"Richard asks the hard and true questions of yourself for your business. He helped shave years off our learning curve, and therefore a faster, more profitable bottom line."
— Sara & Bob Schlosser | Sandiwood Farm | Vermont
CONSULTING
Having farmed himself fulltime for over 40 years, Richard knows the joys, frustrations, and the ins and outs of running a farm business. He speaks farming. Richard is happy to share his experience and knowledge to other farmers through individual farm consulting, in addition to his workshops. Contact Richard to see if consulting with you is a good fit. If so, Richard will visit in person, or communicate via phone and email. Consulting sessions in person normally last 1-3 hours, and two to six sessions over a couple of months are all that is usually needed. Richard will give you homework each session, and ask some hard questions. But his goal is always the same- to help you realize your goals and become increasingly financially sustainable.
I benefited tremendously from Richard's consulting as part of the Farm Viability Program. His profound knowledge of farming and business combined with a warmth, humor and compassion for what it takes to farm, make him a wonderful teacher and resource for many of us in the farming community in Vermont.
Helen Whybrow | Knoll Farm | Vermont
Like many farmers, I know I am indepedent-minded, preferring to think things through then act on them my own. When it comes to Richard, this coda goes out the window. When Richard Wiswall talks I listen.
When Richard first consulted with us, at our farm, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was reluctant to open our farm to an outsider. I shouldn't have been. Throughout the two years he worked with us, Richard was positive and supportive of what we were doing and at the same time encouraged us to ask ourselves hard questions about how to move forward, not just now, but into the future. His own experience as a farmer was invaluable, offering us a successful model to compare and learn from. He was free and open with his knowledge and expertise. He made us think about things we hardly even considered before. And in the few ways we saw things differently he was flexible enough to accept it. He truly wanted us to succeed and achieve it in our own way.
Every farmer, every person can learn something from Richard.
Ken Carter | Stone Hollow Farm | Vermont
Richard Wiswall was easy to work with as a business consultant. He understood vegetable farming issues very clearly, and was sensitive to family concerns. He guided us through the crop budget analysis process. He listened well, and was positive and optimistic in encouraging us to understand our business better. We are still making changes to adopt his advice.
Joey Klein | Littlewood Farm | Vermont