https://www.econtalk.org/lisa-turner-on-organic-farming/

On the the day and the life of work at her organic farm, Laughing Stock Farm, USDA policies that affect Turner's costs, and the life experience gained at working at a for-profit enterprise. You may listen to the podcast (1 hour) and/or read the transcript. Refer to the "audio highlights" in the link for the transcript.

1. What is a CSA? Describe how it works and how members are allocated produce.
2. Roberts asks, "Do you have trouble supplying those restaurants with what they want?" What is the "tacit agreement" between restaurants and Turner?
3. Turner explains that she uses "green manure crops" to help maintain soil diversity. How does the organic labelling process work? Why doesn't she spray and how does her process help curtail plant disease?
4. How does her product differ from a grocery chain?
5. After discussing "crises" on the farm and how she accommodates workers, they discuss her greenhouse and the use of a boiler to keep the crops warm over the winter months. This is part of the cost of doing business. What was the cause of the increase in prices of cooking oil? How does she keep her costs low?
6. Around minute 41:09, Roberts begins to discuss the government's impact on her business. Why does Turner take issue with the USDA, primarily with the NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service)?
7. Why doesn't Turner's farm qualify for crop insurance?
8. Russ and Turner agree that that there are "winners and losers" with some government policy. Turner begins describing "free" greenhouses offered by the government and advantages of land trusts. What is a land trust? How do land trust farmers benefit in ways that she does not?
9. Why does Turner consider this the "first real job" of some of her high school and college aged workers? How are they exposed to the idea of running a business for profit?
10. What are your two main takeaways from this podcast?