He Turned His Childhood Home Into a Market Farm

We visited Sage Hill Ranch Gardens, a local market farm here in San Diego that prides itself on being completely fossil fuel free!
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
01:01 - Tool Shed
03:55 - Beds & Terraces
05:54 - Nursery
09:19 - Greenhouse
15:05 - Rain Tanks
18:00 - Fruit Orchard
19:50 - New Structure
22:27 - Wash & Pack Facility
25:37 - Farm Stand
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[@simplysimple7628]

When they spoke next to the veggie stand and the owner said that they “try to encourage and teach people that they can do this themselves”, is such a selfless and humbling gesture. He could’ve easily not say that and try his best to be greedy and tell everyone that his veggies are the best and that they have to buy only his. Also when he said that “there’s not much youngsters coming into the farming/gardening game, and it’s kind of a scary thing/feeling”, man that gave me goosebumps. It is absolutely TERRIFYING to think that. Not only is it scary but very sad. The MATERIAL INFLUENCE within the world especially social media, has really changed the way these kids think and feel about themselves. Without farmers or even backyard farmers, the world is in a whole lot of hurt. I really admire and appreciate people like this man and you also Kevin. I’ve been an avid gardener for decades and haven’t gone to a commercial scale but I do grow more than we can eat and give away at least half of our produce. The smiles and hugs we get is amazing. And most of all REWARDING. That’s what life is about. Keep it farmers and gardeners. We all can change the mindsets. It’s not too late….. Much love and Aloha ✊🏼🙏🏼🤙🏼

[@yeevita]

I would love to see everyone growing something in their neighborhood, thereby decreasing food transportation, as well as increase food resilience. However, just as people who publish recipes figured out, most people will never actually do it themselves, which is unfortunate. However, possibly by publicizing it, it might influence the few people who will try and also possibly gardeners or farmers who are farming using harmful chemicals. Every little bit helps.

[@hardstylzz5024]

It's sad that Gov is limiting on how much you can garden and register your livestock, kids being taught that food is grown at grocery stores, truly sad times we live in.

[@udrinkit]

​@@hardstylzz50241000s of farms and ranches closing each year. Livestock being killed off.

[@yeevita]

@@hardstylzz5024 Hm? Confused. Anyone can have a garden. My mother gardened on steps right outside our apartment door. Later she gardened in the setback between buildings. I noticed other people doing the same. It is just that some neighborhoods have lots of gardeners but most have mostly plant killers, or plant arrangers, but mostly plant killers.

[@freewillchoice8052]

Things will correct themselves by default one way or another if you take care of your affairs you become the influence for others around you and it spreads like wild fire.

[@myurbangarden7695]

Thank you for introducing us to so many MARKET FARMERS who have made the world a better place by caring for the environment 🌎 and providing healthy produce.

[@Jpiggye]

Kevin is really using his garden clout for good - so educational, he's not pretentious, just wants to spread knowledge, really impressed with how far @EpicGardening has come.

[@dutch9664]

I wanna see when they open during market hours…I love backyard farming.

[@blakebro1]

AGREED!! I appreciate it 💯

[@mathgasm8484]

my dad thought I was nuts doing it by hand and not using tractors. My family had been in farming for generations and I do it small scale.

[@bobodapopper]

Sage Hill is simply the best. If you ever see their display stand at a local farmer’s market in SD you will know just how incredible their produce is. So awesome to see this collab!

[@staceymoniz]

I love how fast you both talk with excitement about what is clearly your passion. I thought I had my playback speed set for faster but it was just your natural mutual enthusiasm coming through. WONDERFUL video. Great job limiting the fossil impact of your farm in so many creative ways.

