Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Most farms chase more — more acres, more markets, more crops. Hillview Farms did the opposite.
The Numbers: Michael and Shannon Whamond generated over $200,000 in annual revenue farming just 2 acres of clay soil in Lincoln, California. That's over $100,000 per acre — two and a half to five times the average market garden.
The Strategy: They cut from five farmers' markets to two, losing none of the income. Today, 50% of revenue comes from farmers' markets, 15% from CSA and online sales, and 35% from wholesale relationships and food hubs. They sell 52 weeks a year — no off-season panic.
Core Crops: Salad greens (250–300 lbs/week year-round) and tomatoes (up to 2,400 lbs in a single July week). Two crop categories. Ruthless focus.
The Marriage Factor: Nine seasons in, Michael and Shannon are still farming together, still married. They credit clear role separation — Shannon leads strategy and knows when to say no, Michael handles operations and execution.
Team Structure: They employ five to seven people (sometimes more), building leverage through labor rather than land expansion. Two acres, 150 beds, one team — not two people grinding five markets.
Key Insight: They had 10 acres but only farm 2. The restraint is the strategy. Small improvements across 150 beds compound into thousands of dollars over a season.
This video breaks down Hillview Farm's full model: revenue channels, crop selection, team structure, and why "better is better" beats "bigger is better."
➡️ Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at shop.moderngrower.co
🎥 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
🔊The Urban Farmer Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTd1FPZ7J8xS3ebyyIxmBqp1pl2h87RpU
🔊The Rookie Farmer Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTd1FPZ7J8xRJ0O4mAIdgX94QvXTI0ZZ7
🔊In Search of Soil Podcast: youtube.com/insearchofsoil
Check out Diego's books:
📖 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon: amzn.to/4hoqUx6
📖 Ready Farmer One on Amazon: amzn.to/42FjrVX
#MarketGardening, #FarmBusiness, #SmallFarm, #MarketFarmer, #FarmRevenue, #HillviewFarm, #AcreageFarming, #YearRoundFarming, #FarmProfitability, #SmallAcreage, #FarmCouple, #ModernGrower, #FarmingBusiness, #MarketGarden, #FarmSmart #farmsmallfarmsmart
0:00 - $100K Per Acre — Meet the Farm Breaking the Rules
1:00 - The Grind: 5 Farmers' Markets With 2 People
3:00 - Why 5 Markets Nearly Broke Their Marriage
4:30 - The Move to Their Forever Farm (10 Acres in Lincoln, CA)
5:45 - Cutting to 2 Markets — Without Losing Income
6:30 - Revenue Breakdown: $200K on 2 Acres
7:30 - Revenue Channels: 50% Markets, 15% CSA, 35% Wholesale
8:30 - Why They Chose NOT to Scale Up
9:30 - 150 Beds: The Power of Mastering a Small System
10:30 - Selling 52 Weeks a Year (How Year-Round Cash Flow Works)
12:00 - Crop Focus: Salad Greens + Tomatoes Only
13:30 - 2,400 Lbs of Tomatoes in One Week
14:00 - The 10-Acre Paradox: Why They Only Farm 2
15:30 - Crop Mastery: "I've Only Grown Tomatoes 9 Times"
17:30 - Building a Team: 5–7 Employees, Not Just 2 People
19:00 - Role Clarity: Why Shannon Is the Leader
20:30 - Still Married After 9 Seasons (Why That's Rare)
22:30 - The Real Secret: Knowing When to Stop
24:00 - What This Means for YOUR Business
26:00 - "It's About the Journey" — Michael's Final Advice
**** 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.
Most farms chase more — more acres, more markets, more crops. Hillview Farms did the opposite.
The Numbers: Michael and Shannon Whamond generated over $200,000 in annual revenue farming just 2 acres of clay soil in Lincoln, California. That's over $100,000 per acre — two and a half to five times the average market garden.
The Strategy: They cut from five farmers' markets to two, losing none of the income. Today, 50% of revenue comes from farmers' markets, 15% from CSA and online sales, and 35% from wholesale relationships and food hubs. They sell 52 weeks a year — no off-season panic.
Core Crops: Salad greens (250–300 lbs/week year-round) and tomatoes (up to 2,400 lbs in a single July week). Two crop categories. Ruthless focus.
The Marriage Factor: Nine seasons in, Michael and Shannon are still farming together, still married. They credit clear role separation — Shannon leads strategy and knows when to say no, Michael handles operations and execution.
Team Structure: They employ five to seven people (sometimes more), building leverage through labor rather than land expansion. Two acres, 150 beds, one team — not two people grinding five markets.
Key Insight: They had 10 acres but only farm 2. The restraint is the strategy. Small improvements across 150 beds compound into thousands of dollars over a season.
This video breaks down Hillview Farm's full model: revenue channels, crop selection, team structure, and why "better is better" beats "bigger is better."
➡️ Get market farming tools, seeds, and supplies at shop.moderngrower.co
🎥 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
🔊The Urban Farmer Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTd1FPZ7J8xS3ebyyIxmBqp1pl2h87RpU
🔊The Rookie Farmer Podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTd1FPZ7J8xRJ0O4mAIdgX94QvXTI0ZZ7
🔊In Search of Soil Podcast: youtube.com/insearchofsoil
Check out Diego's books:
📖 Sell Everything You Grow on Amazon: amzn.to/4hoqUx6
📖 Ready Farmer One on Amazon: amzn.to/42FjrVX
#MarketGardening, #FarmBusiness, #SmallFarm, #MarketFarmer, #FarmRevenue, #HillviewFarm, #AcreageFarming, #YearRoundFarming, #FarmProfitability, #SmallAcreage, #FarmCouple, #ModernGrower, #FarmingBusiness, #MarketGarden, #FarmSmart #farmsmallfarmsmart
0:00 - $100K Per Acre — Meet the Farm Breaking the Rules
1:00 - The Grind: 5 Farmers' Markets With 2 People
3:00 - Why 5 Markets Nearly Broke Their Marriage
4:30 - The Move to Their Forever Farm (10 Acres in Lincoln, CA)
5:45 - Cutting to 2 Markets — Without Losing Income
6:30 - Revenue Breakdown: $200K on 2 Acres
7:30 - Revenue Channels: 50% Markets, 15% CSA, 35% Wholesale
8:30 - Why They Chose NOT to Scale Up
9:30 - 150 Beds: The Power of Mastering a Small System
10:30 - Selling 52 Weeks a Year (How Year-Round Cash Flow Works)
12:00 - Crop Focus: Salad Greens + Tomatoes Only
13:30 - 2,400 Lbs of Tomatoes in One Week
14:00 - The 10-Acre Paradox: Why They Only Farm 2
15:30 - Crop Mastery: "I've Only Grown Tomatoes 9 Times"
17:30 - Building a Team: 5–7 Employees, Not Just 2 People
19:00 - Role Clarity: Why Shannon Is the Leader
20:30 - Still Married After 9 Seasons (Why That's Rare)
22:30 - The Real Secret: Knowing When to Stop
24:00 - What This Means for YOUR Business
26:00 - "It's About the Journey" — Michael's Final Advice
**** 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.
