325. Farming on One Acre: Sara Krohn & Sam Odin on Village Farmstead

How can small-scale farmers maximize productivity while staying true to their values? In this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, we’re joined by Sara Krohn and Sam Odin, owners of Village Farmstead, a USDA-Certified Organic farm in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Farming on just one acre, they prioritize human-scale farming, soil health, and a deep connection to their community. Sara and Sam are also part of a 14-acre housing cooperative, where their farm integrates with a broader vision of sustainable living. They rely on hand tools, minimal soil disturbance, and permanent raised beds to create a financially and ecologically sustainable farm. Tune in to hear how they make it all work while maintaining a thriving, small-scale operation!   Episode Highlights: Farming Beginnings: How did Sara and Sam get started in farming? [1:39] Farm Layout: What is the setup of Village Farmstead? [4:24] Soil Fertility: How do they build and maintain soil health? [8:22] Weekly Schedule: What does a typical week look like on their farm? [15:25] Soil Mix: What do they use for their seed-starting mix? [25:17] Community Involvement: How does their workshare and communal living model work? [30:53] Favorite Farm Tool: What tool do they rely on the most? [37:02] Don't miss this episode on how small-scale farmers can maximize productivity, build soil health, and foster community while staying financially and ecologically sustainable!   About the Guests: Village Farmstead is a small-scale, Certified Organic farm located on the bluffs of Lake Michigan, just south of Milwaukee. They specialize in growing nutrient-dense food while minimizing soil disturbance and using sustainable farming techniques. Through their farm and cooperative housing model, Sara and Sam are building a resilient, community-focused food system.   📲 Connect with Sara and Sam: 🌎 Website: villagefarmstead.com  📷 Instagram: Follow @villagefarmstead  👍 Facebook: Like Village Farmstead   The Thriving Farmer Podcast would like to thank our sponsor, GRIPP.  Got lots of people, places and things to track? Gripp is the easiest way for farmers to track anything important to their operation. With flexible QR code tracking, keeping digital records is a snap with Ag’s easiest operator-first mobile app centralizing alerts, reminders, electronic forms and team conversations. With simple month-to-month pricing and no long-term commitments, Gripp can transform and streamline your operation, so you can focus on what’s most important—growing. For a limited time get 15% of any monthly or yearly subscription at www.gripp.ag/pricing with the code THRIVEIN25  👉 Try out Gripp today!