[@thefamilywhite2149]

Oh thank you I didn't think of changing speed! Slowed them down to .75 and now I'm hearing all of it! 😂

[@bekinddogoodeatplants]

I feel like I need a zany after watching this one. 😆 ❤ Love this show tho and all it stands for so don’t come for me! 😊

[@garden_geek]

I love the enthusiasm. When plant people get together to nerd out on plants it’s a beautiful thing lol

[@nonnoziccardy4353]

Kevin it’s a joy to watch you grow as an individual and as a professional. I love this new series of videos featuring farmers! Very inspirational and no doubt will inspire younger generations to consider starting a farm. Beautiful farm featured and continued success to the farm and you my friend. Please keep these types of videos coming! Hugh

[@travisrennie9863]

“No fossil fuels” dude that is a nice gasoline powered quad 😂 all joking aside I love that farm

[@abbi_page]

Yeah and the propane heater - still super inspiring and I love how they reuse wash & pack water to irrigate!

[@brandon9172]

@@abbi_page To be fair letting all the crops die probably would've been worse for the environment than using a heater once if you take all factors into account.

[@makinggardenmagic]

@@brandon9172 yeah I am not saying he should let them die at all, I’m saying it’s weird to say “no fossil fuels” and then clearly be using them. No judgment at all, this guy is doing what l wish I could!

[@quengafarm]

My very first thought and only 2 minutes in.

[@lydialjal]

My humble two cents is that he should not have made such a grand statement but qualified their goals. Maybe he was just “over caffeinated?” That was a bit much.

[@lanabelaslemus7655]

This is so cool! I wish there was an app to find local farmers that sell their products to locals would be super dope

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

There are some that exist, and MIgardener has mentioned one that he uses, but you'll have to look them up to see if they include any farmers in your area.

[@sierrafields1315]

Farmish is an app like that.

[@athavolpe1282]

Try calling your County Agricultural Office. They can direct you to local farms and markets, they can even tell you if a County Farm to Table store is open that sells these products. Don't forget to ask about that.😊

[@shabbyshopper]

I mean technically the plastic of the high tunnel, the quad & plastic ground covering ARE fossil fuels! But excellent progress!

[@johngriffin618]

I was going to say, plastic is produced with petroleum products, I am also curious how he gets his fertilizer if he composts. I don't see a large composting area. Tbf I didn't watch the whole thing after I noticed all of the fossil fuel based products that were blatant in the first few seconds of the video. Also all of the plastic pots he uses in his nursery, fossil fuels!

[@Josef_R]

2:18 That quad doesn't look electric. Maybe is natural gas...but that's a fossil fuel too. But San Diego Power uses natural gas, so even if it's electric, you're still using fossil fuels.

[@loloholmes2793]

Fairly certain the device you're commenting from contains rare earth minerals mined by children & you have plastics of some sort in your home.... hypocrite.

[@jaycweingardt11]

@@Josef_R hahaha, good catch. They may not consider the quad a tractor, but it sure looks like you are using it like one...

[@hoosierpioneer]

​@@johngriffin618 What's your workaround? I'm a market farmer welcome to ideas.

[@PungentMango]

loving the farm tours as starting a market garden or farm is something i am considering in the future and seeing some of these guys get it done is pretty inspiring.

[@docfuzzpersonalcollection5927]

WOW! This episode just knocked me out! I don't usually "comment" online, but I have been watching and learning from gardening info videos for a few years and this is one of my favs so far. I am a 81-year old USAF veteran/amateur gardener living in a confusing USDA "ZONE", Southeast corner of Kansas. We border on 3 other states...Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri. and it seems to be a "toss-of-dice" to plant the right stuff at the right time, even with the inpput form the "PROS" ( lovcal Kansas farmers) now due to a touch higher than normal weather. As kids ( 1950's and 1940's ) it was a contest who could get their picture on the front page of our local Sunday newspaper...frying an egg on the sidewalk in front of your house! Thanks for great content!

[@andrewkeeler4060]

As a fellow market garden Farmer I really enjoyed seeing this video. I would say the title is a bit misleading as there is no farm I know of, including this one, that can operate without fossil fuels (in the background was a four wheeler that was used to transport produce, the landscape/greenhouse plastic supplies are produced with such fuels, the greenhouse was heated with propane on cold nights, etc.) I understand this farm is labored by the hands of people instead of tractors but still uses fossil fuels in certain appropriate contexts. I do not say this to take anything away from his video because I loved it, just thought the title of the video was very misleading. I loved the terracing work that this farm is doing!

