Lean Farm Start-Up 2-Day Workshop
Saturday, May 3 - Sunday, May 4, 2025
Sold out!
The 2025 Lean Farm Start-up workshop has sold out. If you'd like to join a waiting list if any spots become available, please contact Nicole at nicole (at) claybottomfarm (dot) com. Thank you for your interest!
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Learn how to earn a living on less than a 1/3 acre of land.
An exclusive two-day intensive with Ben Hartman, author of The Lean Farm, The Lean Farm Guide to Growing Vegetables, and The Lean Micro Farm (2023).
Sign up for this workshop and receive practical advice on setting up a high-profit micro farm with the lean method. Especially for start-up market growers in urban or rural settings--or anyone looking to lean up their current operation.
This intensive 2-day workshop will provide you with useful knowledge that you can go home and apply right away.
When: Saturday, May 3 - Sunday, May 4, 2025
Location: Clay Bottom Farm, Goshen, Indiana
Cost: $600 regular price; $400 student/limited income registration
Description: In this two-day workshop we'll show you how efficiently set up a farm so you can earn a comfortable income from less than 1/3 acre of land.
Lunch will be provided Saturday and Sunday, as well as a light breakfast.
All workshop participants will also receive:
-A 50% discount for lifetime access to the Lean Micro Farm Masterclass, a comprehensive online course in using the lean system to set up a high profit farm
-A free copy of Ben's new book, The Lean Micro Farm (given to you at the workshop)
-One-on-one consultation time with Ben during the workshop
-Access to thousands of dollars worth of discount codes for tools and supplies that we use at Clay Bottom Farm (see more at bottom of this page)
Better design = happier farmers and more profitable farms. Hope to see you at Lean Farm Start-up!
Limit 20 participants. Previous workshops have all sold out, please sign up early. Fully refundable up to 30 days before the workshop; non-refundable after that time, except in case of emergency.
Questions about the Lean Farm Start-up workshop? Use this contact form.
Receive a FREE copy of The Lean Micro Farm when you sign up for this workshop
Ben's new book, The Lean Micro Farm, tells the story of how we set up our 1/3 acre high-profit micro farm, explains the "get small" approach, and includes guides that complement the workshop. You'll receive your copy of Ben's book at the workshop.
What you will learn in this workshop:
- how to use the DEEP MULCH METHOD for no-till/no-dig land preparation
- the lean system approach to setting up a nimble farm (the 7 mudas, kanban farming, and more)
- what you need for micro farm infrastructure (greenhouses, processing rooms, propagation house, and more)
- how to find those first customers using the Genchi Gembutsu method
- how to earn money in year one by growing high-value crops with less work - including innovative methods for growing tomatoes, spinach, spring mix, kale, fresh herbs, figs, and more
The workshop will be hands-on with field demos...
- on cutting edge tools like the micro farm greens harvester and paper pot transplanting system
- on how to build a germination chamber
- on setting up low-cost micro farm irrigation
- on cutting edge tomato trellising techniques
- on setting up an efficient wash-pack station
- and much more
Accommodations in and around Goshen
Workshop participants are responsible for finding their own accommodations. There are several affordable Airbnb options in and around Goshen (such as this one near the farm, or the Half-Moon Cottage a few miles away) as well as hotels. In addition, we recommend the Red Bridge Retreat, the Inn on South 5th, and Roselane Bed and Breakfast.
2024 Workshop Participants
Daniel M., 2024 workshop participant
Laura M., 2024 workshop participant
Nirit T.Z., 2024 workshop participant
Jeremy B., 2018 workshop participant
The amount of information I received from this workshop is amazing. Ben is a wonderful teacher, sharing all his knowledge from his years of farming. This workshop has shaved 10 years off my new farm startup.
Tamara B., 2022 workshop participant
The workshop was dynamic, switching between presentation and field and taking breaks in between. I also appreciated the transparency and openness to share knowledge and information. And the food was great!
Annabelle, 2022 workshop participant
Learning all the tools and processes is super helpful and seeing the farm in person puts it all in perspective. I also appreciated connecting with the other participants. These opportunities to connect with other growers, especially during the growing season, is critical to continued learning.
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Our Favorite Tools and Supplies
Here are retailer links to the tools and supplies that we use on our farm. My book The Lean Micro Farm describes most of these in detail. We recommend these products based on our independent research and testing at Clay Bottom Farm. Purchasing tools and supplies using these links helps to support our farm.
