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The Business of Sustainable Farming

June 28, 2016 by Sheree Martin

The Business of Farming with Matthew & Jesie Lawrence of Marble Creek Farmstead on Episode 19 of the Ignite Alabama podcast

The business side of sustainable farming is the focus of episode 19 of the Ignite Alabama podcast. My guests are Matthew & Jesie Lawrence, owners of Marble Creek Farmstead and owners of a majority interest in the new USDA-certified Pell City Processing at The Trading Post.

We don’t talk about it in the episode but Matthew & Jesie have put together a campaign on IndieGogo to help raise funds for their Pell City Processing facility. Help them out if you can–we need this facility in Alabama. Campaign runs through July.

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Marble Creek Farmstead is a sustainable farming operation in Talladega County producing pastured poultry, pork, turkey, beef, goats and rabbits along with a variety of produce and other specialty meats.

One of the biggest challenges for small Alabama poultry producers who are working to meet the intense demand for pastured poultry has been the lack of a USDA-certified poultry processing facility in the state (and limited availability or other meat processing facilities for smaller producers of beef, pork or other meats).

Matthew Lawrence has an undergraduate degree in finance and an MBA . His wife Jesie has a business degree in marketing. Together, they work as a team to operate their farm and processing facility as a business, while also continuing to preserve the purpose and mission of the farm. Profitability is a requirement of sustainability, but their vision is one of stewardship as well as financial success.

To grow their business, they needed a better option for poultry processing. They saw a need AND a business opportunity to bring USDA-certified poultry processing to Alabama and started working earlier this year to solve that problem.

In this episode, Matthew & Jesie give some details about how they make it all work.

Alabama Now Has a USDA-Certified Poultry Processing Facility

In April, Matthew and Jesie opened Pell City Processing at The Trading Post. Matthew and Jesie own a majority interest in this venture.

Alabama farmers no longer need to travel all the way to Kentucky to process poultry in a certified facility. Previously, small producers had the option to process on-farm using a USDA exemption for on-farm processing. Processing using the on-farm exemption limited market opportunities and came with some confusion about how the exemption worked (as well as some additional liabilities and risks).

To learn more about processing options at Pell City Processing you can:

  • Visit https://marblecreekfarmstead.com/processing-plant/
    • A website is in the works for Pell City Processing at The Trading Post
  • Email: PellCityProcessing@gmail.com
  • Call: Matthew Lawrence at 205-936-6120

Matthew & Jesie take a wholistic approach to farming and problem-solving or prevention on the farm. They use a systems approach, to achieve synergies that result from a complex natural ecosystem working as it is designed to work.

Rather than seeking to simplify, Marble Creek Farmstead is about embracing complexity and letting nature do a lot of the work, which builds resiliency into the business model.

Matthew & Jesie run their businesses to be:

  • Profitable
  • Sustainable
  • Transparent
  • Collaborative

These are values that are near-and-dear to my own heart.

Matthew & Jesie Lawrence of Marble Creek Farmstead on Episode 19 of Ignite Alabama Podcast talking about the business of sustainable farming and bringing USDA-certified poultry processing to Alabama

Sustainable Agriculture Can  Transform Alabama’s Rural Economies

I’m a big believer in the power of sustainable agriculture to be a force in the economic transformation of rural communities and small towns all across Alabama. Farming itself can provide an income for farm families and can have a multiplier effect when economies start to flourish.

Learn more in episode 40 of Birmingham Shines, where I talk to several farmers who sell at the East Lake Market in Birmingham.

I hope you’ll join me in spreading the word about how important it is to support entrepreneurs who are working in the farming, value-added food sectors, and related fields.

This episode includes about 75-80% of my interview with Matthew and Jesie. I edited out a few segments that are very farming focused.

If you want to hear the entire episode, I’m releasing the full conversation as episode 24 of the Shine Springs Farm Shinecast, also available on iTunes and as soon as the extended version is available I’ll include a link here for where to find the downloadable version and show notes.

The Business of Farming with Matthew & Jesie Lawrence of Marble Creek Farmstead on Episode 19 of the Ignite Alabama podcast

Filed Under: Entrepreneurs, Ignite Alabama Podcast Tagged With: Green Technology, Purpose Vision Strategy Tactics, State and Local Policy

REV Birmingham’s Big Pitch Competition

September 2, 2015 by Sheree Martin

REV Birmingham Big Pitch competition explained on bonus episode of Ignite Alabama podcast

REV Birmingham's Big Pitch Event is feature of bonus episode of Ignite Alabama podcast

 

In this bonus episode of the Ignite Alabama podcast, Deon Gordon & Nichol Welty of REV Birmingham deliver the when, what and how to submit your business idea to the 2015 Big Pitch Competition.

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PNC has put up $25,000 in prize money for this year’s event.

The deadline for applications is currently set for September 4, 2015.

A panel of judges will select 10 finalists who will receive intensive mentoring and business guidance and then deliver their pitches, Shark Tank style, in November.

Since REV Birmingham’s mission is to revitalize areas of Birmingham’s urban core, the ideal business is one that will add to the neighborhood vibe and generate street traffic. So, if you’re a maker or creative with a business that generates foot traffic this is a competition you should look into.

Find out more at http://revbirmingham.org

Released Episode
11  Jun  2017 Book-it Legal: A Marketplace for Lawyers and Law Students Download
26  Mar  2017 Futureproof Bama: Preparing Alabama For AI and Automation Download
28  Jun  2016 The Business of Sustainable Farming with Matthew & Jesie Lawrence of Marble Creek Farmstead Download
16  Jun  2016 Birmingham Venture Club Spark Match Pitch Event Download
01  May  2016 Vulcan Security Systems Download
29  Sep  2015 Patent Law Basics with George Kobler Download
15  Sep  2015 14 Takeaways for Relating to VCs & Angel Investors Download
08  Sep  2015 RocketHatch - Huntsville's Creative, Startup Community Download
02  Sep  2015 REV Birmingham's Big Pitch Competition Download
01  Sep  2015 Innovative Manufacturing - To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. 2015 Recipient Download
25  Aug  2015 Alabama 49th in Kauffman Index of Startup Activity Download
18  Aug  2015 Alabama Launchpad with Greg Sheek, director of Launchpad Programs Download
11  Aug  2015 MediaBit by BDI Labs: Tony Megna, Founder Download
08  Aug  2015 Fear of Failure in Entrepreneurship Download
28  Jul  2015 3D Printing with Dr. Kenneth Sloan, professor of computer science at UAB Download
21  Jul  2015 SimplyProse - Online Writing Platform Download
14  Jul  2015 The Ark Labs - Combining Smart Devices and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Water Usage Efficiency and Reduce Damage Claims & Loss Download
13  Jul  2015 MotionMobs - App Development & Consulting Firm with Focus on Mobile Download
07  Jul  2015 Jennifer Skjellum: Entrepreneur, Tech Birmingham & More Download
06  Jul  2015 Soluble Therapeutics, Inc. - BioTech to Speed Pharma R&D Download
02  Jul  2015 Kyle Sandler, Founder & Conductor of The Round House in Opelika, Alabama Download
02  Jul  2015 Why Ignite Alabama? Download

REV Birmingham Big Pitch competition explained on bonus episode of Ignite Alabama podcast

 

Filed Under: Events, Resources Tagged With: Angel Investors Management Group, Birmingham Events, Pitch Competitions, Regional Events, State and Local Policy

Innovative Manufacturing – To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co.

September 1, 2015 by Sheree Martin

Peggy Sutton, founder of To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co., is the guest on episode 12 of the Ignite Alabama podcast

Peggy Sutton, founder of To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co., is the guest on episode 12 of the Ignite Alabama podcast. The company is the 2015 recipient of Outstanding Achievement in Innovative Manufacturing

To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company in Fitzpatrick Alabama is the recipient of the Alabama Launchpad 2015 award for Outstanding Achievement in Innovative Manufacturing.

To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. Product Packages

These awards will be presented at Alabama Launchpad’s annual Innovation event, September 2 in Birmingham.

Today’s guest is Peggy Sutton, who co-founded To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company with her husband and they’ve grown the business from a kitchen startup to a major economic force in Bullock County, with more than 30 employees.

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  • Innovative Manufacturing – To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co.
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Founder Peggy Sutton shares her entrepreneurial journey with To Your Health Sprouted Flour Company, how the company has grown, and how its product line fits into the rapidly growing global market for real food.

I’m a big proponent of eating real food and believe that real food–like organic sprouted grains–is a linchpin in solving two major problems in Alabama: Chronic disease and also rural economic development.

Thanks to the willing support of her co-founder husband, Peggy’s company is now sprouting 10,000 pounds of grains and legumes each day and serves a global market.

You can purchase To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. products through the company’s website.

Peggy Sutton, founder of To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co., is the guest on episode 12 of the Ignite Alabama podcast

This interview will also be published on the Shine Springs Farm Shinecast and the Discover Grow Shinecast. If you want to learn more about how to prepare real food and real food fits into a healthy, happy life I hope you’ll check out my latest podcast, the Discover Grow Shinecast, and my soon-to-be-released ebook, 7 Days of real Food.

 

Released Episode
11  Jun  2017 Book-it Legal: A Marketplace for Lawyers and Law Students Download
26  Mar  2017 Futureproof Bama: Preparing Alabama For AI and Automation Download
28  Jun  2016 The Business of Sustainable Farming with Matthew & Jesie Lawrence of Marble Creek Farmstead Download
16  Jun  2016 Birmingham Venture Club Spark Match Pitch Event Download
01  May  2016 Vulcan Security Systems Download
29  Sep  2015 Patent Law Basics with George Kobler Download
15  Sep  2015 14 Takeaways for Relating to VCs & Angel Investors Download
08  Sep  2015 RocketHatch - Huntsville's Creative, Startup Community Download
02  Sep  2015 REV Birmingham's Big Pitch Competition Download
01  Sep  2015 Innovative Manufacturing - To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. 2015 Recipient Download
25  Aug  2015 Alabama 49th in Kauffman Index of Startup Activity Download
18  Aug  2015 Alabama Launchpad with Greg Sheek, director of Launchpad Programs Download
11  Aug  2015 MediaBit by BDI Labs: Tony Megna, Founder Download
08  Aug  2015 Fear of Failure in Entrepreneurship Download
28  Jul  2015 3D Printing with Dr. Kenneth Sloan, professor of computer science at UAB Download
21  Jul  2015 SimplyProse - Online Writing Platform Download
14  Jul  2015 The Ark Labs - Combining Smart Devices and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Water Usage Efficiency and Reduce Damage Claims & Loss Download
13  Jul  2015 MotionMobs - App Development & Consulting Firm with Focus on Mobile Download
07  Jul  2015 Jennifer Skjellum: Entrepreneur, Tech Birmingham & More Download
06  Jul  2015 Soluble Therapeutics, Inc. - BioTech to Speed Pharma R&D Download
02  Jul  2015 Kyle Sandler, Founder & Conductor of The Round House in Opelika, Alabama Download
02  Jul  2015 Why Ignite Alabama? Download

Filed Under: Entrepreneurs, Ignite Alabama Podcast Tagged With: Alabama Launchpad, Green Technology, Healthcare, Rural Economic Development, State and Local Policy

Alabama 49th in Kauffman Index of Startup Activity

August 25, 2015 by Sheree Martin

Episode 11 of the Ignite Alabama podcast features a conversation with E. J. Reedy of The Kauffman Foundation who explains the methodology and trends reflected in the 2015 Kauffman Index of Startup Activity

Episode 11 of the Ignite Alabama podcast features a conversation with E. J. Reedy of The Kauffman Foundation who explains the methodology and trends reflected in the 2015 Kauffman Index of Startup Activity

E. J. Reedy of the Kauffman Foundation is the guest to talk about the 2015 Kauffman Index of Startup Activity. We cover the Index methodology and look at some of the characteristics of Alabama’s dismal 49th place ranking.

You can read and download the complete Kauffmann Foundation Startup Index reports here.

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  • Alabama 49th in Kauffman Index of Startup Activity
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Kauffman Foundation graphic showing startup activity across the states, from 2015 Kauffman Index on Startup Activity

We also talk about national trends in entrepreneurship over the past 35-40 years, where Alabama falls in the longitudinal look, and what types of economic development policies might hamper or enhance the climate for entrepreneurship.

011-IgniteAL-Kauffman-ID3

Released Episode
11  Jun  2017 Book-it Legal: A Marketplace for Lawyers and Law Students Download
26  Mar  2017 Futureproof Bama: Preparing Alabama For AI and Automation Download
28  Jun  2016 The Business of Sustainable Farming with Matthew & Jesie Lawrence of Marble Creek Farmstead Download
16  Jun  2016 Birmingham Venture Club Spark Match Pitch Event Download
01  May  2016 Vulcan Security Systems Download
29  Sep  2015 Patent Law Basics with George Kobler Download
15  Sep  2015 14 Takeaways for Relating to VCs & Angel Investors Download
08  Sep  2015 RocketHatch - Huntsville's Creative, Startup Community Download
02  Sep  2015 REV Birmingham's Big Pitch Competition Download
01  Sep  2015 Innovative Manufacturing - To Your Health Sprouted Flour Co. 2015 Recipient Download
25  Aug  2015 Alabama 49th in Kauffman Index of Startup Activity Download
18  Aug  2015 Alabama Launchpad with Greg Sheek, director of Launchpad Programs Download
11  Aug  2015 MediaBit by BDI Labs: Tony Megna, Founder Download
08  Aug  2015 Fear of Failure in Entrepreneurship Download
28  Jul  2015 3D Printing with Dr. Kenneth Sloan, professor of computer science at UAB Download
21  Jul  2015 SimplyProse - Online Writing Platform Download
14  Jul  2015 The Ark Labs - Combining Smart Devices and Artificial Intelligence to Improve Water Usage Efficiency and Reduce Damage Claims & Loss Download
13  Jul  2015 MotionMobs - App Development & Consulting Firm with Focus on Mobile Download
07  Jul  2015 Jennifer Skjellum: Entrepreneur, Tech Birmingham & More Download
06  Jul  2015 Soluble Therapeutics, Inc. - BioTech to Speed Pharma R&D Download
02  Jul  2015 Kyle Sandler, Founder & Conductor of The Round House in Opelika, Alabama Download
02  Jul  2015 Why Ignite Alabama? Download

Filed Under: Ignite Alabama Podcast, Resources Tagged With: Kauffman Index of Startup Activity, State and Local Policy

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