[@rejnbglad258]

It could be solar/battery powered equipment that were seen.

[@udrinkit]

​@@rejnbglad258those are still produced using fossil fuels.

[@beloved-1]

Emitting fossil fuels on a regular basis by using a tractor vs using tools and doing the work by hand is quite a vast difference on that type of scale and doing that on a regular basis….give the guy some credit eh? He’s mainly wanting to show younger generations that they can try to start their garden or farm too and that it’s doable. He’s encouraging others, please don’t nit pick what he’s doing. He’s not wanting to incorporate pesticides for weed or pest management. He’s started from the ground up and if given the opportunity I’m sure he would tweak certain issues if he could and if it’s allowed in his budget. He did mention funding at one point, clearly he’s down to make improvements as he continues to succeed and make profits. You’re taking away from the value he provided by criticizing him like this. It’s very easy to be a keyboard warrior but lets go see if you can do this and be successful.

[@andrewkeeler4060]

@@beloved-1 I am not taking anything away from what this farmer is doing. I love what he is doing and practice the same principles that he does. I was speaking to the title of the video and, as a fellow Market Gardener, knowing that it is about impossible to get away from fossil fuel use to make the claim that we are operating with no fossil fuels. Oh course it is always important to reevaluate our production methods and see where we can limit or get away from fossil fuels. This farm does a great job of that! I did not mean to compromise what this farm is doing and apology if it came across that way but am speaking truthfully about the dilemma that all Market Gardeners face.

[@E_Clampus_Vitus]

Leftists🤷

[@ellenkuang8853]

I love how much he's creating habitat and using native wildlife to benefit and maintian his farm. It's the natural way to do things! He's just missing ducks to eat the slugs & snails. LOL

[@keithbowman1264]

👌🏻

[@scottscriticalmass]

Enjoying the farm tours... Thanks Kevin! And a huge thank you to Spencer as well. The next time I'm in San Diego, I'll be sure to stop by the farm on a Saturday.

[@zanelevundla5829]

I absolutely love your tours, it's different when you see other people doing stuff and the different innovative strategies they have used to make the best of what they got. Its so inspiring.

[@eQui253]

It's always either the tomatoes or the cucumbers that struggle. If it's dry, the tomatoes are good, if it's humid, the cucumbers are happy. Depends on the year. In the last summers, the tomatoes did better at my place.

[@Just-Nikki]

This is the direction my family’s lives are taking and I’m so happy to see this. I need the wheeled hoe for sure! Wishing all abundance and a successful growing year.

[@rustyandrews8375]

Thank you! Thank you for your sharing your time and knowledge here on KZbin and thank you Spencer and Sage Hill for sharing with you and us. Both of you are so good at what you do and i just wanted to be sure to let you know that your talented and appreciated!😊

[@Tiger-fv3nl]

This is awesome! My wife and I own a 6-acre market farm in upstate South Carolina. This season we are growing 6000 tomatoes. Even though I do use tractors I do a lot of the same things this guy's doing except for one thing. We don't have a wash station because when you're harvesting that quantity of produce you don't have time to wash everything and our customers are well aware of that. We don't even wash our lettuce and I can't keep up with demand

[@samshon9285]

Hi Tiger, who do you sell to?

[@Tiger-fv3nl]

@@samshon9285 4 local farmers markets and a few restaurants

[@whodidit99]

These small farm operators are amazing. I hope you do updates of these entrepreneurs. I'm so impressed how they ramped up so fast.

[@sproutdaplanet1518]

Thank you for this video. There's so much useful information for all gardeners. I need to watch this again and take notes.

[@keithbowman1264]

Hey Kevin thanks for sharing this small farm with us. It’s right over the hill from where I grew up! I visited today and what a great place they have. Great values and great people. I encourage EVERYONE to visit and support their farm stand Saturday mornings 9-12:30

[@kidgloves2]

I bet this guy took the Neversink Farm course. A lot of similarities. Neversink Farm is incredible.

