Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Ever feel like land ownership is such a far-fetched goal that most of the time feels a little too impossible? Four Georgia farmers have an answer: running a cooperative farm.
In this episode, Alec sits down with Monica Ponce, greenhouse manager and one of four worker-owners at Love Is Love Cooperative Farm in Georgia, to unpack how their worker-owned cooperative went from breaking ground in 2021 to generating over $200K annually in plant sales alone.
Learn more about farmer Monica and Love is Love Cooperative Farm here: instagram.com/loveislovefarm
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
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:47 Monica’s Farming Journey
04:21 Founding the Cooperative
11:18 Values Retreat and Trust
16:22 Adding Worker Owners
19:38 Scaling as a Team
23:43 Roles Committees and Meetings
27:54 Greenhouse as a Business
29:52 Wholesale Transplants Growth
33:39 Retail Plant Sales Playbook
36:27 Retail vs Wholesale Joys
37:54 Greenhouse Space Strategy
41:03 Why Organic Starts Win
44:29 Watering and Seed Vigor
46:08 Buying Starts Saves Time
49:05 Can Transplants Stand Alone
54:12 Favorite Crops to Start
56:06 Advice for New Growers
59:37 Service Area and Ordering
01:02:11 Wrap Up and Support
#RookieFarmerPodcast #MarketGardening #OrganicFarming #CooperativeFarming #GreenhouseGrowing #PlantStarts #FarmLife #SustainableAgriculture #SmallFarm #BeginnerFarmer #FarmingPodcast #WorkerOwned #OrganicTransplants #LoveIsLoveFarm #SoutheastFarming #FarmBusiness #GrowYourOwn #FarmersMarket #AgricultureBusiness #FarmingCommunity #UrbanFarming #GardenPodcast #FarmEntrepreneur #SeedStarting #GreenhouseManagement #FoodSystem #FarmToTable #BackyardFarming #NewFarmer #FarmingLife
**** 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.
Ever feel like land ownership is such a far-fetched goal that most of the time feels a little too impossible? Four Georgia farmers have an answer: running a cooperative farm.
In this episode, Alec sits down with Monica Ponce, greenhouse manager and one of four worker-owners at Love Is Love Cooperative Farm in Georgia, to unpack how their worker-owned cooperative went from breaking ground in 2021 to generating over $200K annually in plant sales alone.
Learn more about farmer Monica and Love is Love Cooperative Farm here: instagram.com/loveislovefarm
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
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
02:47 Monica’s Farming Journey
04:21 Founding the Cooperative
11:18 Values Retreat and Trust
16:22 Adding Worker Owners
19:38 Scaling as a Team
23:43 Roles Committees and Meetings
27:54 Greenhouse as a Business
29:52 Wholesale Transplants Growth
33:39 Retail Plant Sales Playbook
36:27 Retail vs Wholesale Joys
37:54 Greenhouse Space Strategy
41:03 Why Organic Starts Win
44:29 Watering and Seed Vigor
46:08 Buying Starts Saves Time
49:05 Can Transplants Stand Alone
54:12 Favorite Crops to Start
56:06 Advice for New Growers
59:37 Service Area and Ordering
01:02:11 Wrap Up and Support
#RookieFarmerPodcast #MarketGardening #OrganicFarming #CooperativeFarming #GreenhouseGrowing #PlantStarts #FarmLife #SustainableAgriculture #SmallFarm #BeginnerFarmer #FarmingPodcast #WorkerOwned #OrganicTransplants #LoveIsLoveFarm #SoutheastFarming #FarmBusiness #GrowYourOwn #FarmersMarket #AgricultureBusiness #FarmingCommunity #UrbanFarming #GardenPodcast #FarmEntrepreneur #SeedStarting #GreenhouseManagement #FoodSystem #FarmToTable #BackyardFarming #NewFarmer #FarmingLife
**** 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.