Join us in the Lean Micro Farm Masterclass or at our Lean Farm Start-Up Workshop and receive discount codes for many of these products. Discount codes are only available for Masterclass students and workshop participants.
FarmRaise provides an easy-to-use platform with affordable pricing to track your farm's finances. Receive 20% off FarmRaise Tracks Premium membership (does not apply to Payroll or Financial Planning add-ons at this time) using the coupon code: CLAYBOTTOM20
Orisha Automation This is the best control system for small farm greenhouses.
Lean Grow Tent Set-up
Active Grow Walden LED Grow Tent Kit We use the “Greens and veggies” version for the best light spectrum for our crops - $1045
4" Inline fan helps with ventilation if doors are kept closed - $21
Inkbird WiFi Digital Temperature Controller if a heater is needed in the grow tent - $50
GHome Smart Plug to control power remotely - $16
Garland tray for bottom watering plug flats - $13
Seedtime calendar Get free early beta access to their farm planning calendar and receive $5 in free seeds
Farmer's Friend
Quick-cut greens harvester - $750
Silage tarp (cut to width of two growing beds) - $233-491
Silage tarp repair tape - $36
Ground cover 6'x300' - $258
Coolbot Pro with WiFi - $419
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Terrateck double wheel hoe - $409
Bed preparation rake - $109
Narrow collinear hoe - $53
Harvest bucket - $34
Curved grape and tomato shears - $15
Jang seeder - $519
Jang rollers - X-24 (baby Asian greens), LJ-24 (spinach), and F-12 (carrots and baby lettuce) - $31.20 each
Trowel - $22
Paper Pot Planting System from Small Farm Works
Paper chain pots, we use 2", 4", and 6" spacing, hemp and regular - price varies
Extra long 12" paper chain pots and tools
Paper chain pot opening kit - $75
Nursery trays, set of 10 - $52
Single row transplanter - $699
Deeper furrow maker - $139
Dibble for paper chain pots, standard knob - $225
Gravity seeder and inserts (we use 4.0 and 5.0mm) - $395
Hoss Tools
Wheel hoe - $250
Fixed blade sweeps - $60
Tilmor
E-Ox electric wheel hoe - $1750+
Cultivator teeth - $113
Side knife - $133
Light duty flat shank ripper (x2) - $110
Gardener's Supply Company
DeWit half moon hoe - $80
Webstaurant Store
6" stainless steel produce knife - $7.50
Choice Prep 5 gallon greens spinner - $95
Irrigation King
Parts for 2 X-cel Wobbler head riser assemblies - $11 ea
Drip tape - $118
Orbit
Orbit 1/2” zinc step spike base - $11 ea (use with 4’ length of ½” steel pipe and Xcel-Wobbler head for farm-built overhead irrigation; see p. 177 of The Lean Micro Farm for more information)
Lee Valley
Clarington Forge digging fork (40") - $72
AM Leonard
Irrigation bag for fruit trees - $25.95
Local hardware store or online retailer
3/4"x100' garden hose - $230
Aluminum scoop shovel - $70
Adjustable-width rake - $35 (best to have one piece handle to avoid breakage)
Amazon
Mars Hydro TSL2000 grow light - $260
20,000 BTU weed burner torch for landscape fabric - $40
Inkbird digital temperature controller for germination chamber - $35
50 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank for washing greens - $200
Vermont Compost Supply (or source locally)
Fort Lite Potting mix
Uline
Plastic bags for food packaging
Round trip totes for storing and delivering greens and produce
19.8"x13.8"x15.8" - $23
19.8"x13.8"x11.3" - $19
19.9"x14.2"x8.4" - $19
Local thrift store
Used slow cooker for germination chamber - $10
Use local leaves, food scraps, spent grain, etc. to make compost or purchase locally
Starter Hoophouse Options
CT Greenhouse
Tomato Powerhouse Greenhouse Kit (this model is nearly identical to the custom greenhouses we have at Clay Bottom Farm and we recommend this supplier) - contact for pricing
Nolt’s Greenhouse Supplies
Quonset Greenhouse, 12’x48’ - $1400
Farmer’s Friend
Gothic Caterpillar Tunnel, 16’x50’ - $2400
Greenhouse Megastore
1000 Series Hoophouse Frame, 16’x48’ (does not include plastic or baseboard) - $2200
1000 Series Hoophouse Package, 16’x48’ - $3000
Bootstrap Farmer
DIY Greenhouse Kit, 12’x60’ (kit optionally includes a bender for you to bend your own pipe; top rail and wood for hip boards, baseboard, and end walls purchased locally on your own) - $1100