Kenneth Lindsey
Summary
Agricultural professional with 15 years of experience , including classroom and on-farm training, starting multiple agriculture projects from small gardens to 20 acres, and managing every task on a vegetable farm. Passionate about growing high quality produce and teaching others how to farm successfully. Proficient in many farming techniques including Certified Organic Production, regenerative no-till, CEA with hoop houses and indoor vertical, aquaculture, hydroponics, and permaculture.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Farm Owner/Manager of Operations
Ken's Farm LLC
Kauai, Hawaii - Beulah, MI
12.2009 - Current
- Managed all aspects of the farm from site preparation and design to sales of produce. This includes crop selection, soil testing and amending, planting, irrigating, harvesting, washing, packing and delivery.
- Managed all WWOOFERs, volunteers, and employees to complete weekly tasks on the farm. Recruitment and training of people with all levels of farming experience domestically and internationally.
- Marketed and sold crops to area restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers markets. Maintained quality control and used GAP to ensure food safety.
- Maintained and operated farm equipment such as tractors, tillers, mowers, small power equipment and hand tools. Changed implements on tractor and performed and kept maintenance schedules.
- Inventory and purchasing of all farm inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, soiless media, irrigation parts, and packing materials. Accounting of all sales and expenses and creating a budget and sales projections.
- Record keeping for NRCS grants, Organic Certification, and GAP
- Construction of all farm infrastructure including hoop houses, packing sheds, worker housing, and equipment and material storage.
Sustainable Farming Program Instructor
Kauai Community College
Kauai Hawaii
01.2010 - 06.2012
- Created syllabus material and gave lectures for 12-week Sustainable Farming and Training Program. Each week covered a different farming topic in chronological order of starting a farm. Each class had a lecture followed by hands-on activity in the field.
- Managed teaching garden on campus used in hands-on training portion of class. Prepared daily training activities based on days lecture. Coordinated activities of up to 30 students to maintain teaching gardens.
- Responsible for sales of produce from the teaching garden at the on-campus farmers market. Worked with students to harvest, wash, pack and sell produce.
- Helped create videos, appeared in promotional material and radio programs for recruitment and promotion of class.
- Co- instructor of Aquaponics program which taught students how to design, build, and maintain and aquaponics system
Research Associate
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc
Waimea, HI
10.2007 - 08.2009
- Grew corn plants in 4 30' x 100' hoop houses for seed research.
- Led and trained 4 person crew to manage operations consisting of filling pots, transplanting, irrigating, controlled pollination, harvesting, and shelling.
- Collected and compiled all seed data for departmental use and shared results with other departments to further total company research goals.
- Hired all positions for the department, led all staff meetings, gave department updates, and conducted employee performance reviews.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Plant Biology
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL05.2007
Skills
- Farm Operations Management
- Classroom and on-farm training
- Creation of syllabus material
- GAP certification
- Operating and maintaining farm equiptment
- Irrigation design and installation
- Hoop house production
- Soil nutrient management
- Integrated Pest Management
- Sales and marketing of agricultural products
Accomplishments
- Permaculture Design Certificate
- Aquaculture/Aquaponics course certificate
- Received grants from NRCS, USDA, and the Kohala Foundation
- Farm incubator program graduate
- Michigan Farm Co-op member/owner
Timeline
Sustainable Farming Program Instructor
Kauai Community College
01.2010 - 06.2012
Farm Owner/Manager of Operations
Ken's Farm LLC
12.2009 - Current
Research Associate
Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc
10.2007 - 08.2009
Bachelor of Arts - Plant Biology
Southern Illinois University Carbondale