Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this episode, Alec sits down with Cliff and Jen of Pig & Leaf in Tennessee as they share how two permaculture teachers became thriving market farmers running three enterprises at once: heritage pork, cut flowers, and market vegetables.
They talk about Cliff's hard-won lessons on breaking into pastured hog farming (starting with feeder pigs instead of farrowing), why simplifying your enterprises can save your farm, and how relentless hustle built a loyal customer base from scratch. Whether you're dreaming of raising your first hogs or trying to figure out how to diversify your farm income, this conversation is packed with honest, practical wisdom.
Learn more about Pig and Leaf: instagram.com/pigandleaf
Learn more about Cliff and hog farming:
instagram.com/davisamericanduroc
Learn more about Jen and flower farming:
instagram.com/agrofloristry
Learn more about farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm here:
instagram.com/cropculturefarm
and here:
facebook.com/hedgefamilyfarm
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
02:17 From College to Permaculture
04:56 Buying Land and FSA Loans
10:06 Permaculture Then and Now
17:07 Adaptation and Redesign
19:16 Pigs First Cashflow Crops
23:19 Water Crisis Tunnel Lessons
28:15 Three Enterprises Simplified
31:27 Why Add Flowers
32:39 Flowers Versus Veggies
34:00 Simplifying Farm Sales
34:47 Markets Make The Money
35:31 Paying Dues At Markets
37:21 Adapt Or Add Markets
39:29 Building A Winter Market
41:37 Choosing The Right Crowd
44:09 Hustle And Consistency
46:26 Social Media Versus Sales
48:27 Pivot To Pastured Pork
49:42 Start With Feeder Pigs
51:11 Genetics And Diversifying
57:21 Best Way To Sell Pork
58:28 Chefs Wholesale Reality
01:02:43 Scaling Value Added Products
01:05:13 Keep Infrastructure Simple
01:06:02 Finding Good Breeders
01:07:32 Breed Choice Nuances
01:09:32 Durocs And Genetics Sales
01:10:14 Garden Scraps For Hogs
01:12:16 Pigs Versus Flowers
01:14:32 Why Flowers Matter
01:18:01 Edible Flowers Fancy Salad
01:24:03 Farmer Mount Rushmore
#RookieFarmerPodcast #MarketGardening #SmallFarm #HeritagePork #PasturedPigs #Permaculture #FarmLife #SustainableAgriculture #FarmersMarket #RegenerativeFarming #FlowerFarming #HomesteadLife #FarmBusiness #DurocPigs #CropCultureFarm
**** 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.
In this episode, Alec sits down with Cliff and Jen of Pig & Leaf in Tennessee as they share how two permaculture teachers became thriving market farmers running three enterprises at once: heritage pork, cut flowers, and market vegetables.
They talk about Cliff's hard-won lessons on breaking into pastured hog farming (starting with feeder pigs instead of farrowing), why simplifying your enterprises can save your farm, and how relentless hustle built a loyal customer base from scratch. Whether you're dreaming of raising your first hogs or trying to figure out how to diversify your farm income, this conversation is packed with honest, practical wisdom.
Learn more about Pig and Leaf: instagram.com/pigandleaf
Learn more about Cliff and hog farming:
instagram.com/davisamericanduroc
Learn more about Jen and flower farming:
instagram.com/agrofloristry
Learn more about farmer Alec and Crop Culture Farm here:
instagram.com/cropculturefarm
and here:
facebook.com/hedgefamilyfarm
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
02:17 From College to Permaculture
04:56 Buying Land and FSA Loans
10:06 Permaculture Then and Now
17:07 Adaptation and Redesign
19:16 Pigs First Cashflow Crops
23:19 Water Crisis Tunnel Lessons
28:15 Three Enterprises Simplified
31:27 Why Add Flowers
32:39 Flowers Versus Veggies
34:00 Simplifying Farm Sales
34:47 Markets Make The Money
35:31 Paying Dues At Markets
37:21 Adapt Or Add Markets
39:29 Building A Winter Market
41:37 Choosing The Right Crowd
44:09 Hustle And Consistency
46:26 Social Media Versus Sales
48:27 Pivot To Pastured Pork
49:42 Start With Feeder Pigs
51:11 Genetics And Diversifying
57:21 Best Way To Sell Pork
58:28 Chefs Wholesale Reality
01:02:43 Scaling Value Added Products
01:05:13 Keep Infrastructure Simple
01:06:02 Finding Good Breeders
01:07:32 Breed Choice Nuances
01:09:32 Durocs And Genetics Sales
01:10:14 Garden Scraps For Hogs
01:12:16 Pigs Versus Flowers
01:14:32 Why Flowers Matter
01:18:01 Edible Flowers Fancy Salad
01:24:03 Farmer Mount Rushmore
#RookieFarmerPodcast #MarketGardening #SmallFarm #HeritagePork #PasturedPigs #Permaculture #FarmLife #SustainableAgriculture #FarmersMarket #RegenerativeFarming #FlowerFarming #HomesteadLife #FarmBusiness #DurocPigs #CropCultureFarm
**** 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.
