Jones Family Greens Produce and Flowers Application

Application Date:

City: Eden Mills, ON

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program:
At Jones Family Greens we believe that growing healthy nutritious produce should be done hand in hand with respecting nature and looking to work with our ecosystems rather than making the ecosystem and land work for us. By joining the CNG program we know that out customers will be able to see that we are being held accountable for how we grow our produce, and will know that we are true to our word.

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?
Matt Jones, the farm owner, has been growing and selling produce for seven years . He has worked with other organic growers and has been operating his own farm ventures his entire farming career. He has grown on certified organic land and knows the required standards and guidelines to meet organic certification. In 2020 Jones Family Greens purchased its own land and had its first growing season in 2021. It was in 2021 that Matt also hired Karlo Bobinac, a recent graduate of the Sustainable Agriculture program at Fleming College. Together they have been growing produce with sustainability in mind, and adhering to all organic standards whenever possible. This includes avoiding the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and promoting environmentally friendly cultural practices.
Total number of acres you want listed as CNG: Approximately 1.0 acres
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems?
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: 0.95
Fruit:
Cut Flowers:
Hay:
Grains:
Dry Beans:
Sugarbush: 2
Other Acreage: Flowers 0.05 acres

Specify other items: Maple Syrup

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:
May add restaurants and a CSA within the next year

Farmland Management & Practices

Describe how you prepare your ground for planting.
We are currently in our second year of production on new lands. We perform primary tillage on unbroken lands (grass fields) using a rotary plough on a two-wheel BSC. Otherwise, we grow the remainder of our crops with little (broadforking and occasional shallow power harrow on BCS) to no tillage throughout the season.
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. We occasionally use certified organic alfalfa meal (Green Life Acres Ltd.) and Selectus 1 Organic 4-2-5 fertilizer before planting a new succession of crop such as a new lettuce planting. This is not something we practice every planting but only if we notice that the previous crop growth has been stunted or is especially slow. Nitrogen deficient kale plants were also top dressed with feather meal (Plant Products Inc) last season.
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.
We have a large range of weed pressures as we are situated in an area enclosed by woodlands. The primary weeds that cause issues for us are twitch grass, dandelions, garlic mustard, and other native species. We weed our beds by hand or with a shallow hand operated wheel-hoe, at the start of every week in order to maintain clean beds and not allow any mature weeds to go to seed. The areas surrounding the fields are mowed regularly and any weeds that we observe going to seed are pulled/mowed. Given our seclusion from neighbouring open fields, our goal is to stay on top of weeds and never allow the overburdening weed pressure that can rapidly develop.
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.
Some of the primary insect challenges we face are the following: squash bug, hornworms, cabbage worms, cucumber beetle, flea beetle and Japanese beetles. We focus on using cultural and mechanical practices and do not spray or use any products to deal with pest pressures. We use netting to protect crop in early stages, focus on having a high biodiversity in the garden as well as surrounding wooded areas, we plant flowers in areas around the growing areas to provide habitat for beneficials, we practice succession planting and crop rotation, and we regularly walk the fields and scout for pests and remove any by hand when possible. Under these current cultural and mechanical practices, we have not succumbed to any major pest pressure to date.
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.
Some of the common disease challenges we face are: powdery mildew, late blight, and downey mildew. Again we focus on cultural and mechanical practice in order to deal with disease pressure and do not use any products to address these issues. This includes things such as: removing and disposing of diseased crop, planting crop with proper spacing to ensure good air circulation, minimize overhead watering to reduce chances of foliar diseases, avoid under/over watering, choosing varieties that are disease resistant and again we regularly walk the fields and scout for any disease.
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 well/pump located on the property to draw water from a local aquifer.
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water?
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 select organic seed varieties that we know work well in our area and discuss varieties with other local organic farmers. We strive to buy only organic seeds and will even consider new varieties if the variety we desire does not have an organic source.
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?
Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation?
If yes, please list types:
Please note reason for purchasing treated seed:

Do you grow your own transplants?
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?
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?
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