[@aaronheidemann123]

I love this!! I am starting a market garden currently in South Africa. this gives me so much motivation! The farm looks spectacular

[@bethsands7665]

Awesome fit farmers with so much work to do everyday which beats working retail any day ! Awesome tour of the way a farm should be ran : hard work, no pesticides and protecting crops with easy methods like insect netting... or mammal netting. I am glad that you don't have Gophers which are tricky monsters who suck plants down through the hole .

[@lisagoldberg5178]

Thank you Sage Hill Ranch Gardens and Kevin for this field trip! I really enjoyed it. Please consider doing more in the future.❤

[@Josef_R]

2:18 That quad doesn't look electric. Maybe is natural gas...but that's a fossil fuel too. But San Diego Power uses natural gas, so even if it's electric, you're still using fossil fuels.

[@lynlalalala]

Propane is also a fossil fuel 😂.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

Yeah, fossil fuels are mostly unavoidable if you're still connected to the grid in any way. It's very difficult to live completely off the grid, but any little thing you can do to use less fossil fuel helps.

[@santa_fe_3346]

lol ya😂

[@JamesG1126]

@@FrozEnbyWolf150 Solar systems use fossil fuels in their manufacturing, distribution and installation. If you're worried about fossil fuels, plant a tree.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

@@JamesG1126 True, and that's because electricity generation is still predominantly done with fossil fuels in most places. Unfortunately we're going to have to use our existing fossil fuel infrastructure to build a more sustainable system, but that's better than just maintaining the status quo. Additionally, planting trees, while a net positive for the environment, doesn't really put a dent in one's carbon footprint as you'd need to plant hundreds of them.

[@joniboulware1436]

Great interview. I liked learning about the water source and the varieties being grown. Love these market gardens.

[@hipdogdsv]

I have a dozen or so washer/dryer drums I grow in. They make great raised containers to grow in!

[@brianpalmer967]

Dear Kevin, Thank you for always keeping your videos very hands-on and practical. They are Great for people who are getting out there and getting their hands in the soil.

[@chikichamar]

I logged on just in the right moment, posted less than a min ago. Love learning from here! Thank you

[@ameroshqiptar17]

So much awesome farming wisdom in this video! You guys both rock! I'm super interested in starting a market farm, and you are so inspiring!

[@jaycweingardt11]

You may not consider the quad a tractor, but it sure looks like you are using it like one...

[@ElderandOakFarm]

I sometimes set videos to play @1.5x speed. Well after first watching, I had to pause & come back. & @ around 17 minutes, when I pressed play, I had to look, because I thought I still had it set @1.5 but nope... he just talks extremely fast! 😂

[@adityakamath4020]

Thanks for featuring interesting farms and farmers like these!! Would love to see more content like this….it is very inspiring!

[@MegaTeeruk]

Loooove these longer form videos showing how small farms work. Fantastic content.

[@wheelchairhomestead]

Really cool setup. I like how he works with the bumps and dips in the land.

[@workinprogress3329]

I love these types of videos. It’s great to see how many different ways you can farm.

[@AcornFox]

Gotta be the “well ackshully” guy for a sec but only because of the timing: you said “no fossil fuels” with a poly tunnel in frame! made me chuckle and i had to say something lol but seriously, this guy is living my dream right down to the acreage. what an awesome project and beautiful farm.

[@mithall4198]

You must have missed the ATV part.

[@AcornFox]

@@mithall4198 i saw it but well after i made the comment

[@katchinska]

Its good you still appreciate it because people really really need to quit getting hung up on no fossil fuels meaning literally not one ounce of fossile fuel. No, were never going to 100% ever be completly free from fossil fuel products but a plastic tarp takes a tiny tiny meager amount of fossil fuel to produce compared to 1000 galllons+ of gas you need to run a ICE machine over the course of a decade.

[@jessicahalvorsen9315]

Hope that hoop house is covered with ethanol based plastic 😂

[@yeevita]

What an amazing and thoughtful farmer. His products look amazing. Does he really have all those tunnels and fields on 1/2 an acre?

[@daisyblooms4813]

Wow, great set-up! Thanks for sharing. So many moving parts!!

