In this episode, we sit down with Noah East, co-owner of Wild East Farm and founder of Small Scale Revival, to explore how human-scale design, efficient systems, and clear values create a thriving small farm. We dive into Noah’s journey from managing a high-volume 8 acre vegetable farm to co-founding a mixed enterprise farm in North Carolina, examining how human-scale farming benefits both personal well-being and soil health. Noah explains how they integrate market gardening, agroforestry, and rotational livestock without overworking or scaling beyond ideal capacity. We explore their practical strategies for small-farm viability, including balancing wholesale with retail outlets and securing long-term land access through flexible leasing. Finally, we discuss the philosophy of thrift, relational agriculture, and why cultivating life outside of work is essential for long-term sustainability.
Timestamps
[00:00] Intro
[03:10] Defining "ancestrally consistent" human-scale farming
[15:00] Origins of Wild East Farm and homesteading background
[17:30] Overview of the 44-acre mixed farm and livestock integration
[29:00] Management roles, delegation, and preventing burnout
[35:40] Systemizing micro-processes and setting work-week boundaries
[42:30] Business strategy: Wholesale food hubs vs. direct retail
[46:40] Financial transparency, farm earnings, and frugal living
[58:10] Creative land access models and long-term lease structures
[01:23:00] Applying the Wendell Berry concept of thrift to daily life
[01:37:50] Relational agriculture and Small Scale Revival consulting
[01:47:40] Rapid Fire: Favorite books, best advice, drums etc.
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Guest Social Media Links
Noah:
Website: https://www.wildeastfarm.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildeastfarm/
Website: https://www.smallscalerevival.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@smallscalerevival
JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeanmartinfortier
