Meet Jamie Nadler

We recently connected with Jamie Nadler and have shared our conversation below.

Jamie , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

As a farmer, I have the opportunity and responsibility to work with plants all day. My resiliency comes from them. Truly, every metaphor you can think of about resilience or perseverance can root back to plants, for example, ‘plant a seed’ or ‘ stay grounded.’ This is no accident; plants have the capacity to be teachers.

For example, plants are incredibly patient. They take their time to grow, and I must consistently care for them. The work I put in at one point in the season will take time to yield the results.

Plants persevere. I have seen dangerous winds, crazy rainfall, and extended droughts that forced me inside. Plants do not have the choice but to endure the storm. They demonstrate unbelievable strength and techniques for survival.

I know these examples can be very physical in nature, but plants demonstrate emotional and mental resiliency, too. I work with the plants, but the plants work on me in return. The connection to them through my work reminds me of the strength I have inside of me. They help me stay creative, adaptable, and mindful. These skills all carry over to running a business by pushing through challenges, having patience with myself and others, and staying grounded in the present moment.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I run a small, diversified vegetable farm with my chef partner. In addition to growing and selling produce at the farmers market, to local restaurants and to food access programs, we also host farm-to-table workshops and dinners, which we call ‘shindigs’ on and off our farm. These events are full-on celebrations where we bring people together in community to celebrate farms and food! We love to work with and highlight other farms, food businesses, artists, musicians, and creators at our shindigs!

Dancing Greens is entering its third season in 2025. This season we hope to further expand our food access work. We work with non-profits and food pantries to reach people directly needing fresh local vegetables. Additionally, we have launched a garden design branch of the business to aid others in growing their own food. This year will also be the start of a search for a larger plot of land to expand Dancing Greens in even more ways!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three skills that have impacted my journey are observation, listening, and communication.

Observation comes from farming experience and constantly paying attention to what is happening in the field. Is there any pest damage? Do tomatoes need more support? Is there a nutritional deficiency in the soil? The skill of observation makes me a better farmer. It also improves other parts of my life.

Another crucial skill is listening. For me, listening really means actively paying attention. By treating listening as a skill I am constantly developing, I find that I am always learning and improving by soaking up new information. Listening makes me a better communicator and partner.

Lastly, communication is a super important skill. When working with others, especially in a fast-paced setting like farming and events, clear communication is vital for success. I find that being direct and deliberate improves the efficiency and efficacy of our work.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My business partner, Madison, has also been my role model. Through our partnership, she has empowered me to do much more than I ever thought I could. Madison is an operations and organizational queen. She has passed on many valuable skills to help me stay organized and work efficiently. Madison is an unbelievably positive and enthusiastic person who helps maintain positive energy. Moreover, Madison has given me incredibly valuable feedback, and we have worked through communication skills together, helping us form a stronger partnership.

Aligning yourself with the right people is vital for success and development. I am so grateful for having Madison by my side.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dancing-greens.com/
• Instagram: dancinggreensfarm
• Facebook: dancinggreensfarm
• Linkedin: dancinggreensfarm

Image Credits

Elizabeth Kreppel, Lawrence Braun, Galina Askelrod-Golikova