In the early 70s, US Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz infamously commanded farmers to “get big or get out.” Ben Hartman considered the suggestion disastrous – and in his book, The Lean Micro Farm, he shows how small, hyperlocal farms can be both ecologically and economically superior to industrial-scale operations geared toward export and commodity markets.
ffinlo Costain spoke to Ben Hartman and started by asking him how big his farm is, and what he produces?