The Lean Farm
Learn Lean Micro Farming from Ben
Enroll in the Lean Micro Farm Masterclass to learn how to start your own lean micro farm with higher profits and less waste. Ben teaches you how to earn a comfortable living on a tiny plot of land, in more than 150 video lessons.
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Clay Bottom Farm, Goshen, Indiana
I'm Ben Hartman
I operate Clay Bottom Farm, a specialty crop farm in northern Indiana, with my wife Rachel Hershberger and two workers. I also train farmers in using the lean system on their farms, through on-farm training (Lean Farm Start-up), by speaking and keynoting at farm conferences, and through consultation. I'm the author of four books on lean farming, including The Lean Farm, winner of the prestigious Shingo Award, and most recently, The Lean Micro Farm. In 2017 I was appointed to the Grist 50, a list of emerging green leaders in the United States. At Clay Bottom Farm, we grow our food on a tightly managed 1/3-acre and sell all of our products within 1.5 miles of the farm.
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Ben Hartman is that rare person who could describe the lean farming revolution and then provide proven practices.
Jim Womack, founder of the Lean Enterprise Insititute
Everyone strives for efficiency in vegetable farming, but Ben Hartman has actually achieved it.
Lynn Byszynski, author of Market Farming Success
The Lean Farm should be dissected, digested, and discussed on every single farm.
Joel Salatin, farmer and author of You Can Farm