Core Insight
One of the most meaningful lessons I have learned on the farm has very little to do with growing vegetables. It has everything to do with growing relationships.
Before many workdays, I spend a few minutes harvesting peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, or figs before heading to meetings. Those fruits and vegetables often travel with me and find their way into the hands of coworkers, customers, and friends.
What I have discovered is that I am not just sharing food. I am sharing a part of who I am. Bringing vegetables into a meeting communicates something about my values and passions that words alone could never fully express. It creates a human connection before the business conversation even begins.
Leadership is much the same. Small acts of generosity communicate care, build trust, and remind people that they matter. The gift itself may be simple, but it communicates a desire to have a human connection first.
Three Concrete Details to Notice
1. Harvesting before the workday changes my perspective
Instead of beginning the day focused only on my calendar and everything I need to accomplish, I begin by thinking about someone else. Who might appreciate a bag of peppers? Who enjoys fresh figs? Who could use a little encouragement?
A basket of vegetables becomes a reminder that leadership starts with serving others. Those few minutes of harvesting help frame the rest of my day around people rather than tasks.
2. The vegetables are valuable, but the conversations are priceless
Selling vegetables helps offset some of the costs of farming, although I am not sure it will ever pay for the greenhouse 🤣. The greater return comes from seeing someone’s appreciation for food that was thoughtfully grown and personally shared.
That appreciation often opens the door to a conversation that might never have happened otherwise. We talk about recipes, gardens, family traditions, or a memorable meal.
In these moments, the exchange becomes about much more than vegetables.
3. Food has an incredible ability to connect people
Food gives us something familiar to share. Whether someone is describing a favorite recipe, remembering what a grandparent grew, or simply saying thank you, fresh food creates opportunities for authentic connection.
For example, just this week, I shared some shishitos with Michael White and got a pro tip from his COO, Ben Dawes, about adding zested lime at the tail end of blistering them. In that exchange, I also learned that Ben grows shishitos too. I did not know he was so cool. 😎
Simple Closing Thought
This week, consider what you have that is worth sharing. It does not have to be vegetables. It could be your time, encouragement, knowledge, attention, or an introduction that helps someone move forward.
Generosity has a remarkable way of growing something far greater than the original gift. It grows connection.
Keep growing. Keep learning.
Farmer Tommy
This post first appeared on August 14, 2026 in Sowing Success, my weekly LinkedIn newsletter on leadership and organic farming. Read the original on LinkedIn.