[@shanebep3135]

Loving the farm but one question I have about the plastic silage tarps, I've worked on a farm that used them and found the tarps created anaerobic soil, attracted pests from the humidity and obviously the break down of plastics can cause unknown health problems long term. Just wondering why so many eco-friendly farmers are using a non-eco friendly product like silage tarps instead of living pathways/mulch

[@christinacooper8731]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! Time to be a bigger farmer!!! Thank you for sharing your place and helping me push to a larger scale level!!! Definite goals!!!

[@VT-ix5oh]

Momotaro looks like pink oxheart tomato. Wow what an informative show, i plan on mass (small) scale farming commercially as i retire from my city career and this show inspired me even more

[@Just-Nikki]

Such a wealth of knowledge. I would love a way to learn from his experience and know exactly how his farm is ran. I want all the details!

[@joyofgrowing]

Beautiful Farm would love to visit it! Truly wonderful way to farm! Congratulations on all your hard work.

[@paleblue6385]

Shout out to your videographer / editor for that interior / establishing shot around 23:00 minutes. I was thinking it and the shot just appeared.

[@mdstrobe]

This is truly "epic" gardening. I'd love to see more videos and examples of just regular home gardening. I'm having a difficult time understanding principles that commercial farmers do that home growers can do. I don't think my HOA will like mini greenhouses, insect netting over my garden and massive rain water catchers... :)

[@thedude7319]

14:06 reminds me of in games like harvest moon you always get the crops that produce multiple times to up that profit per unit

[@jessehaskell4538]

Glad to hear some love for neversink. His videos are great, and accurately titled.

[@chadreilly]

What's the plastic in the greenhouse made out of? ... Propane heater?

[@laydbak46]

This is awesome. I will definitely be doing this very soon. Thank you for this information and video.

[@tanyacairncross2636]

I like how everything is organized and efficient. Farmers market-my dream!

[@createtoserve]

Thank you! My backyard garden is terraced, and this helps me think about how to use that to my advantage. Also, Kevin, my 8yo son says your last name sounds like the name of a Pokemon.

[@driftlesshermit9731]

Really loved this one because almost all is done by human energy. Need more of "THIS "

[@wrenchdoozer]

I need some of these tools for my (much smaller) setup at home.

[@mamadoom9724]

I really want to start a little farm stand. Unfortunately I am really struggling with my garden this year 😅 everything seems to be going wrong. I might at least do a farm stand with soaps, candles, and firewood in the meantime.

[@Omegawerewolfx]

Amazing set up. Really impressive farm.

[@tinkerbell9396]

This is a great video! Learned also. Also wanted to know what that 1 tool was called a broad fork 👍 You Tube cut the video 1/2 thru the play cycle. Like I said thank you, I learned a lot! 😉

[@catherineallard340]

In Québec, we call that fork, grelinette

[@a22024]

->no fossil fuels ->immediately shows plastic

[@Real_Question_Marked]

Disclaimer: Zero fossil fuels *Minus the plastic tent*. Otherwise cool video, thanks for another great upload Kevin.

[@magmamat]

Except for the plastic - which he used to make the greenhouse- which is made from fossil fuel side products. Plus I saw a quad ATV - what does that run on? Electric? Fossil fuels?

[@dtroystopper2]

"Here is our no till garden.. have a look at all the tilling tools we use!"

[@billyd357]

Here is our no fossil fuels farm. 4 wheeler pulling trailer in the background. Don't get me wrong. I love fossil fuels for grunt work

[@SashasGarden38]

Spencer is my current story and it's so inspiring to see someone doing something that is my goal. Thank you for this video Kevin 🌱🤗

[@DizzKola3]

This farm is really beautiful in an amazing setting. Love your videos.

[@Aaldous]

'Love Sage Hill! Such great people growing beautiful food.

[@RM131313]

This is a great model to help promote small scale farming. Excellent!

[@bakersbooks]

This kind of thing always seems so amazing, but I'd like to know more about the costs! Specifically how much money this farmer started out with/had at the beginning to sink into making this work. Having the land was presumably already a huge help, especially in such a great growing zone!

[@melanieadams5450]

Thank you! This is another amazing video! The passion for farming this way is so incredible!

