How Stay at Home Dad Sells Peppers for $900 a Pound from Fledgling Farm

John from www.growingyour... visits a lifegarden farm in Lakeland, Florida to share with you how a stay-at-home dad sells peppers he grows for $900 a pound as well as grow many other specialty crops to teach his kids about real food and make a living being a father to his kids.
In this episode, you will learn more about some of the specialty crops that are grown in South Florida successfully on a small farm. You will discover a handful of crops that are easy to grow in the Tampa, Florida area.
You will discover some of the amazing resources that exist on this fledgling farm, and how the farmer has tons of potential that is not yet tapped.
You will learn about how this aquaculture farm is now being used to grow fruits and vegetables and how some of the existing infrastructure is being used to grow pineapples, herbs, vegetables and more.
You will discover how value-added products allow this farmer to sell his peppers for $900 a pound by making pepper salts, pepper extracts and more.
Finally, John will interview the farmer Alex Ruesing, and learn more about this farm and why he started farming at home. You will discover how he manages to run this farm while being a stay-at-home dad. You will learn more about some of the specialty crops he grows and why.
After watching this episode you will learn more about how you can create value-added products to sell your peppers for $900 a pound, as well as some of the speciality crops that can easily grown in South Florida.
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[@joseluismontes8380]

I hope you get an update of his property. I'd love to see what's going on year 2 and 3 and on.

[@MIgardener]

So much potential there. I would stick to exotics, peppers, and tropical fruits. But like you mentioned upkeep and work. The problem I see is the case of biting off more than you can chew. If something reasonably takes 5-8 people, you can’t expect to do anything effectively being just 1 person.

[@SaturdaySoul]

Hey Luke, you stay on your own channel! 🤣

[@catherinegrace2366]

Wow Luke, did you not eat your greens that morning or something?

[@naythway2801]

@@SaturdaySoul ယ ဟ

[@TT-ns4yt]

I am applying for a cannabis craft grow license in Illinois!!! I am part of a team of urban farmers. Been watching you for a number of years. Thanks for expanding our knowledge and sharing.

[@catherinegrace2366]

Good for you! How is it going?

[@catherinegrace2366]

@Sherry Solumam degenerate? 😂 please. stop

[@chetpeterson7894]

A potential suggestion; pitcher plants. they don't have any food value, and they may be fairly slow growing, but you can divide them every year or so, they take care of mosquitoes and bugs, they thrive in bogs/swamps with minimal input, and they'd be perfect for some of the neglected ponds that he hasn't gotten around to working on yet, and you can sell them for decent money.

[@catherinegrace2366]

This guys garden is AMAZING! Wow! SUPER impressed! The dude is an overachiever. Would LOVE to see his place this year John.

[@treetops665]

Thank you, John. Alex's final comments were by far priceless... Much love and peace; Cheers! 💚🌱

[@DeadeyeJoe37]

Hey John, just an FYI on the salt thing. You actually can and should have a lot of salt. It's very important for a lot of processes in the body. However, salt intake should only be elevated if your potassium intake is high enough also. The problem in society is that people eat a lot of salt, but the potassium intake is poor since a lot of people don't eat nearly enough veggies & fruits that are high in potassium. If you have a lot of salt and low potassium, your blood pressure goes up and can lead to high blood pressure. There is a thing called the salt potassium balance. If your potassium is where it's supposed to be (4700 mg/day minimum), you can have a more than the recommended amount of salt (high mineral salt like pink or sea salt). I eat ~5000 mg of potassium a day from veggies and supplement with cream of tartar. I also take in about 2000-3000 mg of salt. Since I started with this, I feel much better - better energy, improved mood, etc. Dr. Berg has some good videos on this topic and there's a lot of research to be found on the internet.

[@catherinegrace2366]

I didn’t know that about the salt and potassium relationship. I eat a lot of salt and take potassium because of cramps. Makes sense now. Thank you

[@janamiles597]

Thank you for this Information

[@diannevaldez8670]

I don’t know Jon, you have thrown out some really good ideas out there. Almost any direction he goes will cost money, which we know is at a rare commodity for him right now. Where I am from there are young people that go from farm to farm and Alex would feed and house these young people and they work for the experience. There are solutions like this but he also has children to think about and protect. Best of luck alex

[@debhadden205]

Nice to see you in my stomping grounds, John. I can always count on you to help me figure out what to grow here in HOA land. I'm on our compliance board and one of the members is really starting to make a stink about people gardening outside of container gardening on the back patio. I'm fighting the battle for my neighbor's rights as we speak while the grocerie stores are being drained of their produce due to coronavirus panic. I have taken some of your suggestions the past couple years and my HOA has not noticed that I'm growing things that are edible and right in my front yard and things that grow well! I've gotten 50 pounds of varieties of sweet potatoes out of my front flower bed. Inspiring video! This is a good time with coronavirus disrupting our lives to get interested and inspired in growing our own food. I have six myrtle trees in the front yard that I have to prune each year. I bought a woodchipper and I just chip their prunings right there where I'm planting the sweet potatoes. It's been a very fulfilling activity. Thanks for your inspiring videos!

