The Personal Farmer: Dallas Half Acre Farms
The Personal Farmer: Dallas Half Acre Farms
I had the privilege of touring Dallas Half Acre Farms with farmer Mike Bell, in Dallas, Texas. We talk tons of lettuce growing tips, varieties, challenges of growing in Dallas weather, and more. We also talk about how he got into farming, how he’s developing his land and how he got the name “Personal Farmer.” Tons of fun stories and great tips that all farmers and gardeners can learn from.
Follow Mike here:
https://www.instagram.com/dallashalfacrefarms/
MY RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS FOR YOUR GARDEN/FARM:
Drip Depot for best irrigation parts: https://aff.dripdepot.com/aff/idevaffiliate.php?id=251
Seeds from True Leaf Market: http://www.pjtra.com/t/8-11415-181670-153185
Hoss Tools & Seeds: https://bit.ly/2Jy5jpB
Bootstrap Farmer: http://shrsl.com/21bnf
Farmer’s Friend Tools: http://bit.ly/2GSKgMc
Earthway Direct Seeder: https://amzn.to/2KhFC8w
$20 off Coolbot: https://storeitcold.referralrock.com/l/859B32AC/
NAR Merch – https://naturesalwaysright.com/shop/
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RECOMMENDED READING FOR SMALL FARMERS & GARDENERS:
Mel Bartholomew’s “Square Foot Gardening” – Great for beginner gardeners – http://amzn.to/2ErtZOu
Toby Hemenway’s “Gaia’s Garden” – For everyone, learn ecology, soil building, permaculture, holistic garden design- http://amzn.to/2srS0PT
Masanobu Fukuoka’s “The One Straw Revolution” – Inspirational book, Introduction to natural farming/philosophy – http://amzn.to/2Et69BM
JADAM Korean Organic Farming: https://amzn.to/2V8bxye
-These are for farming/growing techniques and business/sales/marketing/operations strategies:
JM Fortier’s “The Market Gardener” – http://amzn.to/2GdYgfY
Curtis Stone’s “The Urban Farmer” – http://amzn.to/2Hg7AkM
Ben Hartman’s “The Lean Farm” – http://amzn.to/2HhetlZ
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Appreciate the effort, great info, keep up the good work.
dude is using protein tub and barbell weight to hold down is tunnel. hardcore!
Excellent work Rock Lee!
I miss Dallas. Good video
Great interview and farm. Mike seems like a really good guy and I wish him luck. He’s got the right idea, "build an Empire." That’s the kind of positive, eye of the tiger attitude you have to have. Thanks.
soo much good info in this episode!
TABLE OF CONTENTS: See description for more info!
Support the Channel on Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/naturesalwaysright
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00:28 Intro, Why am I in Dallas, what farm am I at?
1:22 Letâs meet Mike of Dallas Half Acre Farms. When did he start growing
1:55 When did he start this farm?
2:36 What made me want to start farming as a business
3:07 How did Mike acquire his land, great story.
4:28 Touring caterpillar tunnel #2
5:03 What varieties of lettuce does he grow?
6:16 Heat tolerant lettuce varieties and strategies
7:15 How many rows of lettuce per bed?
8:11 Can salanova be harvested with greens cut harvester
8:47 More heat tolerant varieties
10:53 How he grows red russian kale in the winter
12:49 How the wind knocked down his tunnels, and how he fixed it
15:36 What are his summer veggie plans
20:14 His unique irrigation set up. Gravity!
24:38 Working with neighbors as urban farmers
25:20 Interview – How are you selling your produce?
26:23 How he uses Instagram to sell produce, and other ways
29:15 Why Instagram is so important to use as farmers
30:42 How he got the name personal farmer
31:37 The perception of farmers and how we are changing that
32:40 When is your off season in Texas?
33:58 What does your bed prep look like?
*34:58 The coolest no till landscape fabric trick ever!
36:32 Worm castings and potting mix
38:21 Whatâs the future plan for your farm?
41:53 Final thoughts and goodbye
This Video was Amazing to a new Gardener and a Grand daughter of Farmers it was very informative as well. I am in the Fort Worth Area and someday want my own plot of land to live on and to grow all my food and food for my family and friends as well. Maybe do plots for them to come in a grow their own foods like they do in England. I need to go and check out your YT page in Instagram and learn some more. Happy Farming.
mike’s instagram isnt working great interview
Oh we got similar issues with strong northern winds and low poly tunnels. I think we are getting closer to some solution. It’s a constant adaptaion. We get 62 mph gusts and it get’s tricky to not lose the whole tunnel đ
Is the bootstrap farm light a 48â single bay LED light?
Hey i enjoyed the video. What where the lettuces that he recommended most for hot weather? Thanks
Awesome video! Great job!
I’m proud of your effort, but your use of plastic that will eventually end up in the landfill, can’t give you the props. Keep working toward your "green" goal.
Great video. People deal with different situations depending on their environment. We need to learn from one other to make this farming better and more accessible to the beginners. Great job.
Thanks for sharing! Teacher here too! đ
water story is fantastic!
Your best posting.
Excellent content and production.
Thanks , Very informative !
Why don’t you use regular LED sold online, for only 7 dollars for 16 feet?
Where do you get sweet cress lettuce seeds?
Ahh the hoodie and shorts outfit. Such a familiar sight in Texas. LOL
Can I ask whats the time in days from the first cut to the second cut please
Great interview – enjoyed that!
A 1/2acre for $7500, 6 miles from downtown Dallas. I can’t get over that. Must be in a flood plain or something.
awesome enthusiasm, great he got his little bit of land, deserves it more than anyone, there are people like him everywhere, just waiting to get access to land and have a go, policies should be encouraging such start ups. peace from the UK.
Great video! I love following Mike on Instagram and seeing his passion and how he’s growing! Yep, I feel the same way as him if I won the lottery I’d still be farming.
@8:35 "Whatever the customer says they want" That right there is amazing! Greetings from Oklahoma, we have similar shifts in temp/weather, this guy might be someone with usefull info for my area.
Such awesome information! Amazing what he can do with 1/2 acre!
Welcome to Dallas. Hah! Thanks for this video. I’m in DFW so I’ll be following him too. đ
great video, just FYI you posted his instagram wrong, take the s off the end
Great content đ especially for those who want to move out.
Love that path of least resistance technique of moving the weed matt for leaving in the lettuce roots. Thats a Dallas half acre idea for sure.
What is a five row Jane Cedar or chain seeder? Lol
Nothing funnier than SoCal people braving frigid 40 degree temps. Great video thanks.
I’m living in Dallas and will slowly build my farm in East Texas and I love this guy! I’m glad I came across this video. My favorite part was at the end when I win a million dollars, I’ll still be out here. But, I’ll have top of the line equipment. That was hilarious!
When he is talking about "Mir Lettuce" does he mean Mirlo Lettuce?
Ok, I subscribed b/c you withstood the cold just for us! I’m a new gardener in LA, so I understand the sacrifice. Love your content too.
Great video! I learned so many little tricks and ideas to try thank you both!! Natureâs Always Right – really digging these interviews and tours or other peopleâs farms! Youâre kicking butt and I canât say it enough – much appreciated! I watch these a couple times because thereâs so much good info in them.
HIGHLY APPRECIATED ! Great you found this guy, god bless
What variety of tomatoes does Mike have on his Instagram?
Great episode, so on return visit is the next episode going to be the Empire strikes back?
Welcome to Texas!!! You get all seasons in the same week!!! Sometimes in the same day đ
Doing a lot with a little bit f land. Love it!
Mike, I have no doubt you will achieve Empire !