Early Bird Farm Produce and Flowers Application

Application Date:

City: Tacoma, WA

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program:
I have been farming using beyond organic practices for more than 6 years but I do not hold any certifications to show for it. As a small scale producer who runs my business by myself, the cost and paperwork of an organic certification are prohibitive to me. Certified Naturally Grown will help me better communicate to my customers about my growing practices. Also, I look forward to supporting and connecting with other CNG farmers through the peer review process.

Are you currently third-party-certified for your produce operation by any other organization (Organic, Biodynamic, etc.)?
No
If yes, please note which certification and agency:
No
Have you held any certification/s in the past that you don't currently hold?  No
Note which agencies and dates:

Have you ever been denied certification? No
If yes, please note which agencies, and reasons for denial:

How long have you been growing and selling your products?

How did you learn to farm? What has prepared you to farm successfully according to CNG standards?

Total number of acres you want listed as CNG: 7
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? 0
How many acres are in conventional agriculture?
List what you are growing conventionally and explain why these crops are excluded from certification.

General Listed Acreage Breakdown

Of the acreage that you want listed as CNG, list the number of acres you have in each crop category.

Vegetables: 2
Fruit: 0.25
Cut Flowers:
Hay:
Grains:
Dry Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage: 5

Specify other items:

Specify other primary crop:
Specify any other items you'd like listed as CNG:
List any crops you grow that will not be listed as CNG, and explain why you’re not seeking to certify them.

Specify other markets:
local_harvest

Farmland Management & Practices

Describe how you prepare your ground for planting.
We have recently replaced our rototiller with a power harrow which greatly reduces soil disturbance for bed preparation. Before using the power harrow, cover crops are incorporated using a disk harrow. In rare instances when the disc fails to kill the cover crop, we use a plow to incorporate residue.
Do you use Cover Crops? Yes
List the cover crop species you use:

Do you use Compost? Yes

Describe your on-farm composting process.

Describe how you verify with your supplier that their compost is properly composted and does not contain prohibited ingredients like biosolids.
Describe your "other" source of compost.
List your compost application rates. Give a specific amount or range.
Do you use Manure? Yes
List your general manure sources:
Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range.
What time of year do you apply the manure?
Do you apply any manure within 120 days of edible crop harvesting?
Please list any other brought in fertility sources that you use (rock powders, lime, alfalfa meal, fertilizer mixes, etc.) For each product, list the full name, manufacturer, and OMRI status. We apply OMRI listed fertilizers based on soil test results as needed. We are following a USDA NRCS nutrient management plan to ensure that the fields are getting proper fertility. Last year, based on soil test results, we applied approximately 80 pounds per acre of nitrogen and phosphorus to most of our vegetable production fields. The product used was Concentrates, Inc All Purpose Fertilizer 5-5-3. In the future, because we are monitoring soil phosphorus levels because of the chicken manure from our flock, we may apply organic fertilizers that provide nitrogen only. We also apply lime when needed based on soil test results. Last season we applied 1000 lbs per acre of lime in the spring before planting.
How do you decide which inputs (fertilizers, pest/disease control products, etc.) to use on your farm? How will you determine if an input is allowed for use in CNG production?
Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)? No
According to CNG guidelines, it is acceptable to apply OMRI-listed, chelated synthetic fertilizers to correct specific micronutrient imbalances only if micronutrient deficiency is documented in a recent soil or tissue test. Does the application of this fertilizer meet those requirements?
Specify types, amounts and application dates:
Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last three years?No
If yes, then please specify type and most recent application date:
Do you use Professional Soil Testing services? Yes
In detail, describe your primary weed problems AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual weed challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used.
Our most common annual weeds are lady's thumb (polyganum) and pigweed. Some field areas have perennial weeds to contend with including horsetail, buttercup, dandelion, and bindweed. Mostly, we deal with weeds through hoeing and hand cultivation. Before planting we try to limit weed seed germination by stale bedding, silage tarping, and/or flame weeding. The power harrow reduces the weed seed bank compared to a conventional rototiller because it does not stir up weed seeds from the subsurface. This year we plan on experimenting with a deep mulch/compost to suppress weed seed germination, which may lead to an experiment with no till growing.
In detail, describe your primary insect challenges AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual pest challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used.
We manage flea beetles in brassica crops by using floating row covers. Aphids can also be a problem especially in kale and brussel sprouts. We interplant flowers to try and encourage beneficial insects near our aphid susceptible crops. In order to disrupt aphid life cycles, we do not grow any broccoli or kale in July/August. If aphids become a problem, we will spray organically approved Safer soap. Wireworm has become a problem for lettuce and some brassicas. When an infestation is killing young seedlings, we have sprayed a beneficial nematode from Arbico organics. Wireworms are a new and growing problem for leafy greens like lettuce and escarole on our farm. The wireworms live in the soil and eat through the stems of young transplants. We have not found a solution to this pest and currently try to avoid growing lettuce in areas where we know to have wireworms present. We also will avoid growing a grass like annual ryegrass as a winter cover crop because that is known to be good habitat for wireworms. We may experiment with mustard seed meal as an organic fertilizer/biofumigant in advance of lettuce plantings to deter wireworms from that area. It is my suspicion that rotating our 500 laying hens through fallowed vegetable fields helps disrupt pest cycles (since chickens eat lots of bugs and grubs), but it's impossible to know.
In detail, describe your primary disease challenges AND methods of control. Do not answer "none". You MUST indicate either actual disease challenges and/or LIKELY challenges, and you must ALSO indicate how you manage (or would manage) them. If you indicate a product, also specify how often it's used.
We have seen a little bit of powdery mildew on cucumbers and eggplant in our high tunnels, but that issue has been solved by opening the sidewalls to improve air circulation. By growing basil in the dry high tunnels instead of in wet fields, we have dramatically reduced downy mildew. Clubroot became a problem in our brassicas for the first time in 2020. This soil born pathogen is almost impossible to remove. We plan on trying to contain the clubroot to the area it was found and practicing a longer crop rotation for brassicas. We may try to raise the pH of the soil with lime to neutral to stifle the clubroot. In general, by practicing very long term crop rotations in brassicas (4 years or more) we have not seen any soil borne diseases and we hope to keep club root off of our farm (which has been a problem for many of our neighbors). We rest/cover crop all of our fields at least once every 3 years and allow the flock of 500 chickens to run through them, which in all likelihood helps to reduce soil borne disease pressure as well.
Please list any weed, pest, or disease products that you use (insecticidal soap, horticultural vinegar, copper, etc.). For each product, list the full name, manufacturer, and OMRI status.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: We use a private well that is also the well for our house drinking water.
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water? 0
If yes, please explain:

