Lean Market Growing Masterclass
Lean + Ben Hartman's growing system
Starting a farm? Start here.
Totally Unique
The most comprehensive online course in market growing, combining the lean management system and Ben Hartman's cutting edge growing methods.
Smaller and Smarter Farming
A focus on efficient techniques and microfarm management so that you are profitable in year one.
Practical
More than 100 video lessons, shot on the farm during the growing season, showing you all the details of our high-profift, 1/2-acre farm. Great for urban growers.
What's included
- More than 100 video lessons showing how to earn a comfortable living on a 1/2 acre farm
- Specifics on everything: site selection, low-till soil building, compost-making, weed-free farming, harvesting, and lean selling strategies
- Direct access to Ben: he answers all questions posed through the course platform on a weekly basis
- Invitation to exclusive live Q&A events with Ben for Masterclass students
- Lean methods for growing tomatoes, salad greens, peppers, ginger, carrots, and a whole lot more
- Downloadable content like chef contact sheets, production cheat sheets, and building plans for our barn-house
- Condensed quick-review summary slides of the course content for convenient learning
- Cutting-edge information: Clay Bottom Farm is one of the most respected small farms in the nation and the course is updated every season
- Ad-free: no distractions or promotions, just the lean growing information you want
- Lifetime access: you get access to all of the lessons for as long as the course is online
Farm with focus
This course is about how to earn higher profits and farm more sustainably by cutting out waste.
Lean, not mean
Lean will not strip the soul out of your farm. Just the opposite. Lean is about getting rid of waste--so that you have time and energy to focus on what you and your customers value. While we focus on certain crops over others, we still grow dozens of varieties, and we preserve time for rest, relaxation, and creativity, which are as important to sustainability as efficiency and productivity.
What's in the course
Take a dive into the course. Here's a preview.
No-waste Inspirations: George Washington Carver and Taicchi Ohno
The lean system is fundamentally about getting rid of waste--instead of perpetually expanding--as the most sustainable way to grow a business. While this powerful concept is said to have originated in Japanese manufacturing, in truth lean thinkers can be found in many diverse fields and in many cultures throughout history. The work of biologist and inventor George Washington Carver (b. 1860s, US, pictured) and industrial engineer Taicchi Ohno (b. 1912, Japan) stand out. They have shaped my farm, my books, and this course in important ways. Read Carver's original work here. Find Ohno's original work here.
Jackson H.
Phoenix Farm
McLeansville, North Carolina
Ben's lean farming course has been of tremendous value and influence on my farm and my life. On the surface, "lean" may sound boring and unromantic, detracting from the heart of farming, but it does just the opposite. It makes farming manageable and fun, allowing me to do the bulk of my farming in just 3 days a week so I can spend the rest of my time being a good husband and father, vacationing, and enjoying other pursuits for a well-rounded lifestyle!
Peter H.
Sweet Pete's Market Garden
Bedfordshire, UK
Ben's Masterclass is my one stop shop for definitive knowledge on all aspects of modern market gardening. It is extremely clear and I heartily recommend it to all my fellow growers.
Jim and Katie H.
Wild Canary Farm
Duvall, Washington
We raise pastured livestock, we grow cut flowers, not veg, and the lean philosophy I’ve studied in Ben’s books and through the Masterclass has universal value. We manage our business with an eye to lean thinking. The approach to systems and people resonates throughout our farm. It’s been a very fulfilling journey and gives our farm the ability, with only 3 employees, to punch well above our weight class.
Is there a time limit on the course?
Do I have to pay through PayPal?
What type of farms is the course geared toward?
Do I have to own a tractor?
Is the course for explorers, beginners, or experienced growers?
Is the course content ever updated?
How can I view the course?
Can course videos be downloaded?
Do you ever offer discounts or sales?
