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Spin farming: an interview with Wally Satzewich
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Are you already growing some of your own food, but have often thought you would like to grow more, or would like to market what you grow; has living in a city on a standard suburban, or urban lot prevented you from following your dream. Do not let size get in your way.
Meet Wally Satzewich, Wally is the owner of Owner, Wally's Urban Market Garden and a driving force behind spin farming, SPIN stands for Small, Plot, INtensive farming.
I interviewed Wally via email to get more information on this model of urban agriculture.
BE: What is spin farming?
WS Spin farming is a farming methodology that is geared towards small land bases, usually less than an acre in size. It tries to show how it is possible for small farmers to make a living from a small land base. It takes into account crop planning/harvesting strategies as well as marketing strategies. It shows how to turn a perceived disadvantage, i.e.. being small, into an advantage.
So it shows how small farmers can be significant and profitable, even though they have a small land base. Spin farming also shows how to think differently about a land base.
Land bases can be multi-locational in an urban setting, or single sited in a more rural context. Investments can be kept to a minimum, so that profitability can be achieved quickly. Financial risk and possible losses are kept at a minimum.
BE: How did you get started?
WS: After we sold our farmland in the country, about 10 years ago, we decided to see if we could grow enough produce on rented garden plots in the city. After a few years we discovered that we could get as many garden plots as we wanted, so eventually peaked at around 25 garden plots. We were able to grow enough produce so that we could make a living from this type of land base in the city.
BE: What are local barriers to people beginning their own urban food growing business?
I would say the biggest barriers might just be the " mind set " of the people involved.
Not willing to be flexible in their thinking in terms of a land base. Not understanding what is involved with the entire spectrum of crop planning to harvesting to post harvesting to marketing.
Spin farming tries to show that farming can virtually occur anywhere, in a variety of contexts, with a minimal investment.
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