349. Running an All-Female Farm Team with Emma de Long of Kneehigh Farm

A Note from Michael:

The Thriving Farmer Podcast is currently on pause as we navigate a busy season on the farm. While we're taking this break, we're excited to share Farm in Focus, a special series of short, focused conversations recorded earlier this year. These bite-sized episodes highlight practical insights from farmers and experts across the industry. We hope they're helpful and encouraging as you continue your farming journey.

 

What does it look like to lead and manage an all-female farm team?

In this Farm in Focus episode, Michael sits down with Emma de Long of Kneehigh Farm to talk about what she's learned running a farm crew made up entirely of women. Emma shares her experience building a strong, supportive team in an industry that has traditionally been male-dominated, along with the leadership lessons that have shaped how she manages people day-to-day.

From starting small and scaling over time, to fostering compassion, communication, and trust within a close-knit crew, Emma offers thoughtful insights into team dynamics on a small farm. This conversation focuses less on ownership structure and more on what it takes to lead a team well—especially when people, relationships, and long days are at the center of the work.

In this episode, you'll hear about:

Building an All-Female Farm Team
• How Emma's crew naturally evolved into an all-women team [03:23]
• What it's been like leading women in a traditionally male-dominated field [06:35]

Leadership & Team Culture
• Why compassion plays a central role in Emma's leadership style [06:52]
• Creating a family-like dynamic while still maintaining professionalism
• How trust and communication shape day-to-day farm operations

Challenges & Practical Realities
• Tools and systems that aren't always designed with women in mind [10:31]
• Balancing physical demands with teamwork and mutual support
• Accepting help and knowing when to lean on others

Advice for Farmers & Team Leaders
• Why community matters just as much as production [12:23]
• The value of mentorship and peer support
• Emma's encouragement for farmers—especially women—looking to build strong teams [15:42]

Bio:
Emma de Long is a farmer, educator, and fiber advocate based in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She founded Kneehigh Farm in 2013 and has since grown a diverse mix of vegetables, dye plants, and fiber crops. Since 2019, Emma has cultivated indigo for natural pigment extraction, and in 2020 she co-founded the Pennsylvania Flax Project, an initiative dedicated to rebuilding regional flax processing infrastructure. Kneehigh Farm operates as a 100% women-run operation, and in 2021 Emma opened Red Dog Market, a year-round outlet for farm goods and local products.

 

Links:

👩🏻‍🌾 Visit Kneehigh Farm's website: Kneehigh Farm
🌾 Visit PA Flax Project's website: PA Flax Project
📷 Instagram: @kneehighfarm
👍 Facebook: @kneehighfarmCSA

 

This episode is sponsored by Farm on Central:

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