the time he's working as he has free room & board on the farm? so he really has 1/3 of the year to spend the 2/3 of annual wages type of thing), you'll never be able to enjoy your time away without worrying about what the place is going to look like when you return.

Cheers!

[Thrymheim]

Does Sweden also have an opt out on the 48hour maximum working week the same as the UK then? (EU rules) Here in Denmark I am led to believe you cannot work more than 48hours without breaking the law (if you are an employee)
We also have the joy of high taxes, Wages break most small farmers here. You can either be small enough to be owner only, or larger and specialised with machinery to match.

[kristofferkavallin]

The perennial quesiton of how to get usefull work during the whole year.. :)
I'm trying to clear some forest of small spurce (<10 cm) to be at least somewhat productive right now.
I need to clear the forest to transition more from spurce to dendicious forest and/or grassland, I need the excersise and time on the field to keep sane. I use the twigs and branches for bedding for the cows.
Do you have any idea what to utilize the wood for? Feels like a shame to make firewood of such densly grown sticks.

[TheFortKnight]

You mentioned investing in a refrigerated trailer. Are you thinking about doing a Coolbot trailer?

- Jeff

[charliebecker]

I really enjoy the numbers you are showing and how critical you are on everything. its a big risk and you have to weight the risk/reward and how extra work it takes to train new interns and they walk away with a little education and you spent resources to invest in them. But its great that you want to teach and invest in others. it a very hard balance of profit/cost. but looks like you are are seeing what has the highest profit on resources. keep up the good work!!

[odetes.botelho]

Deus te abençoe e sua família, gosto de todos abraços, Odete Silvestre Botelho ( Brasil)

[chelinfusco]

Richard mention about a chicken accident ? What is he referring too. I thought I had seen all the videos, but clearly missed one.

[gavinlangley]

Matt's departure seems to be hitting hard. It's difficult when you have that key man dependency. I hope you find someone who keeps up the productivity.

[CiecieNewson]

I got distracted when you picked up the cute babe and he was holding a hand full of matches. That can't be safe. :-) Gotta watch them little ones closer. Good video though. I wondered how the intern pay can work out. ~Smile!

[CG-osmw]

Richard the one and only sure answer to your situation would be to clone yourself 😉

[MORT-zfqb]

Just standing back and filtering all this, I think you would be way better off to have an Australian or someone from that climate. As when your season finishes Australia's summer is about to start, after training all that time wouldn't you like to go and try your new craft. If you had someone from the same climate they would just be on a break and not be active through this time, not experimenting, learning, trying etc. I think staying in the same climate will make this great project

[enetheru]

I'm finding the camera angle quite uncomfortable

[MH-rphn]

Richard,
I personally think you should stay away from the summit. This is all a game of thrones for these corporate vampires. You are making so many waves all by yourself, you are inspiring so many folks as it is.

[OldesouthFarm]

Yeah, I don't think your context would work in the hot humid south. Your context does work in a different context, from Feb to mid June. Then it is so hot, until October, a lot of things will die or get blight and croak from the heat. Plant wise. Come October, can grow all winter like crazy. My goats kid in Jan, feb when it is cool and milking in Jul and august is a nightmare. So the total context is work within your climate and go with the flow... I get confused with the work hours/units. Please clarify. 54 hours a week all year? I hope I am wrong. I work 36 hr a week as a Pharmacist with a lot of Paid time off. My goats are my passion and I will be able to retire soon to goat full time. I grow most of my own food, so nothing new, can, pressure can and will never starve. I have tried to do interns, but in America they don't have a clue how to work and I work full time. If I am not at the farm, holding their hand every second, nothing gets done. Plus they need to have a car and their own phone. I am not their mom. I have been exploited by folks looking for a free place to camp out and food. Got like zip help out of most of them, some never even got to the farm. They camped out, got a free meal and disappeared in the morning.

What is really crazy is I am a 58 year old woman and can out work 18-30 year olds in the heat or any condition. America is so weak and pathetic, their young men are absolute wimps! If there ever was a grid down or some catastrophic event, I can so see these folks dropping like flies. They may steal my stuff, but if I am alive, can grow food, kill and process any animal life (even humans if I had to) and move on. Plus as a pharmacist, I know my drugs, what to do with them and my Veterinary back ground, could treat most critters and humans. So are we really self sustainable farms without being able to do it all? I keep my farm small and the garden non till, goat compost, keep goat herd to less then 30 goats (Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats, tough little gals), chickens no more then 20, will put roosters in freezer and a pig or two every year or so. Sold off the cattle when prices went nuts. Don't really think I need cattle, since I know a deer processor and get a deer or two yearly from donated deer. A lot of American macho men don't eat what they kill. They just like KILLING and taking photos and would probably leave the deer to rot in the field if the processors did not take them. They donate to the processor and I eat them. So have not needed any beef for several years. Your farm is fantastic and you are young. I tried all kinds of stuff and as I get older and hiring help almost impossible, I keep things small for me to handle. If I can not do it, I sell them off. My Goat herd is a National High Milk Production Herd so prices for kids pays for the herd. My milk sells for $13 per gallon and will go up to $15 next year. Sell to deer and dog folks. Don't sell to humans, laws forbid raw milk for human consumption and humans want to pay $8 per gallon and all the liability. So don't go there.