The Collaborative Farming Podcast · No-Till Market Garden Podcast

Big Team Farms w/ Sarah K. Mock

·1 hr 8 min·5 clips

Sarah Mock reveals why the small family farm often fails economically, tied to capitalism and historical inequities.

This episode of The Collaborative Farming Podcast features host Chris and guest Sarah Mock, author of "Farm (and Other F Words)" and "Big Team Farms." Sarah Mock's work critically examines the economic realities of small-scale farming and proposes alternative models. The conversation explores the gap between the romanticized ideal of the small family farm and the practical requirements of a functional food system. Mock argues the small family farm model often fails economically without external wealth, inherited land, or a partner's substantial income. She challenges the notion that grit alone ensures farming success, pointing to systemic and historical factors. Her book "Big Team Farms" presents collaborative, team-based farming as a more viable alternative to the isolated nuclear family structure. Mock emphasizes that diverse farm sizes and ownership models are necessary for different communities and landscapes. She highlights the exclusion of first-generation farmers, particularly from marginalized groups, by an inheritance-focused model. The discussion covers practical challenges like business partnerships, labor management, and expanding the definition of farm work beyond field tasks. A key insight is that healthy farm systems require well-cared-for humans as a priority, not just healthy soil. Mock notes that the regenerative agriculture movement champions ecological diversity but often stops short of applying that principle to human teams on farms. She observes that investors and policymakers frequently seek a single, scalable solution, whereas resilient food systems require adaptable, localized combinations of farm types. The episode shares a case study of a successful Northern New Mexico farmer who narrowed his focus to eight profitable products, like early-season blackberries, based on deep market understanding. Mock suggests farmers can attract skilled labor by offering creative compensation, including potential ownership stakes, not just hourly wages. She criticizes the common "bottom line" cost-cutting mindset in agriculture, advocating for a "top line" focus on growing revenue instead. The tone is conversational and reflective, blending personal anecdote with broader economic analysis. The style is educational but informal, often feeling like a therapeutic session for farmers grappling with these issues. This episode would deeply resonate with current and aspiring farmers, agricultural policymakers, and anyone interested in food systems economics. Listeners solely seeking traditional farming techniques or unquestioning celebration of small farms might find the critical perspective challenging.

As heard by us

A grounded talk about farms as systems for food, land, labor, and ownership.

Sarah Mock treats farms as working systems first: places built to feed people, use land well, and keep the environmental math honest. The talk stays grounded in that frame, and it works better for it.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if you want a clearer way to think about farm labor, ownership, and why farms need money and resources to keep feeding people.

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