In this episode, we sit down with Akos Asare from Re.Planted Farm & Floral Studio, who shares her inspiring journey from running a custom wig business to becoming a suburban flower farmer. Akos reveals how the COVID-19 pandemic prompted her to pivot and embrace farming as a response to global supply chain challenges and her quest for deeper fulfillment.
We discuss the challenges of transitioning into farming without an agricultural background, the importance of following your intuition, and the value of community connections in building a sustainable urban farm. Akos also highlights the innovative ways she has maximized her small plot of land, including her creative crop planning techniques and her focus on flowers over vegetables.
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Timestamps
[0:12] Realizing the impact of small communal actions
[1:55] Introduction and masterclass announcement
[4:16] The journey from wig business to farming
[7:42] Transitioning careers: lessons from Dragons’ Den
[12:07] Life as a military family and adapting to change
[18:00] The concept of "Replanted Farm" and its meaning
[24:10] Influences from YouTube and market gardening pioneers
[31:25] Soil care and no-dig gardening methods
[40:00] Building community through farming collaborations
[47:05] Challenges and benefits of urban farming
[52:40] Raising children with a connection to nature
[1:00:40] The importance of detailed crop planning
[1:11:00] Learning to farm: embracing resources and community
[1:18:35] Overcoming internal challenges in farming
[1:26:00] Urban farming as a model for future food systems
[1:36:15] The importance of physical community presence over social media
[1:41:44] Rapid Fire Q&A
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Links/Resources
Market Gardener Institute: https://themarketgardener.com/
Masterclass: https://themarketgardener.com/courses/the-market-gardener-masterclass/
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Blog: https://themarketgardener.com/blog
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Guest Social Media Links
Akos:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/re.plantedfarm
Website: https://www.replantedfarm.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/re.PlantedFarm Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/replantedfarm/
JM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanmartinfortier
