In this solo episode, Jean-Martin Fortier celebrates his 48th birthday by reflecting on his 24-year journey as a market gardener. He revisits the foundational influence of Eliot Coleman’s The New Organic Grower, emphasizing how the "agricultural craftsmanship" of small-scale farming offers a meaningful alternative to industrial food production. The core of the episode outlines three guiding "North Stars" for the movement: reclaiming the integrity of the organic label, strengthening local food sheds to keep money in the community, and embracing seasonality as a social value. Jean-Martin argues that eating in-season from local greenhouses and root cellars creates a "good food revolution" that is impossible for industrial systems to replicate. He concludes by calling on farmers to stay rooted in their communities and fight for a food system defined by proximity, ecology, and joy.
Timestamps
[0:00] Intro
[04:18] Birthday reflections: 24 years of hustling, dreaming, and the "Good Food Revolution"
[06:33] Current projects: Research at FQT farm and the Old Mill garden
[08:58] Returning to the source: The enduring influence of Eliot Coleman’s The New Organic Grower
[12:24] Trends in the movement: From the pressure to scale up to mastering the small-scale model
[14:10] Agricultural Craftsmanship: Why growing food is a practice of presence, not industry
[19:43] North Star #1: Reclaiming "Organic" and fighting off the dilution of the label
[27:32] North Star #2: The power of locality and keeping wealth within the community
[33:21] North Star #3: Seasonality as a tool for health, ethics, and community celebration
[41:27] Summary: Building a future of proximity, ecology, and back-to-basics joy
Sponsors
Real Organic Project:Get Involved. Get Certified. Join the movement to fight the co-opting of organic.
Thinkific: Built for the Business of Learning.
Activevista: Specialised Tools and Seeds for Diversified Crop and Home Growers
Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com
Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass
Newsletter: https://themarketgardener.com/newsletter
Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog
Books: https://themarketgardener.com/books
Growers & Co: https://growers.co
Heirloom: https://heirloom.ag/
The Old Mill: https://www.espaceoldmill.com/en/
Follow Us
Website: http://themarketgardener.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/marketgardenerinstitute
Instagram: http://instagram.com/themarketgardeners
Guest Social Media Links
JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier
