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By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

We’re so proud to announce that we just sent out the third edition of our print newsletter, Growing Above and Beyond. We feel this issue is our best yet! It’s chock-full of inspirational stories about the ecologically-focused farmers all around the country making a difference in their communities. 

We’re trying to make 20 new friends by October 20. Can you pitch in? When you do, you’ll receive a crisp copy of this issue ASAP!
Read on for a sneak peek of the articles…
Our print newsletter is exclusively for folks who have donated to Certified Naturally Grown in recent years, and features behind-the-scenes stories about member farmers and beekeepers.
The Painted Turtle Farm, PA
In this issue, you’ll read about Hector Tejada‘s sweet sixteen years with our grassroots certification, and learn how his background in graphic design informs his work as a farmer. We also share the story of Ward Vegetables, where farmer John Ward has long been including Community Observers in his annual CNG inspection. Plus, during this back-to-school season, we share the story of The Painted Turtle Farm at Gettysburg College, where students and their neighbors work side-by-side to increase local food access.
Ward Vegetables‘ 2019 inspection with Blandford Nature Center Farm‘s Liz Visser
Are you curious to learn the full story? It’s not too late to get your copy!

To be eligible to receive Growing Above and Beyond…

Become a donor to Certified Naturally Grown!
Not sure if you’re a donor? A donor is anyone who either: 
– is a monthly dues sustainer, 
– paid dues of more than the $150 bare minimum, or
– became a Friend of CNG, often with a gift to our Grassroots or Growing CNG Funds. 
Join CNG as a Friend with a gift of any amount, and you’ll be sure to get a newsletter. We’re proud of our new publication, and we look forward to sending a fresh copy to your mailbox! For any questions about your issue, don’t hesitate to reach out to suzannah@naturallygrown.org.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

We’re holding onto the last days of summer here at Certified Naturally Grown, and celebrating 64 newly certified farmers and beekeepers joining the CNG community this growing season! Check the list below to see if a farmer you know is among them. Plus, we have a new opportunity to get involved with the CNG inspection process.

The Harvest Quarterly is our seasonal newsletter, delivered every few months. Enjoy it while it’s fresh! Not yet subscribed? Sign up here.

Congratulations to These 64 Newly Certified Farmers and Beekeepers

We are delighted to recognize the producers who have completed all the requirements for CNG certification since early May. They are listed below alphabetically by state and province. 
To find a list of all the Certified Naturally Grown producers in your area, visit our searchable map here.
Know someone who should be listed? Send them this link!
Sitka Local Foods Network/St. Peter’s Fellowship Farm, AK
Wilderness Earth Farm, AK
Wilderness Greenhouse, AK
Baxters Apiary, AR
Blue Mountain Vegetable Farm, AR
Rosehill Homestead, AR
Sweden Creek Farm, AR
Pine Creek Lavender Farm, AZ
Fair Curve Farm, CA
Cooper orchards, CO
O.R. Ganics Farm Stand, CT
Dennisbackyardgardens, FL
Kassie Boca backyard garden, FL
City Slicka Micro Farm, LLC, FL
BFE Homestead, GA
Cosmos Farm, GA
Kettle Creek Acres, GA
Potlikker Farm, GA
Team Freeze Bzzzy Bees, GA
Tumble Tree Farm, GA
Dayempur Farm, IL
SLONG GARLIC FARM, IL
Hopeful Farms, IN
Autumn Shade Farm, KY
Lavender In Bloom, KY
Grow Dat Youth Farm, LA
Micro Pharms, LA
Dodo Farms, MD
Plow and Stars Farm, MD
Indigo Lavender Farms, MI
Lavender Hill Farm, MI
Still Point Farm, MI
Foxglove Flower Farm, MT
Backyard Sprouts, NC
Adam’s Acres, NE
Thin Place Farm. LLC, NJ
Black Creek Farm, NY
McCollum Orchards LLC, NY
Stoneledge Edibles, NY
Cawsome Crops, OH
Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm, LLC, OH
Rainbow Beavers Farm, OK
The Looney Farm, OK
Dripline Farms, ON
Grand River Gardens, ON
Hillsview Farms, ON
Daily Blessings Farm LLC, OR
Elkton Community Education Center, OR
The Green Seed Nursery, OR
Allegheny College Carr Hall Garden, PA
Branch Valley Farm Apiary, PA
Making Roots Farm, PA
Vegetable Power Farm, PA
Pig & Leaf, TN
Lake Lea Farm, TX
Creative Seeds Farm, VA
Mountain Air Farm, VA
ShireFolk Farm, VA
Thornfield Farm, VA
Lavender Essentials of Vermont, VT
Happy Gnome Market Garden, WA
Silver Seeds Farm, WA
Ten Fold Farm, WA
Village Farmstead, WI

Including Community Stakeholders at Inspections

Community members now have the option to observe a CNG farm’s annual inspection, and be an official part of the certification process!This new effort has many benefits:

  • Farmers develop stronger ties with the community
  • Observers gain rare behind-the-scenes view of a farm
  • Farmers have flexibility with the “No repeat inspectors” rule
  • Observers witness discussions among knowledgeable farmers
    Everyone can get involved, including folks like farmers market managers, teachers, faith leaders, postmasters, pitmasters, and just about anyone in between!
    We are prioritizing GEMs markets in our outreach and matchmaking efforts.
    We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity!
    Register your interest!
    Click here to learn much more about this new aspect of our certification!
    Do you know someone who would enjoy observing a CNG inspection? Invite them to register their interest at cngfarming.org/observer

A Warm Welcome to 10 New Business Allies!

We’re proud to announce that ten like-minded businesses have signed on as Business Allies since the beginning of May. We’re grateful for their support, which helps keep Certified Naturally Grown affordable for CNG farmers and beekeepers.
You can learn more about their work by clicking on the links below:
Agriculture Solutions, Inc. (AGSOL)
Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers
Edible Communities
Farm Brigge
Farmers Friend
Reedy Fork Organic Farm & Feed Mill
SimpleHerbals
Southland Organics
Terramera
True Leaf Seed Market Company
If you or someone you know represents a company that serves the sustainable agriculture community, we hope you’ll consider joining these excellent Allies.

The Latest Reads

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What’s the Difference Between Organic and Naturally Grown?

6 Exceptional Farmers Markets in the US
7 Inspiring Ways to Sell Your Produce
9 Farmer-Tested Ways to Keep Cool
Eco Trucker Hats: The Perfect Way to Stay Cool This Summer
Business Ally Blogs:

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator
Seared cobia over indigo grits topped with lady pea salad finished with red pepper coulis at Georgia Sea Grill
We’re proud to welcome Georgia Sea Grill as Certified Naturally Grown’s very first restaurant Business Ally!
The establishment has been a pillar of Saint Simons Island since 1997, and in recent years the restaurant has honed in on sourcing ingredients as locally as possible. In fact, they even own a farm that has been Certified Naturally Grown since March of this year! Their Potlikker Farm on Blythe Island grows Southern staples like North Georgia Candy Roaster Squash, red peas, and peaches as well as tropical crops like bitter melon, dragonfruit, and turmeric.
Farmer Samuel McPherson, Chef Timothy Lensch, and owner Zack Gowen at Potlikker Farm
We are thrilled to welcome them into the CNG Business Ally community, and wish we could take a field trip to Saint Simons to savor some stunningly-plated CNG ingredients!
Read on to learn more about Georgia Sea Grille from owner Zack Gowen to explore the restaurant’s history and mission.
Are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG): How did Georgia Sea Grill get started?
Zack Gowen (ZG): The restaurant has been an Island staple since 1997. I purchased the Sea Grill at the end of 2014 and moved it to its current location, and reopened in May 2015. 
CNG: What are Georgia Sea Grill’s core values?
ZG: We are all about providing the best experience with quality ingredients and sincere service. 
CNG: How did you make the decision to support CNG as a Business Ally?
ZG: Our farm, Potlikker Farm, is CNG certified so it made sense to us.

We believe in CNG!
Georgia Sea Grill on Saint Simons Island in Georgia
CNG: How does Certified Naturally Grown support Georgia Sea Grill’s customers?
ZG: The guidelines for CNG that our farm follows transcends to our produce we use at the restaurant. It legitimizes our goal for both the restaurant and farm.
Another cross between dinner and art at Georgia Sea Grill
CNG: What are some exciting developments at Georgia Sea Grill our CNG community can look forward to in the future?
ZG: Potlikker red peas should be rolling out soon at the restaurant!
CNG: If you had a magic agricultural wand, how would you use it to improve farm systems in America?
Make organic and Certified Naturally Grown the standard for food production. Give tax breaks for local small farms in food deserts/food swamps.
CNG: Is there anything else CNG farmers and beekeepers should know?
ZG: We also have an organically fed fish farm, Satilla Ponds, in Camden County. We hope to have our first harvest of catfish next spring! We are also working on crawfish.
…are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Crescent City Farmers Market, New Orleans, Louisiana
Farmers markets are a feast for the senses, and so much more. They stimulate local economies, preserve farmland, promote rural resilience, and increase fresh food access. And members of our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs) take it one step further by recognizing and preferring farms that verify their ecological practices.
We’re proud to recommend and promote a robust network of GEMs markets around the country – including the ones features here in Arkansas, Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. Find a listing of all the GEMs listed markets here.
These markets are so jazzed about CNG that they were inspired to send us photos of their new, colorful GEMs posters – just in time for National Farmers Market Week!
We would be delighted to add your neighborhood market to our roster. The perks are plenty! Just click the button below, and #PitchYourMarket.

Learn more about markets across the country that recognize and prefer CNG in our Guide to Exceptional Markets (GEMs).
Galveston’s Own Farmers Market

Galveston, Texas
We love this market not only because they also give preference to produce and livestock farmers who are Certified Naturally Grown, but their Executive Director is none other than Casey McAuliffe of Moon Dog Farms, CNG since 2013. Her partner Alex McPhail is also Member-at-Large on the market’s Board of Directors. How do these “McFarmers” get it all done?! Those home-grown CNG veggies must give them lots of energy.
Crescent City Farmers Market

New Orleans, Louisiana
This network of markets boasts seven different locations in this food-focused city throughout the week! As a Tier 2 GEMs Market, they have a clearly stated and publicly visible policy that they prefer farms with certification, and CNG is one of the options, when selecting vendors. The CCFM hosts nearly 80 local small farmers, fishers and food producers annually.
The Piedmont Park Conservancy Green Market

Atlanta, Georgia
This Atlanta market was voted one of the top five farmers markets in the city by Access Atlanta, and we can certainly see why! The Piedmont Park Conservancy Green Market hosts 45 Georgia-based vendors, with around 15 farmers selling their harvest each week. Plus, the Green Market has chef demos, live music, canning workshops, tango classes, AND yoga classes! Farmer J of Patchwork City Farms is understandably excited to be part of this market, pictured here with the market’s sign promoting their GEMs listing.
Vickery Village Farmers Market

Cumming, Georgia
We love the Vickery Village Farmers Market just as much as they love us. Just look at that sign! Another Tier 2 market in Georgia, this market is only in its second season, but already making some big strides for local food. This market gives preference to CNG and organic farms, as well as those located within a tight 50 mile radius of Vickery Village and in Forsyth County. Nothing tastes as good as hyper-local food!
South Memphis Farmers Market

Memphis, Tennessee
This market is also home to The Grocer, a year-round neighborhood grocery store equipped with a full kitchen where free, nutritional cooking classes are offered throughout the year. What could be better than local produce paired with accessible culinary lessons?
Beebe Farmers’ Market

Beebe, Arkansas
Our ideal Friday evening kicks off with a spin to the farmers market to stock up for the weekend’s feasts. This market, also in its second year, takes place 4 – 7 PM on Thursday nights during the growing season. New this year is the Power of Produce (PoP) Kids Club, to empower children to make healthy choices. This photo shows a PoP participant showing off a picture frame craft he made at a recent market.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Rob Cain with a watermelon grown using SEA-90
Sometimes, even crops grown in the rich soil of a Certified Naturally Grown farm need a boost. 
SeaAgri produces SEA-90, a combination of minerals and trace elements from natural crystals produced multiple times per year from sea water trapped in retention ponds located in a pristine estuary on the Sea of Cortez in Mexico (also known as the Gulf of California) This combination can help stimulate, feed and enhance micro flora populations in soil for healthier and tastier harvests. 
We spoke with company president Rob Cain to learn all about how elements from the sea can support the land. Welcome to the CNG Business Allies community, SeaAgri!
Are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG): How did SeaAgri get started?
Rob Cain (RC): I started SeaAgri in the year 2000 with the goal of providing a superior organic fertilizer and livestock mineral that contained both readily available and amounts of minerals and trace elements.

CNG: What are SeaAgri’s core values?
RC: The support of organic, regenerative and sustainable agriculture. SeaAgri is dedicated to improving soil, livestock and human health through the incorporation of the minerals and trace elements in its products into garden and agricultural systems.
CNG: How did you make the decision to support CNG as a Business Ally?

RC: Farmers and market gardeners who CNG supports are dedicated to providing naturally grown nutrient dense food for their customers. SeaAgri supports these same growers by providing SEA-90 mineral and trace elements.
CNG: How does Certified Naturally Grown support SeaAgri’s customers?
RC: SeaAgri’s customers are dedicated to producing and providing natural and organic nutrient dense foods. CNG provides these growers with a certification showing they use only natural products like SEA-90 and produce the highest quality fruits, vegetables and meat.
CNG: What are some exciting developments at SeaAgri our CNG community can look forward to in the future?
RC: Greatly expanded sales network with our products available in more locations throughout the country. 
CNG: If you had a magic agricultural wand, how would you use it to improve farm systems in America?

RC: Remineralize and restore 90 minerals and trace elements to all soils that produce pasture, crops, and livestock.
CNG: Is there anything else CNG farmers and beekeepers should know?
RC: All disease in crops, livestock and humans can be directly linked to a mineral or trace element deficiency. Restore 90 minerals and trace elements to your soil and all life (including pollinators and people) will experience the health benefits they provide.
…are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Some of the Southland Organics team at work
Southland Organics in Bogart, Georgia supports natural farmers with solutions for soil fertility, weeds, pest pressure, and more. They also offer products for home lawns, chickens, and waste.
They also run a farm, Soul Miner’s Eden. “We strive to understand the challenges farmers face,” says Sales and Marketing Specialist Brittany Kokalp. “We thought the best way to do that is to become one.” 
We recently caught up with Brittany to explore the company’s history, mission, and product lineup.
Are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG): How did Southland Organics get started?
Brittany Gokalp (BG): Southland Organics was born from a passion to help farmers. Our products offer natural solutions to natural problems. Over the last decade, we have evolved into a multi-faceted organics company that is positively impacting the lives of farmers, the environment, and future generations. We care about people and the planet, so the basis for all our products is a dynamic combination of organic soil acids, carbon, and microbiology. Our carbon-based products are derived from a mine in southern Georgia and are made up of rich organic matter that restores dead soil and revives crops. Farmers can feel good about our products because they protect their livelihood naturally.

CNG: What are Southland Organics’ core values?
BG: Our core values are to provide farmers with a safe product they can trust and to provide hope for creating agriculture that is sustainable and effective.
 
CNG: How did you make the decision to support CNG as a Business Ally?

BG: Making the decision to join CNG as a Business Ally was easy because our passion is the same.
We both hope to make an impact on future generations through sustainable practices and farming. At Southland Organics, we were so passionate about sustainable agriculture and the benefits of our products that we started our own farm. Soul Miner’s Eden was birthed as a way to test our products and to provide our local community with safe produce. We strive to understand the challenges farmers face, and we thought the best way to do that is to become one. So now, we are also farmers who specialize in hydroponic lettuces grown in our greenhouse.

CNG: How does Certified Naturally Grown support Southland Organics’ customers?
BG: Certified Naturally Grown farms can partner with Southland Organics to restore life back to the planet.
CNG: What are some exciting developments at Southland Organics our CNG community can look forward to in the future?
BG: The Southland Organics products we use on our farm include an organic soil conditioner, fish fertilizer, and compost tea. Crops love our products because they help with nutrient uptake and break up soil to get oxygen deep down into the root zone. Recently, Southland launched an All Natural weed killer. Yep, that’s right, you can get rid of weeds without harming the environment!
CNG: Is there anything else CNG farmers and beekeepers should know?
BG: As a Business Ally, we are committed to helping the Certified Naturally Grown farmer. We want to help you restore hope for the next generation. 
…are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems at Nelson and Pade, Inc.®, Montello, WI

It’s always a treat to speak with someone who truly adores what they do!
Nelson and Pade, Inc.‘s passion for aquaponics really comes across in our conversation with co-founder and co-owner Rebecca Nelson. Her near essay on her company’s origin story reflects Nelson and Pade’s dynamic history and sustained enthusiasm for innovation.
Rebecca Nelson and John Pade serve on our Aquaponics Advisory Council, whose expertise helped us meticulously develop our Aquaponics Certification in 2016. They are longtime allies in the truest sense, so we’re thrilled to welcome them in our esteemed community of Business Allies.
Read on to discover more about the company’s long history, wide reach, and to learn what Rebecca would do if she had a magic agricultural wand!
Are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG): How did Nelson and Pade get started?
Rebecca Nelson (RN): Nelson and Pade was founded in 1985 as a hydroponics (soilless plant production) company, growing and selling fresh vegetables. In the late 80s, founder, Rebecca Nelson and John Pade, began offering consulting services and publishing books and videos to fill a need for information on soilless farming methods. Then, in the early 90s, the company saw the potential of aquaponic farming, a natural and sustainable method of growing fish and vegetables year-round, and embarked on a path to develop the science of aquaponics into an industry.
Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, Nelson and Pade provided consulting and aquaponic system design services and published the Aquaponics Journal.
By 2005, the demand for aquaponic systems of all sizes was growing and Nelson and Pade determined that the growth and success of the budding aquaponics industry would require a supplier of quality, complete, standardized aquaponic systems, training and long-term grower support. Nelson and Pade was perfectly poised to fill this need and motivated to do so.
As people continued to discover aquaponics, the number of people visiting Nelson and Pade’s website, www.aquaponics.com, steadily increased. The Company founders evaluated the opportunity and made a clear and calculated plan to grow the company and the industry. This plan included establishing a company headquarters for manufacturing, advancing the training programs, and hiring staff to help the company meet its mission and goals.
In early 2010, Nelson and Pade moved into new facilities and, at that time, had 2 employees besides the founders. Growth has been steady since this move.
In addition to manufacturing aquaponic systems and providing world-class training programs, we operate a 14,000 square foot aquaponics greenhouse that we use for commercial production, demonstration, and education. The aquaponic systems in our greenhouse continually produces fresh fish and vegetables year-round. Our methods are free of pesticides, herbicides, chemicals, and contaminants. The quality of what we grow is appreciated by our clients, which include schools, hospitals, restaurants and grocery stores.
Lettuce grow in Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems® at Nelson and Pade, Inc. ®
CNG: What are Nelson and Pade’s core values?
RN: We believe that providing our customers with quality, proven aquaponic systems, comprehensive training, Standard Operating Procedures, and long-term grower support is the key to our clients success. We treat our clients like family and work very hard to make their journey in getting started growing a successful, profitable, and enjoyable one.

As a grower, we believe that providing the best quality food to our community is the ultimate thing we can give back.
CNG: How did you make the decision to support CNG as a Business Ally?
RN: We fully believe in and support the efforts of Certified Naturally Grown. Being a Business Ally demonstrates our commitment to CNG and our confidence in the certification as well as the organization.
CNG: How does Certified Naturally Grown support Nelson and Pade’s customers?
RN: CNG supports our customers by providing a certification that builds confidence in the produce that we grow. 
CNG: What are some exciting developments at Nelson and Pade our CNG community can look forward to?
RN: We have now had people travel from 109 countries to attend our Aquaponics Master Class®, and we have shipped our Clear Flow Aquaponic Systems® to people in 28 countries. We are very proud of the global reach and impact we are having on the availability of fresh food around the world.
Additionally, we are now offering an aquaponic system for growing hemp. Our science-based aquaponic systems for hemp uses our same proven methods that we use for vegetables, but integrate advanced techniques and specific design criteria for farming hemp and other medicinal herbs in aquaponics.
Students at the Aquaponics Master Class®, May, 2019. This class had attendees from the United States, Ghana, Ethiopia, Namibia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Canada
CNG: If you had a magic agricultural wand, how would you use it to improve farm systems in America?
RN: With a magic wand, I would expand the use of aquaponics in America as a way to efficiently, naturally, and profitably grow fresh fish and vegetables. My magic wand would educate those who have not yet learned about the benefits of aquaponics and it would eliminate barriers, such as regulation and start-up cost, so that more people could embrace this method of food production.
CNG: Is there anything else CNG farmers and beekeepers should know?
RN: We truly appreciate that CNG made the effort to set standards for and include an aquaponics certification in addition to the other certifications they offer. It is a great benefit for our industry to have this option available and we are very happy to be associated with CNG!
…are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 

With summer just around the corner, you’ll want to get in on this offer:
All cap orders will come with 10 free CNG tattoos until July 31! 

Curious? Here’s why they’re so great. 
Sustainably Produced
They’re made with 70% certified organic cotton and 30% recycled polyester. See below for more details!
Adjustable
With an adjustable strap on the back, farmers of all sizes can wear them. Photos below from Amazing Heart Farm and Texas Eco Farms.

Comes with Tattoos
If you place your order by July 31, you’ll receive a 10 of our popular temporary tattoos! These colorful and easily applied tattoos are a hit at the farmer’s market!

Durable
They keep you cool, and they’ll hold up to rigorous long days in the sun.
Order by July 31 to receive 10 free CNG tattoos!

 
More information about the eco-friendly hats:
Since we grow food that’s free of pesticides, we think that cotton should be, too. That’s why we selected Econscious caps. They’re made with 70% certified organic cotton and 30% recycled polyester. These sustainably produced caps were recommended to us by a small Atlanta-based business called The Icebox, who translated our colorful logo into an amazing embroidered design.

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Texas Eco Farms keeps cool with the help of a CNG hat
Farming is never an easy job, but when both the temperature and humidity approach 100, growing food can feel even more challenging.
Because there’s a lot of wisdom out in those hot CNG fields, we polled our community to learn some of their best tips for staying cool, staying sane, and getting it all done.
If you’re feeling a little sweaty and overwhelmed, fear not! Plenty of local CNG farmers are here to commiserate, and offer lots of ideas to get through August and beyond.
“20-minute timed naps, flat on your back, in air conditioning. Does the trick every time.”

– Zach Richards of Levity Farms in Alpharetta, GA
“Get enough rest, drink lots of water, and take time to enjoy the beauty of summer 💚”

– Shazana Goff of Vegetable Power Farm in Germansville, PA
“Use an outdoor tub or pool to cool off in.”

– Carrie Chlebanowski of The Looney Farm in Alex, OK
“Try wet neckties chilled in cold water and a hat.”

– Ann M Nyhuis of A Gardens Glory in Stuart, FL
“Ashwaganda. An adaptogen herb. Sane, healthy, and calm 😉”

– Kelly Kingsland of Affinity Farm in Moscow, ID
“Take 10 minutes to meditate, drink water, and stretch in the morning.”

-Andrea McAdow of Rosebird Gardens in Kingman, AZ
“Try a nap in a hammock, and drink lots of water!”

