We come across a lot of people who feel that they don't have the skills or experience to work in the food world. But our mantra is that you don't have to work WITH food to work IN food, and you likely have plenty of expertise that can elevate the small sustainable businesses dotting the landscape. Don't trade in your Photoshop, Quickbooks, coding (or other fill-in-the-blank skills) just yet. Simon is a shining example. He started Small Farm Central, a website devoted to helping farmers create a beautiful, functional online presence - something that often falls by the wayside in an occupation that devotes so much physical and mental energy to other priorities. The best part is that Simon found a way to do it systematically, so it's both fast and affordable. And as anyone who has ever created a website for his or her business knows, those are truly vital issues.
What attracted you to a good food job?
Small Farm Central is an extension of my time helping a fruit farmer in western Colorado start a vegetable CSA. I got interested in agriculture because it ties together environment, food, sustainable business, health, land use, etc into a very concrete activity of growing food. It is one of the industries where, instead of talking about all those issues abstractly, we work on them actively.
As a person with an entrepreneurial mind-set, I've always been interested in the economic sustainability of the small farm. Small Farm Central takes concrete steps to make life and marketing a little easier for small farmers so they can continue to work their farms. Once folks can start to see a successful business model coming out of the small farm, there will be a lot more small farms out there. I think that is good for everyone.
How did you get your current good food job?
Within the sustainable agriculture community a lot of the "jobs" just don't exist yet and you just have to go out there and create your own job as an entrepreneur. I saw a gaping hole in the services that were out there for farmers and web marketing and created Small Farm Central to put together the pieces.
How did your previous work or life experience prepare you for a good food job?
I grew up on a small farm in southwestern Pennsylvania, albeit a farm that was never the primary source of family income, so I think that background combined with working a CSA on the ground level was perfect preparation for Small Farm Central.
What advice do you have for others in search of a good food job?
The job that you want may not be there yet; you may have to create it yourself!
If you could be compensated for your work with something other than money, what would it be?
Food is always a priority for me ? I'm happy to spend extra money or extra time to get the highest quality food or best experience with eating. So if I didn't have money as compensation, my customers could make me very happy by feeding me and my family!
