Winter'Rest Farm is an organic farm.
Well, if you ask the USDA, they would emphatically disagree.
The term "organic" has been a buzzword for years. Many people still do not understand what constitutes an organic food product. Simply put, organic agricultural products must adhere to USDA standards.
"These standards require the integration of cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. This means that organic operations must maintain or enhance soil and water quality while also conserving wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used." [http://www.ams.usda.gov]
Organic Certification is a complicated thing. In 1990, The Organic Foods Protection Act was established to provide guidelines and standards for the production and handling of organic agricultural products. Through this act, the USDA created the National Organic Program, (NOP) which is essentially the police force of the organic agricultural industry, ensuring compliance with USDA standards. If a farmer wishes to market their products as "Certified Organic", they must contact one of 82 NOPACAs (National Organic Program Accredited Certifying Agent) in the US and/or around the world. These NOPACAs are listed by name as well as categorized by state. In my home state of NY, there are 19 NOPACAs, two of which aren't located in NY, and one that isn't even based in America at all. You can look up your state's NOPACA list at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5100383.
All this government regulation is, of course, the result of early conflicting standards, fraud and the emerging public skepticism and doubt as to the authenticity of a product that is marketed as "better" - and often much more expensive - than the mainstream equivalent product.
Well, if you ask the USDA, they would emphatically disagree.
The term "organic" has been a buzzword for years. Many people still do not understand what constitutes an organic food product. Simply put, organic agricultural products must adhere to USDA standards.
"These standards require the integration of cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. This means that organic operations must maintain or enhance soil and water quality while also conserving wetlands, woodlands, and wildlife. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used." [http://www.ams.usda.gov]
Organic Certification is a complicated thing. In 1990, The Organic Foods Protection Act was established to provide guidelines and standards for the production and handling of organic agricultural products. Through this act, the USDA created the National Organic Program, (NOP) which is essentially the police force of the organic agricultural industry, ensuring compliance with USDA standards. If a farmer wishes to market their products as "Certified Organic", they must contact one of 82 NOPACAs (National Organic Program Accredited Certifying Agent) in the US and/or around the world. These NOPACAs are listed by name as well as categorized by state. In my home state of NY, there are 19 NOPACAs, two of which aren't located in NY, and one that isn't even based in America at all. You can look up your state's NOPACA list at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5100383.
All this government regulation is, of course, the result of early conflicting standards, fraud and the emerging public skepticism and doubt as to the authenticity of a product that is marketed as "better" - and often much more expensive - than the mainstream equivalent product.
National standards keep the playing field equal and ensure that everyone is abiding by the same set of rules. After all, Organic Certification is optional. No farmer- micro, small or mega-agri-businesses - must apply for or maintain Organic Certification. It's a value-added status for the farm and doesn't come cheap. Depending on the size of the farm and what their "organic production value" is, fees can run anywhere between $200.00- $35,000.00. [http://www.ccof.org/] In fact, many farmers cannot afford the initial and yearly inspection and certification fees, even though they are already practicing sustainable and organic agricultural methods. Farmers are allowed to market their goods as organic as long as they make less than 5,000.00 in organic sales, but if they make more than 5,000.00 in organic sales, they must be certified. [http://www.ams.usda.gov]
WHEW! All that for a sustainable and chemical-free apple. Or carrot. Or blueberry!
WHEW! All that for a sustainable and chemical-free apple. Or carrot. Or blueberry!
Organic farms are chemical free. No pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. Period. Organic farmers must be creative and knowledgeable. Pests can be controlled or eliminated using floating row covers, pheromone and sticky traps, insecticidal soap and oil sprays, bacillus thuringiensis (BT) and parasitic nematodes. [www.organicgardening.com]
Weeds may be kept at bay using landscape fabric, corn gluten meal, flame weeding, molasses and vinegar. [www.organicauthority.com] Fertilizers such as blood meal, Epsom salts (magnesium), liquid seaweed and believe it or not, human urine are great options to boost growth, but optimum growing conditions start with great soil. Perhaps the best way to amend or repair old or poor soil is the application of compost. Compost is the correct mixture of water, air, carbon and nitrogen and is a multi-step process. Biodegradable items are added periodically and turned to encourage aeration; as the compost breaks down, it is moved to separate holding areas where it continues to decompose.
