Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
What does it look like to bootstrap a market garden in one of Canada's harshest growing climates — all while still working as a truck driver?
In this episode, we sit down with Jared Sapach of Ruben's Roots in Northwest Saskatchewan, where the frost-free growing window is just 100 days and large-scale grain farms stretch for thousands of acres. Jared breaks down the real numbers behind his operation, including how his quarter-acre market garden can realistically target $50,000+ per acre in gross revenue — dwarfing the returns of conventional commodity farming. You'll also get an inside look at an innovative consignment-style market model that gives him flexibility, steady income, and his weekends back.
Click here to learn more about farmerJared and Reuben's Roots: instagram.com/reubens.roots
Learn more about farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm here:
instagram.com/cropculturefarm
Shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link:
https://shop.moderngrower.co?sca_ref=9551856.eplsLKegQSh7n
🎥 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 🌿
Follow Modern Grower:
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/moderngrowerpro
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/moderngrowerco
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
🔊 Carrot Cashflow: bit.ly/carrotcashflow
🔊 Farm Small Farm Smart: bit.ly/farmsmallfarmsmart
🔊 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily: bit.ly/farmsmallfarmsmartdaily
🔊The Growing Microgreens Podcast: bit.ly/thegrowingmicrogreenspodcast
📖 Check out Diego's book Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon: amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF
00:35 Meet Jared Sapach
01:54 Farming Zone 3
04:04 Saskatchewan Market Gap
08:47 Veg vs Grain Economics
11:42 Revenue Per Acre Goals
16:22 Family Farm Perspective
19:42 No Safety Net Farming
24:37 Selling Through Open Market
33:59 Scaling and Season Extension
38:47 Succession Beans Lessons
42:26 Transplants and Weather Risk
45:14 Pushing Planting Dates
47:12 Early Market Gamble
48:12 Waste Versus Insurance
52:02 Learning From Crop Loss
56:35 Overproduction And Donations
01:01:08 Carrot Cashflow Breakthrough
01:05:14 Pests Varieties And Soil
01:11:21 Balancing Trucking And Farming
01:17:31 Shift Work Farm Advantage
01:23:01 Timeline To Go Full Time
01:25:06 Rapid Fire Farm Favorites
#MarketGardening #SmallFarmBigResults #RookieFarmerPodcast #RegenerativeAgriculture #NoTillGardening #FarmingInCanada #Saskatchewan #MarketGarden #UrbanFarming #FarmLife #BeginnerFarmer #GrowYourOwn #LocalFood #FarmersMarket #SustainableFarming #Homestead #FoodSecurity #MicroFarm #GardeningTips #FarmBusiness #AgricultureLife #FarmEntrepreneur #GrowLocal #SeasonExtension #MarketGardener
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
What does it look like to bootstrap a market garden in one of Canada's harshest growing climates — all while still working as a truck driver?
In this episode, we sit down with Jared Sapach of Ruben's Roots in Northwest Saskatchewan, where the frost-free growing window is just 100 days and large-scale grain farms stretch for thousands of acres. Jared breaks down the real numbers behind his operation, including how his quarter-acre market garden can realistically target $50,000+ per acre in gross revenue — dwarfing the returns of conventional commodity farming. You'll also get an inside look at an innovative consignment-style market model that gives him flexibility, steady income, and his weekends back.
Click here to learn more about farmerJared and Reuben's Roots: instagram.com/reubens.roots
Learn more about farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm here:
instagram.com/cropculturefarm
Shop on Modern Grower with Alec's affiliate link:
https://shop.moderngrower.co?sca_ref=9551856.eplsLKegQSh7n
🎥 Subscribe for more content on sustainable farming, market farming tips, and business insights! 🌿
Follow Modern Grower:
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/moderngrowerpro
➡️ Instagram: instagram.com/moderngrowerco
Listen to other podcasts on the Modern Grower Podcast Network:
🔊 Carrot Cashflow: bit.ly/carrotcashflow
🔊 Farm Small Farm Smart: bit.ly/farmsmallfarmsmart
🔊 Farm Small Farm Smart Daily: bit.ly/farmsmallfarmsmartdaily
🔊The Growing Microgreens Podcast: bit.ly/thegrowingmicrogreenspodcast
📖 Check out Diego's book Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon: amazon.com/Sell-Everything-You-Grow-Homestead-ebook/dp/B0CJC9NTZF
00:35 Meet Jared Sapach
01:54 Farming Zone 3
04:04 Saskatchewan Market Gap
08:47 Veg vs Grain Economics
11:42 Revenue Per Acre Goals
16:22 Family Farm Perspective
19:42 No Safety Net Farming
24:37 Selling Through Open Market
33:59 Scaling and Season Extension
38:47 Succession Beans Lessons
42:26 Transplants and Weather Risk
45:14 Pushing Planting Dates
47:12 Early Market Gamble
48:12 Waste Versus Insurance
52:02 Learning From Crop Loss
56:35 Overproduction And Donations
01:01:08 Carrot Cashflow Breakthrough
01:05:14 Pests Varieties And Soil
01:11:21 Balancing Trucking And Farming
01:17:31 Shift Work Farm Advantage
01:23:01 Timeline To Go Full Time
01:25:06 Rapid Fire Farm Favorites
#MarketGardening #SmallFarmBigResults #RookieFarmerPodcast #RegenerativeAgriculture #NoTillGardening #FarmingInCanada #Saskatchewan #MarketGarden #UrbanFarming #FarmLife #BeginnerFarmer #GrowYourOwn #LocalFood #FarmersMarket #SustainableFarming #Homestead #FoodSecurity #MicroFarm #GardeningTips #FarmBusiness #AgricultureLife #FarmEntrepreneur #GrowLocal #SeasonExtension #MarketGardener
**** Modern Grower and Diego Footer participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