[@catherinegrace2366]

I love it. Good getting over on HOA. HOA’s are terrible in one respect but necessary in others. Necessary evil.

[@pamelanaylor6283]

Wow! watching this had me bouncing back & forth between excitement & exhaustion just thinking about this place! Checking Alex's fb page & his online store, it looks like he has things well under control. I think John was only showing the experimental & undeveloped areas, because he was dreaming of what he could would do with them (like I'm sure we all were!)

[@catherinegrace2366]

I’m super impressed with this guy. I would like help on my property but only on occasion. I like my time doing what I do outside.

[@mamtajaya3428]

Sure I love gardening and your place looks so good to plant anything and everything. I love it I wish I have a bigger yard to plant

[@DaveTheHillsideGardener]

You already have the water beds so why not grow lotus or other exotic flowers for ponds. People pay $$$ for those

[@swordfish00007]

Do they pay better for exotic flowers than Peppers?

[@deadfred821]

@@swordfish00007 🤔maybe not $900/lbs., but yeah... Thing is, you're selling the whole plant, not just the fruits they produce. So you'd be restarting from scratch with every plant as opposed to harvesting ten to fifteen products of the plant. 🤷🏾‍♂️Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other..

[@bryanst.martin7134]

There is a growing food shortage world wide even if our beloved media hasn't quite pointed that out. A side garden wouldn't be a crime though.

[@SueLall1008]

Amazing idea! People would love those for their ponds etc.,

[@zippyzipster6863]

Brilliant !! Thanks John, we absolutely love your channel👍🙏🏽😁

[@jesserogers748]

Amazing farm. The green house has so much potential

[@skorpio88]

Great father! Those kids are truly blessed to have him 👍

[@janamiles597]

Alot of good ideas, and edible plants I haven't heard of.

[@OGMizen]

Perfect pond plant nursery!

[@catherinegrace2366]

John, the dude can sell the pineapple plant for $20 a pop to growers. I can see a future in selling plant starts. Y’all were hyper critical of this guy and y’all shouldn’t have been. He’s doing an amazing job.

[@oahuphotographer]

Aloha, I see a gold mind! I think he just need a clean up, pot luck party. A little organization could make a difference! Cheers!

[@emmadalrymple4102]

Those pineapples growing were exciting! I have only ever seen a pineapple growing, once in my 55 years. The older gentleman had a few in a large pot, and the one plant actually had a baby fruit on it. Maybe I should put the word out to my neighbors...save me your fresh pineapple tops, lol! 🍍

[@catherinegrace2366]

Yes. Absolutely ask for pineapple tops.

[@Kinjo2008]

*Awesome video John and Alex's place is badass. Future goals*

[@JewelzUFO]

Hey man, I'm in lakeland too! Nice to see some local videos! I'm growing ghost and Chocolate bhutlah currently. Excited for the season 👍

[@elizabethmeyer9257]

This last summer we were excited to be able to have plants grow well. We used water tanks for animals. In the bottom we laid tiling tubes at least 6 in in diameter this man that the drainage hole at before in from the bottom.. that's creating 4 in of space for water to be stored at the bottom of the tank. We also added a vertical tube that would hold the garden hose. The vertical tube went from above the rim of the water tank to the bottom. Drill a couple of holes at the bottom of that tube to let the water out into the tile tubes. Draped landscape cloth over the top of the tiling tubes. We threw in sand first and then our choice of composting mulch mushroom mulch manure and peat moss.. we could always measure the depth of water in the bottom with a straight stick down the vertical tube. When it rained on the top any excess water would drain out the drain hole that was for in from the bottom . We had the best happy plants that we've ever had

[@FrankAndTinaOfficial]

Really enjoyed watching!🙂

[@tropicalseasponges8925]

Looks great Alex!

[@SuzNews]

John!! Roselle is all about the FRUIT!! You didn't even mention it?? Check out the Self Sufficient Me (Australian) gardening channel episode last year on Roselle. The fruit is so beautiful and nutritious, I bought the seeds (although I haven't planted them yet).