Weeds may be kept at bay using landscape fabric, corn gluten meal, flame weeding, molasses and vinegar. [www.organicauthority.com] Fertilizers such as blood meal, Epsom salts (magnesium), liquid seaweed and believe it or not, human urine are great options to boost growth, but optimum growing conditions start with great soil. Perhaps the best way to amend or repair old or poor soil is the application of compost. Compost is the correct mixture of water, air, carbon and nitrogen and is a multi-step process. Biodegradable items are added periodically and turned to encourage aeration; as the compost breaks down, it is moved to separate holding areas where it continues to decompose.
At Winter'Rest Farm, we recycle all of our house-hold food scraps into compost. I have a counter-top compost container that has a silicone gasket and charcoal filter, both of which help keep household odor down.
As I prepare meals, I drop fruit and vegetable peelings into it, along with eggshells, bits of leftover foods, newpaper and paperboard egg cartons- even dryer lint! The only product that must be avoided in your compost bin is protein. Dairy foods, including cheese and milk, as well as any sort of meat scraps should be left out of a compost system. These items attract scavengers and pests. I do bury fish bones, heads and guts in my main farm compost pile, but I dig a deep hole and fill it in thoroughly- and I don't do it too often!
As I prepare meals, I drop fruit and vegetable peelings into it, along with eggshells, bits of leftover foods, newpaper and paperboard egg cartons- even dryer lint! The only product that must be avoided in your compost bin is protein. Dairy foods, including cheese and milk, as well as any sort of meat scraps should be left out of a compost system. These items attract scavengers and pests. I do bury fish bones, heads and guts in my main farm compost pile, but I dig a deep hole and fill it in thoroughly- and I don't do it too often!
Once my counter-top compost bucket is full, I take it outside and dump it into larger buckets equipped with a lid. This way, I can collect larger amounts of scraps and house them outside, but protected from any ranging animals that might want to make a meal of the contents! I get these buckets from my workplace, and save them for lots of uses, although they are also available at hardware and farm-supply stores.
I work in the food service industry and also bring food scraps home from my job, which helps everyone; the farm as well as the landfill! Other items that can be composted include leaves, grass clippings and livestock manure. (Know your manure supplier! Some dung can contain soil-damaging components that survive the digestion process and will depend on the Livestock Operation's Ag practices- organic horse and dairy farms are best).
Once these large buckets are full, I transport them up to the farm and empty them into the larger, fenced in compost area. Then the process starts all over! After several months, we have a nutrient-rich humus that we till into the farm soil- ensuring healthy, high-yield plants and vegetables- without expensive and toxic chemical fertilizers!
Organic farmers endure an expensive and complicated process to bring environmentally healthy, nutritious and sustainable products to market. Try to support them, along with all other American Farmers- large or small. After all, No Farms, No Food!
I work in the food service industry and also bring food scraps home from my job, which helps everyone; the farm as well as the landfill! Other items that can be composted include leaves, grass clippings and livestock manure. (Know your manure supplier! Some dung can contain soil-damaging components that survive the digestion process and will depend on the Livestock Operation's Ag practices- organic horse and dairy farms are best).
Once these large buckets are full, I transport them up to the farm and empty them into the larger, fenced in compost area. Then the process starts all over! After several months, we have a nutrient-rich humus that we till into the farm soil- ensuring healthy, high-yield plants and vegetables- without expensive and toxic chemical fertilizers!
Organic farmers endure an expensive and complicated process to bring environmentally healthy, nutritious and sustainable products to market. Try to support them, along with all other American Farmers- large or small. After all, No Farms, No Food!