[@deadoralive26]

I'm 2:45 in and already amazed with new ideas! Thank you!!

[@r.e.m2676]

Two great guys that I’m proud to know. I hope to one day work with you guys.

[@christinahernandez8250]

Loved this video! Thank you so much for doing this!❤

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

What a fantastic video! Thank you so much for taking us through such an amazing place.

[@a.l.a.7847]

Love what you all are doing -- Sage Hill Farms looks wonderful! Kevin thanks for bringing so many different stories to us via your channel.

[@jamesandsusanshortill8713]

Unbelievably impressive, you really are amazing...I love the willingness to share your knowledge, but the fact is, if you only do something for the money, you won't do it really well. Thanks for showing us what Doing it right really looks like

[@n13cougars]

I'm here for the shorts, true confidence my friend Salute.

[@HnyRse]

Super Insightful for someone looking to enter tha business, thanks for the great content

[@TinMan445]

Loving these market farm spotlights

[@patriciaserdahl5577]

Awesome Sage Hill Farm tour 😊

[@johnhenderson6352]

❤organic farming, love it..❤from Australia

[@gangofgreenhorns2672]

Favorite videos have always been the farm tours.

[@rachellemazar7374]

This was so fun and I learned a lot. Thank you Kevin for this

[@patrickkirwan3353]

Really enjoyed that. Take my hat off to people like this and wish them all the best!

[@cdgggg]

So cool farm, lots of inspiration thank you 🦋

[@JoeBlack14]

Wow! what a yard.

[@laurafrey5244]

Impressive operation!

[@PeterSedesse]

I am not a purest, but if you are going to caplock NO fossil fuels, you might want to edit out where he said he used a tractor, used a propane heater and had a gas quad.

[@Migh7yb00sh]

lol ikr, not even 3 min in they say no fossil fuels. And then show a dude unloading stuff from a trailer pulled by a quad… I don’t really care, but that seems like you’re intentionally misleading

[@lionsdenblades3247]

I think he meant they don’t use fossil fuels for tilling and planting. I dunno. But I did notice the quad and chuckled a bit. 😂

[@Couffee]

ELECTROLYTES….. ITS WHAT PLANTS NEED!!!

[@edwinmartin4527]

Nah nah they were all electric vehicles charged off solar panels on site, ignore the exhaust pipes

[@shadyacrefarm1005]

What was the sweet cherry tomato they were talking about? I couldn’t quite hear the pronunciation mulitaro?

[@TheDebbiesaelee]

This guy is awesome and has so much knowledge. Thank you for sharing it with us.

[@apsilveiraa]

Really interesting, tks and congrats! 🙌

[@edmedina2588]

How does the pollination take place with the plants in the high tunnel?

[@rosemarywilliams1052]

Thank you Kevin for keeping us informed. ❤

[@lindasoaft9303]

Thank you for bringing us another alternative to the grocery store 😀

[@tammyeusay3470]

I believe that 4 wheeler uses fossil fuel and the plastics on the high tunnels were made by way of fossil fuel as well. Title of this video is very misleading

[@thefamilywhite2149]

Loving how many permaculture ideas are incorporated into this.

[@shannonsullivan9792]

Would really enjoy some video of the terrace's being built if there was any

[@dudeusmaximus6793]

We aren't fuel free, but we do alot by hand. Got a Valley Oak Tool wheel hoe with all the attachments, it's faster and more efficient than a tiller. Broadfork alot too. I love the critics who saying this isn't 'fossil fuel' free. Nothing is unless you want to make things out of sticks and rocks. Worst part is most of them are probably townies who live the suburbanite lifestyle but think they're the 'fossil fuel' Spanish Inquisition.

[@h.sinclair]

amazing video documentary I learned so much how these guys do this! thanks Epic! 🔥

[@AIRPORT-mc2ys]

SO WHAT IS ALL THE PLASTIC / MESH made from = OIL. WHAT CULTIVATES YOUR SOIL to a fine tilth ?? petrol rotovator?? what do you cut wood with?? chainsaw?? did someone mention QUAD BIKE?????