189. Jordan Green on the Role Children Play in a Farm Business

Do your kids want to be a part of your farm? How can you best integrate them into the farming lifestyle?  In today’s episode we’re hosting Jordan Green, lifelong farmer, owner of FarmBuilder LLC, and co-owner of J & L Green Farm, located in Edinburg, Virginia. FarmBuilder LLC is a consultancy that works with property owners and aspiring farmers to develop farms that sustain communities. J & L Green Farm is a pasture-based, direct-to-retail farm.  Managing 500 acres of beautiful farmland, Jordan and his wife, Laura, started the farm in 2009 and have been steadily growing since then. They raise animals ethically with regenerative/sustainable practices and in harmony with nature. They currently offer grass-fed and grass-finished beef, pasture-raised poultry, and forest-raised pork products. They also collaborate with local farms with the same philosophy to provide farm-fresh eggs, raw milk cheeses, honey, organically grown vegetables, and other farm foods.  In addition to selling through various retail outlets in the greater Virginia area, J & L Green Farm offers nationwide shipping, home delivery, and delivery to drop-sites all over the Northern Virginia area.  Tune in to hear all about how Jordan and his wife manage this thriving farm enterprise!  You’ll hear: What J&L Farm is all about 1:40 How Covid impacted the farm’s operations 2:29 What prompted Jordan’s viral Facebook post about kids on the farm 8:54 The family business Jordan grew up with 13:32 What farmers should do to get their kids involved in the farm but not end up hating it 20:49 How farmers can show their kids a good work/life balance 29:41 How you can teach kids a good work ethic without scaring them off 36:54 How Jordan teaches his kids about what success is 40:17 Jordan’s thoughts on microenterprises for kids surrounding the farm 44:02 What Jordan does to ensure he enjoys life on the farm with the kids 45:26 About the Guest:  Jordan Green is the founder of FarmBuilder (2017 – current), co-owner of J & L Green Farm in Edinburg, Virginia (2009 – current), a United States Marine Corps veteran (2004-2009), and graduate of the apprentice program at Polyface Inc. (2001-2002). Prior to that, he grew up on his family’s homestead in Virginia and had several successful small farm enterprises. Resources: Website: www.jlgreenfarm.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jlgreenfarm/  Instagram: https://bit.ly/jlgreenfarm    The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! At AgriGro®, we know that in today’s modern agriculture, our efforts can deplete life or add life. When you look for ways to add life, it’s sustainable and makes everything work better. The result is enhanced plant and soil health for crops, gardens, and turf, as well as improved animal health and environment for livestock and wildlife. Our products are all-natural, easy to use, and friendly to the soil, the plant, as well as the grower. AgriGro’s® formulations deliver essential plant nutrition along with an advanced prebiotic concentrate, which significantly increases the multitude of beneficial native microbial species already residing in the production environment. Through these environmentally sound technologies, we’re adding life to crop production, livestock, home, turf, and wildlife markets. You don’t have to be dependent on crop production efforts that deplete life…Just Add Life with AgriGro®.