The Lean Farm
Clay Bottom Farm, Goshen, Indiana
I'm Ben Hartman
I operate Clay Bottom Farm, a specialty crop farm in northern Indiana, with my wife Rachel Hershberger and two workers. I also train farmers in using the lean system on their farms, through on-farm training (Lean Farm Start-up), by speaking and keynoting at farm conferences, and through consultation. I'm the author of four books on lean farming, including The Lean Farm, winner of the prestigious Shingo Award, and most recently, The Lean Micro Farm. In 2017 I was appointed to the Grist 50, a list of emerging green leaders in the United States. At Clay Bottom Farm, we grow our food on a tightly managed 1/3-acre and sell all of our products within 1.5 miles of the farm.
Lean Farm Consulting
Are you looking to start up a small farm enterprise? Inquire here about consulting with Ben. Through site visits and Zoom calls, he will help you design greenhouse, wash stations, and other infrastructure, select tools that you need, choose suitable land, lay out site plans, and set up smart systems that will save you thousands of dollars down the road. He consults widely with non-profits, individuals, government entities, and businesses.
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Ben Hartman is that rare person who could describe the lean farming revolution and then provide proven practices.
Jim Womack, founder of the Lean Enterprise Insititute
Everyone strives for efficiency in vegetable farming, but Ben Hartman has actually achieved it.
Lynn Byszynski, author of Market Farming Success
The Lean Farm should be dissected, digested, and discussed on every single farm.
Joel Salatin, farmer and author of You Can Farm