Growing Without Irrigation or Plastic with Jeff Poppen Ep. 122

In this episode of the Acres U.S.A. Podcast, Taylor sits down with longtime organic and biodynamic farmer Jeff Poppen to get practical about how he has built a resilient vegetable-growing system over decades.

Jeff shares how healthy soil structure, generous applications of compost, cover crops, mineral management, careful crop rotation, and well-timed tillage allow him to conserve moisture and grow vegetables without irrigation. He explains his “dust mulch” approach to reducing evaporation, why he believes farmers should let microbes do as much of the tillage as possible, and the mistakes he made along the way—including over-tilling and failing to properly manage soil fertility.

The conversation also explores Jeff’s philosophy of farming without plastic, from using old-fashioned cold frames instead of hoop houses to relying on seasonal production and helping customers preserve large quantities of food. He walks through a four-year vegetable rotation and explains why patience, observation, and building soil before planting can ultimately make farming easier and more productive.

A practical conversation packed with decades of hard-earned lessons on soil, water conservation, crop rotation, livestock integration, and farming in harmony with the land.

Thank you to our Sponsors of Today’s Episode:

Azure Standard: https://www.azurestandard.com/

American Farmland Trust: https://farmland.org/

Important Links from Today’s Episode:

Members site: https://members.acresusa.com

Acres U.S.A. Memberships: https://eco-farming.com/

Eco-Ag 2026 Tickets: https://www.conference.acresusa.com/

Eco-Ag 2026 Exhibitor Information: https://conference.eco-ag.com/booth-selection-page-page

Jeff’s Books: https://bookstore.acresusa.com/search?q=jeff+poppen

Jeff’s Website: https://barefootfarmer.com/