Fair Share Farm Produce and Flowers Application

Application Date:

City: Pfafftown, NC

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program:
The Owners and management of Fair Share Farm, LLC are focused on growing delicious, beautiful produce full of integrity. We use organic growing methods and inputs with the intention of growing nutrient dense food. We select methods of production suited to maximize the output of nutrient dense food while taking a stewardship styled approach to resource and ecosystem conservation. We strive to innovate and improve our systems year-over-year. We believe in a philosophy of perpetual learning and education in order to refine our business to serve our soil, customers and employees. We are excited to join the CNG program as this certification further develops our credibility and mission to our people, planet, and prosperity.

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?
Both owners, Elliot and Emma, began with farming experiences that have taken them all over the US: USVI St. Croix at their Agricultural Institute: This experience was a huge learning opportunity with hazardous soil conditions, the basics of figuring out how to amend soils, and the importance of leadership and community relationships to help solve problems. Internships- Rolling Fork, Kentucky at a 10-acre CSA Farm & Permaculture Farm in Indiana: These two examples of family farming heavily influenced what Emma and Elliot dreamed of for their own lives and provided opportunities to participate in many types of farm enterprises both vegetable and animal based. Farm Manager West Virginia: A lot was learned about taxes, government partnerships, organic certification, farmers markets, and customer connections. Certified Organic Farm King, North Carolina: There, they spent a season of growing garlic and other vegetables on a Certified Organic farm and fell in love with the landscape of the Piedmont. In the Fall of 2014 Elliot and Emma realized the time had come to take the leap of business ownership. Elliot secured land in Pfafftown, NC and started preparing for the next Spring. During this time, he developed a business plan to grow micro greens and lettuce, established Fair Share Farm, LLC as a legal NC business. Since 2014, Fair Share Farm has held the motto of "Grow Good Food, Grow Good People". We believe that true in our every day actions with our staff, customers, and soil. We take a stewardship approach to our growing practices at Fair Share Farm. By considering concepts like crop rotation, soil health and erosion mitigation, we make every attempt to be good stewards of our land and watershed without the use of GMO's and synthetic chemicals. All of these experiences has greatly prepared us to farm successfully according to CNG standards.
Total number of acres you want listed as CNG: 20
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: 8
Fruit:
Cut Flowers:
Hay:
Grains:
Dry Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage:

Specify other items: grnhouse_plants

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:

Farmland Management & Practices

Describe how you prepare your ground for planting.
We implement conventional, conservation tillage practices as well low-till/no-till practices in specific cases.
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? No
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. Super Sequence: focuses on soil calcium availability but does not contain large amounts of calcium in the blend, but rather a blend of the minerals that enhance calcium availability; sulfur, silica, and boron. Boron 10% Aragonite Micro Hume - contains Calcium 5%, Sulfur 8%, Boron 2%, Copper 1%, Manganese 2%, and Zinc 3% and humates. Feather Meal 13-0-0 Potassium Sulfate 0-0-50 >> we mitigate erosion and the leaching of salts by dividing fields into 50' blocks with a 10' sod spray lane between each block. Sod divisions help slow the shed of water down slope. Our fields are also terraced which helps to slow and divert water. Potassium Sulfate is applied directly before planting and incorporated into the soil. Furthermore plastic mulch is used extensively on our farm as our slopes limit the viability of mechanical cultivation so the particular product is being held under plastic and then we grow a living grown cover between plastic beds which also goes a long way to holding and filtering water run off.
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.
Via mechanical cultivation, use of plastic mulches, plastic tarps and hand weeding, we manage the following list of weeds: crab grass, bermuda grass, pig weed, lambsquarter, chick weed, dead nettle, as well as other perennial weeds that we have not identified but eradicate through tillage. Tillage and cultivation are our most common practices for weed control, but for long season crops like tomatoes that are grown in a plasticulture system, we maintain a living pathway between cropped rows.
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.
Army worm, cabbage looper, and other lepidoptera are treated on a regular basis with DiPel. Aphids and shield bugs are treated with Azera (Azadirachtin and Pyrethrins). Other insect pest outbreaks are treated with the same products. We use crop rotation and fertility management as an overall scheme to manage pest pressure. We add minerals to our soil and fertilizers to grow the best crop possible which goes a long way in an organic system to warding off pests. crop rotation in our field crops helps us move problem crops like broccoli away from a field that was infested with harlequin bug to an area that has not seen a brassica in at least one crop season. Crop rotation and fertility management are equally as important to our pesticide program.
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 rarely see the same disease iterations every season in the same crop and we find that most disease expression seem to be linked to specific crops grown in specific fields or sections of fields and may be directly linked to soil quality concerns. Those concerns could include the intersection of soil compaction, wetness, nutrient deficiency and biological imbalance. However, our primary disease challenge is sclerotinia in our winter high tunnel production. Sclerotinia Minor has major economic implications for our winter lettuce production so in an attempt to curb the damage done by lettuce drop we use a product called Contans WG to combat the mold. Contans WG is applied several times through out the fall, winter and early spring up to but not exceeding 6 applications, per label recommendations.
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: Private well, private pond, municipal water from Forsyth County, NC USA.
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 purchase our seeds from Johnny's Seeds, Osborne Seeds, and True Leaf. We always purchase raw, untreated seed or pelleted approved from organic use. We do not always purchase organic seed particularly in the case of certain varietals being conventional and unavailable as orgnaic (for instance, surgar snax carrots is not organic).
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