[@MathWebs]

42:15 is the highlight . Also, on the salt issue: its a necessary (for digestion, and cellular chemical and mobility processes) nutrient as mentioned, but today many get their necessary iodine from salt that was supplemented with it. Many products that contain salt as an additive , do not contain the iodized version of salt. A multivitamin is an option to get the RDA of iodine, or some types of seaplants such as seaweed or the processed powder. Too much iodine is toxic, so stick close to the RDA.

[@TeresaatHome]

How about planting moringa for dehidrating and turning it into powder? Would it grow in your area? Kiss from Zürich/Switzerland.

[@mjean190]

I'm a stay at home mom and fixing to start a garden getting land ready and wondering what to plant and when to plant

[@truthseekertree]

i agree, lotus or exotic plants. fishing bait such as crayfish or for restaurant. and coy for ponds and yards.

[@RareWolf81]

Hi John great videos sir,I recently saw a video of u & Josh talking about pest management using Dr.Bonner's Sal suds,is there an updated organic pest control mix? Any info is greatly appreciated

[@dwaynefrench4199]

If the pond are setup already you should try aquaponics system

[@tedharcovitz7607]

if he has so much infrastructure he doesn't have time to use, maybe he could rent it out in a time share type thing such as, You can use my space for one year and pay me nothing and i give you nothing except access and we will share the yeild 50/50 or even 25/75 with 25% going to the owner of the infrastructure area but now he has more stuff to bring to the farmers market at no cost to him! Because he is not paying the other grower means he will have no payroll to worry about.

[@fredshred5194]

All the those weeds, get a strimmer and cut them down. Gather the cuttings and put into one of the empty tanks, along with some soil and other things the worms need, and start a worm tank or two maybe 3. Then you can get worm castings to use on the garden or other plants and maybe a drainage system to get the worm lechings (sorry don't know the word I thinks its leching) well the blackish liquid produced by the worms. That is really good natural compost as we all know. Maybe also a few tanks for plants that are used in tropical fish tanks. Need good Ph balance around 6(check up though) I think. Those plants in tropical fish tanks are not cheap. Probably a bigger money earner than many plants grown to sell at your local market. Great vids I enjoy them. I work for a commercial garden in Herault France, we use no pesticides and are more or less Bio.

[@jesserogers2025]

Wow what an amazing property. Those troughs are awesome. I would set it all up for Aquaponics and grow out a DWC system with water Crest plants such as Pak Choi, leeks, lettuce, swiss chard

[@pamelanaylor6283]

Zone 9b limits the months that lettuce & cruciferous vegetables can grow ... so many things bolt here in Florida ... but using them in rotation with the seasons would work

[@EddieChew75]

wish i was close by id come over every other day to help him out but being in jersey doesnt help i love to do yard work and well mowing and gardening is my time for me as well

[@ontherocksinthesoilmichael6739]

Ground freeze dried sweet potatoes make a flavorful thickening agent for soups and sauces. I use it and it is or freeze dried and ground Jerusalem Artichokes as thickener for sauces that I don't want added sweetness. Much healthier and not GMO or pesticide riddled like corn starch.

[@colinmacdonald8738]

John u r amazing. dont usually watch long videos. too bad for me as this video with alex was amazing. im the 79yr old first time gardener and you know aside from the 100s of hours watching u and all the PROS. other than family and SUPERDAVE who helps out a couple of hours here on CMACSHACKEDIBELGARDENS BUT IM GRATEFUL FOR YOUR WISDOM AND GENTLE GUIDANCE. youve helped me make fewer errors in judgement. so i invited a friend for a garden tour and harvest of vegetables and edible flowers and we walked around the trails and i took her home. i hit a nerve as she was so grateful that i discovered a passion at the beginning of Covid19. incidently John i only use daily watering and a drip system also mineral dust to start and flower so far so good. i have other fertilizers available but have not used them so far. also ive used an asa spray occasionally. i’ve made many errors as a 79yr young newby gardener and if u love it you will never work a day in your life.

[@PaulBengtsson]

I could come and work for free on this guys property. Just let me use a piece of space for my own growings.

[@rebelstudio2493]

I have a pineapple plant from another pineapple. Last winter I made a makeshift green house for them with two saw horses and plastic but out of five only one survived so now I bring it inside for winter. I made a video on it. But I haven't put it up on my channel yet. But I have it up on rumble.com. It is a free to join you tube like platform. But if you get licensed then they will pay you .60 cents per ad that they insert into your videos.

[@bobbiwest6625]

Robbie and Gary videos have lots grow in s.calif. He has ponds,fish, plants. Might be good ideas.