Microgreens & Sprouts

Please fill this out for your indoor operation only.

Provide a brief description of your operation. (square footage? in a greenhouse or other indoor setting? etc.)

Are any of your crops sprouted and/or grown without soil or substrate? Use the link below to view our guidance on sprouts vs. microgreens.
For sprouts, we require that all seeds are organic or CNG. If you grow or decide to grow sprouts, will you purchase only organic and/or CNG seed for your sprout crop?
What media are you using to grow your microgreens and/or sprouts? 

If you purchase potting mix or soilless media, list the product name, manufacturer, and OMRI status. If you make your own, list the ingredients.

Describe the mats or other substrate you are using. Provide product names.

What type of trays are you using in your operation?
What is your general irrigation set-up? Does water recirculate? What is the source of the water?

Although pests and disease are certainly less common for microgreens operations, there are still issues such as fungal gnats and damping off. What measures do you use to prevent pest and disease pressures?

How do you dispose of spent soil? Do you compost?

Is your operation fully indoors?
Are you growing any crops outside in the soil?

Maple

Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush?
Maple sap is considered a wild crop. CNG's Wild Crop Harvesting Standard states that wild crop must be harvested in a manner that ensures that such harvesting or gathering will not be destructive to the environment and will sustain the growth and production of the wild crop. Please briefly describe any steps you take to protect and ensure the sustainability of your sugarbush.

Do you use an organic de-foamer? custom_field:pf_dump_nearby$$
Over-tapping trees can stunt their growth. Do you (or will you) adhere to the Cornell Sugar Maple Research & Extension Program guidelines which state "trees 10-17 inches in diameter (31-53 inch circumference) should have no more than one tap. A tree 18-24 inches in diameter (57-75 inch circumference) should have no more than two taps. A tree larger than 25 inches in diameter (79-inch circumference) should have no more than three taps."
To maximize tree health and sap production, CNG supports Cornell's recommendation that all taps are 5/16" in diameter or smaller. Is this your practice, and if not, would you be willing to transition to 5/16" (or smaller) taps within the next three years? Please elaborate.

Seeds & Transplants

CNG certification requires the use of certified organic or CNG seeds whenever available. Please indicate the suppliers from which you source (or will source) your seeds. The CNG seed standard also applies to sweet potato slips, seed potatoes, day-neutral strawberry slips, and flower bulbs, corms, and tubers.
We seek out certified organic varieties first and prefer seed suppliers who only stock certified organic seed: High Mowing, Uprising Seeds, and Adaptive Seeds. We do purchase some non-organic varieties when no other option is available.
Please indicate, by typing your initials, that you will as a general rule purchase organically grown seeds, AND that you will only purchase conventional seed when the variety you wish to grow is not available in certified organic or CNG form. For each variety purchased in conventional form, you will identify (and keep records of) at least three commercial organic seed suppliers who do not carry that variety.
Do you purchase or grow using any Genetically Modified seeds? 0
Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation? 0
If yes, please list types:
Please note reason for purchasing treated seed:

Do you grow your own transplants? 1
Do you purchase potting soil, or do you mix your own on the farm? 
What ingredients does your potting mix contain? If you purchase a mix, please also indicate which product.

Are all of your transplants grown according to CNG standards, without synthetic fertilizers or wetting agents? 
If any transplants are not grown according to CNG standards, please list them here. These products may not be marketed as CNG.

Do you source any transplants from off your farm? 0
From which suppliers do you source transplants?

How have you confirmed with your supplier that the transplants are grown without synthetic fertilizers or wetting agents?
Please list any bought-in transplants not grown according to CNG standards. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown (except, in the case of perennials, after twelve months of CNG cultivation).

Chemical/Spray Drift and Buffers:

Is there any likelihood of Chemical/Spray drift contamination of your fields? 0
If yes, please state the source (conventional farm field, golf course, neighbor's lawn, etc.) and any details you can provide (type of pesticide, fertilizer, herbicide used and/or what used for).

Do you have an adequate buffer to protect yourself from potential contamination?
Please refer to the CNG Buffer FAQ below and explain why your buffers are not adequate.
Please describe your buffer. Be as specific as possible and include buffer widths. On all sides, how far is it from your crops to the next closest use (road, conventional crop, residential yard)? Be sure to specify what is grown on neighboring land that is in agricultural use. For example: To the north and east, a wooded area of at least 100 yards separates us from the neighbor's corn fields, to the south is a fallow field at least 100 yards deep separating us from the road, and to the west about 60 feet separates our crops from a field where conventional corn and soybeans are grown.

Agreements