– Anna Wilson and Bryan Falk of Brown Bottle Farm in Mulino, OR

“Take frequent breaks from the heat. Just 20 minutes in the shade helps both body AND mind.”

– Karin Velez of Wolf Creek Family Farm in Peculiar, MO
“Walk your farming area, or a different part of it, every morning with coffee.”

– Dennis Mark of Dennisbackyardgardens in Tampa, FL

If you like what you read, spread the word!

Suggested Facebook post:
@CertifiedNaturallyGrown farmers sure know how to beat the heat! #CertifiedNaturallyGrown #CNGproud https://www.cngfarming.org/keeping_your_cool

By Suzannah Schneider, Communications Manager and Certification Coordinator

Lettuce trial field perfection at Osborne Quality Seeds in Mount Vernon, Washington
The seed is the start of it all.
At Certified Naturally Grown, we require that our farmers’ seeds are free of GMOs, not chemically-treated in any way, and that they are Certified Naturally Grown or certified organic whenever they are commercially available. Because of our thorough requirements, we are always glad to link up with the folks who are working hard to produce such high-quality essentials for any produce farm.
So it’s exciting for us to welcome Osborne Quality Seeds as Business Allies of CNG! With well over 200 certified organic seed varieties to choose from, this Skagit Valley company can help round out your seed stock for your fall crops this year and seasons to come.
We caught up with Osborne Quality Seeds’ Ted Bartlett to learn all about the past, present, and future of this Business Ally.
Are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG): How did Osborne Quality Seeds get started?
Ted Bartlett (TB): We were founded as Osborne Seed Company by Wayne and Chris Osborne in 1982, in the Skagit Valley of Washington. Gowan Seed Company acquired the business in 2017 when Chris Osborne retired. We slightly re-branded as Osborne Quality Seeds, and we’ve found our place within the company as a mostly organic-focused business unit serving small-scale growers via our website and catalog. We retain the traditional values and standards that have been in place for almost four decades, with the backing of a much larger enterprise. What we gained there is tremendous internal expertise in crops like spinach, lettuce, onions, sweet corn, and watermelons.

CNG: What are Osborne Quality Seeds’ core values?
TB: We value farmers and the total act of farming, outstanding customer service, and sustainable practices.
CNG: How did you make the decision to support CNG as a Business Ally?

TB: We were very impressed with the concept of the certification, and how it includes small-scale growers in places where traditional organic certification may be cost-prohibitive for them. We support organic practices generally, and we applaud the efforts of these growers, and of CNG, to advance that cause.
CNG: How does Certified Naturally Grown support Osborne Quality Seeds’ customers?
TB: By working with small-scale growers to monitor the adherence to organic practices in a cost-effective way, CNG supports our customers in making a positive impact in American and Canadian local food systems.
CNG: What are some exciting developments at Osborne Quality Seeds our CNG community can look forward to in the future?
TB: We are always conducting trials on the newest and best varieties at our two-acre farm in Mount Vernon, Washington. We are putting special focus this year into identifying more organically-produced seed varieties that are of a sufficiently-high quality that we’re comfortable selling them. As always, where we can’t source a great organically-produced variety, we do carry untreated seeds, to help organic growers stay in compliance with their certification requirements.

CNG: If you had a magic agricultural wand, how would you use it to improve farm systems in America?
TB: We would create programs to make resources, training, the use of land, and farming infrastructure both more readily available, and more affordable, to people who want to start farming without immediately over-extending themselves financially.
We see how well programs like this work in our home area of Washington, with organizations like Cloud Mountain and Viva Farms, and we think that a lot of good would come from similar programs being more present in other parts of the US and Canada.
CNG: Is there anything else CNG farmers and beekeepers should know?
TB: At Osborne Quality Seeds, we see ourselves as partners to you in growing healthy food via sustainable farming methods. If we haven’t worked together before, we’d love the opportunity to speak with you, and to explore ways in which we can help. 
…are you interested in featuring your like-minded company on our blog? 

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