[@mamtajaya3428]

You can make jelly with rosella flowers or you can make chutney as well and sell it. The leaves I cook it with salt and pepper chili and it’s good to eat , sour spinach

[@donneone]

I love the tart lemony taste of fresh Roselle calyx or flowers. I just can't find them in stores or farmers markets here. I remember picking them in my grandmothers garden when I was little. The local Mexican markets near me sell dried Jamaica flowers that people use for tea. I buy those for a very reasonable low price and rinse them a couple times to get the dusty dirt off. Then I'll steep them in boiling water. Let it cool and strain it. The liquid I keep in the fridge to have a delicious refreshing tart juice on hand any time. The rehydrated flowers I'll keep in another container in the fridge and eat like a fruit snack. It's not exactly the same taste or texture as fresh ones, but it's close enough for me. John said the Roselle leaves have a tart lemony taste. Maybe this farmer could try making it into a powder and mix it with your dried pepper powder for a non sodium flavor enhancer? I stay away from any added sodium products since my dad was diagnosed with high blood pressure and I think most seniors do also. That could be one of your new target markets. Best wishes to you and your farmer friend!

[@watcher9997]

Roselle is used to make Hibiscus tea which lowers blood pressure.

[@candacemitchell583]

You should do hydroponic lettuce farm...microgreens ....and salad mix...and powdered tinctures

[@kendramalczyk2613]

You’re awesome, John! One man show 😃. Love ❤️ your videos! You’re so inspiring. I have 9.5 acres in the Pacific Northwest. I’m thinking about what I could do here. 🤔 I homeschooled my children all the way through to college and my oldest did get a Master of Divinity. CLEP tests are great and a fraction of the cost and time. My oldest received 84 credits studying from home. My other two so far have 54 and 60 college credits. It’s all self study. Maybe he can do moringa, earthworms?

[@woodyahh2110]

Grow allot of pot

[@kendramalczyk2613]

Cori MacNaughton Thank you for such a thoughtful answer. Those are great ideas! ♥️🤗Wishing you well moving your canes. 😃

[@kendramalczyk2613]

woody ahh That’s big here 😁!

[@jksatte]

That seems just right for crayfish, the big ones. I would love a follow up to see how things have progressed.

[@mamtajaya3428]

You can do lots of taro in your empty tubs. They love lots of water.

[@brianhebert347]

Nice video John. Scaling up comes with consequences. Ask yourself, can I do it by myself, and perhaps how big do I want my farm to grow? Then find someone with the same energy to help you.

[@blackjackhogs8773]

I used to live in Oklahoma City all the Mexican restaurants used to buy Peppers off of me and I miss doing that

[@66bigbuds]

That one hoop house with the concrete tanks could pay for the whole place. Live Bait is a big business there in Florida. As is hydroponics. We tried growing pineapples there in Lakeland. They didn't get very large.

[@yibuseato]

PLEASE do a video on your thoughts about Coronavirus COVID-19. As a raw food lifestyler as well I really value your opinion. What do you do to keep your immune system up etc. thanks! Love your content!!! ☺️👍☮️💜🌎

[@ameisherry]

Plant some trees 🌳 then can provide fruits also shades for the pepper to grow underneath

[@windyloom2267]

I would grow elderberries along the fence and make tinctures

[@vianka5549]

Omg, we get it. Not every garden is beautiful. It doesnt have to be beautiful to bear fruits of your labor. Im a beginner too. No one can look down on starting from the beginning.

[@purbious1030]

Great video, I got ppl in Lakeland, beautiful area.kinda like out here in loxahatchee fl

[@badukp1792]

I think goats would help with the weeds, plus they fertilize!

[@tigglebiddys]

he could mono culture some kind of easy growing herbs and at least be able to start pulling income. Basil comes to mind as I believe it does well in hydroponics. sell it online in a dried herb form.

[@nogoogle6349]

Another good video 👏

[@KingArtexerxes]

If black pepper isn’t absorbed into the body, then why are we told to eat black pepper with turmeric to help make the turmeric more useful in the body?

[@DelaneyStudios]

sure taste good hunh! lol

[@marianamunoz6075]

John, come to my house in Chicago and help me build a farm!? In my teeny, tiny backyard! Okay, not a farm but a nice garden or mini food forest. I'll take the your advice I can get! :) Thanks for the video. I'd love to do something like this.

[@janetpowell9811]

I would like to purchase his pepper. It that possible? I also live in Florida. I am on the other side. Can I get his information for purchasing the peppers ? Thank you

[@Calvin2030]

Love the live off the land concept man👌🏽

[@bobgreen1272]

Cardboard has glues in them!!

[@candacemitchell583]

concentrate on 3 or 4 vaule added economic products

[@fishhooks100]

Fda's never gonna verify anything non big pharma. Kool place! Enjoyed the tour!

[@aaabeverages7152]

Nostradomos was a Dr. and used hibiscus and Rose petals to help during the pandemics.Malvaceae - mallows, mauves Genus Hibiscus L. - rosemallow

[@thomasreto2997]

A few goats with a rotational grazing to keep eeeds under control. Maybe experiment with dragon fruit in the green houses. Florida=bugs=duckfood=good fatty baking eggs maybe. Like the space rental idea until things get established. Wish the best

[@bryanst.martin7134]

I have a question for you, as my goal is an Aquaponic system, do you have a recommendation of how to apply rock minerals for the plants? If they are growing in rock wool or foam could you dust the bases? Would it harm the fish? I enjoy your channel, and your tireless enthusiasm.

[@arnetrahughes2277]

Please understand there is a HUGE Caribbean community in Florida so take take the sorrel to the farmer's market.

[@gomermartinez9874]

He can call the university and ask for help they can use his land for agriculture classes

[@chrisklest1238]

With your time in Florida, have you ever unexpectedly walked up on a gater?

[@Jar0fMay0]

I didn't know you can eat the leaves from roselle. I would grow it and make jams or tea from the flowers.

[@sheilafade2016]

Yep, needs an entrance

[@magnolya8]

Isn't it possible he doesn't see "weeds" as weeds? Dandelions are medicinal workhorses 🍃

[@woodymoto2326]

Most definitely. Drink home grown dandelion root and leaf tea every day. Excellent for fighting and preventing viral illnesses....among other benefits.

[@runnerrn2247]

That’s incorrect info about black pepper. Black pepper is needed for the absorption of other compounds specifically curcumin.

[@kevinsabharwal1822]

A few 🐐 will take care of those weeds. Eco friendly too

[@woodymoto2326]

Bloomberg tells us farmers lack gray matter and it doesn't take much gray matter to grow food. He says all you need is to drop seed into a hole and cover it with dirt and wait for it to grow. Looks like this farmer has utilized more gray matter (using organic matter) than Nanny Boy Bloomberg ever will.

[@lawrencecole6527]

Wooo love your stuff!!

[@keithknie9748]

You can use River stones goats 1 substances squashed no soil.

[@saswk1]

I would do some research on raising Basa fish.

[@KevinbelUAPBelgium]

Have you grown carolina reapers ?

[@susanwurtz4344]

Would built a hydrophobic system with veggie greens and herbs u have the fish quarries and the hoop house that’s what I would do

[@pelerocks]

Watercress is what i would look at. had a friend on big island that had 12 2ft by 60ft trays and was selling to local store. looks like the tanks and trays are there. have address for aquaponics company

[@ceaserelizondo]

Dude it cost money bro you make it sound so easy just to get stuff I believe he's doing the best he can and taking care of his kids. You need to give him a good donation and help him out as well I know you have money bro don't think about it just do it. Have a great day.

[@ameisherry]

I saw someone grow jujube papaya and coconut 🥥 tree 🌳 in their backyard in Florida

[@mamtajaya3428]

Also planting bananas doesn’t take lots of work

[@jjw5165]

Two hot for Wasabi need cold mountain water

[@eastcoastnews9529]

Tampa here but everything burns what gives

[@bobgreen1272]

Check with "3 Boys Farm" !! They are in your area

[@ronwitek4539]

John I've been watching you for years j just now subscribed ..sorry man lol

[@windyloom2267]

Raise redworms

[@diannevaldez8670]

P.S. I’m one of those people who has a little food with my pepper so for me that might have something to do with having two different shakers/grinder :)

[@ameisherry]

That’s very smart, he can totally sell those pineapple 🍍 as house plants 🌱 I can never start a pineapple 🍍 even in that condition because the temperature is not allow for me here

[@michellemelancon2461]

Man if only I lived close, like would have many tubes filled.

[@altha-rf1et]

who would pay $900 a pound for that little pepper shake?? would like to see some receipts or something

[@sooooooooDark]

>black pepper doesnt absorb piperine: am i a joke to u? curcumin meanwhile: 😭liver stop hating me

[@adamstimer2421]

Do you know BibleFlockBox?.

[@valeriesanchez3074]

I'll finish when i have an hour to kill. Lol

[@ROgletree]

Why would anyone pay $900 for a pound of peppers?