Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program:

To offer farmers' market and CSA customers an alternative "organic" certification.

Are you currently third party Certified for your produce operation by any other organization (Organic, Biodynamic, etc)?

no

Have you ever been certified in the past?

yes

If yes, please note which agencies and dates:

Pro-Cert 2002-2009

Have you ever been denied certification?

no

How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown?

Online

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally Grown^TM:

Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on:

2

Number of above acreage that you own:

0

Number of above acreage that you lease:

2

Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems?

no

General Listed Acreage Breakdown

Veg Crops:

2

Fruit Crops:

0

Hay:

0

Grains/Beans:

0

Sugarbush:

0

Other Acreage:

0

Please check all items you grow and will market as Certified Naturally Grown^TM

Vegetables Herbs Berries Tree Fruits Grapes Grains Beans Hay Flowers Greenhouse Plants Other (please specify below)

Please Specify Any Other Items:

Please check all markets you grow for (this will be displayed on your farm profile to help potential buyers find you).

Farmer's Market Farm Stand Local Restaurants CSA's Coops Health Food Stores Groceries Regional Wholesalers www.LocalHarvest.org Commodities Other (please specify below)

Please Specify Other Markets:

Primary Tillage System:

Rototiller

Do you use Cover Crops?

yes

If yes, please list:

oats, winter rye, clover

Do you use Compost?

yes

If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.):

On-farm and purchased local cow manure composted on-site

Please list application rates. Give a specific amount or range (for example: one to two tons per acre, ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet, or 1-2 inches deep). Do not answer "varies".

5-10 tons/acre

Do you use Manure?

no

Please list any other brought in fertility sources that you use (specific rock powders, lime, soybean / alfalfa meal, specific purchased pre-mixes, etc)and how often it's used. If you indicate a name brand product, please also specify the ingredient/s.

None

Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)?

no

Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last 3 years?

no

Do you use Professional Soil Testing services?

yes

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.

No problem level weeds. Control with hand tools, hand weeding, mulch.

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.

Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles, cucumber beetles, tomato hornworm, all controlled with floating row cover or handpicking.

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.

No disease problems at present. Early blight on tomatoes is the only regular disease with some yield impact that we have encountered here and on farmland in the local region - severity varies by year and variety, has never been overwhelming, and is countered mainly by organic or plastic mulch (preventative) and removal of affected plants. Powdery mildew on cucurbits is also common, usually quite variety and timing specific, and never a serious problem - we have attempted prevention with a baking soda and soap spray applied prior to any sign of mildew, the effectiveness of this is not yet absolutely clear, although treated plants have usually seemed to remain mildew-free. In general, prevention through healthy field conditions, variety selection, and ultimately plant removal have proven effective in dealing with our low incidence of disease.

Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name:

On-farm wells.

Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water?

no

Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush?

no

Do you purchase or grow using any Genetically Modified seeds?

no

Do you use any chemically treated seeds in your operation?

no

Do you grow your own transplants?

yes

Are they grown using Naturally Grown/Organic methods?

yes

If they're not grown according to CNG methods, please list them here. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown. (If they are, put "N/A")

n/a

Do you purchase any transplants from outside sources?

no

Chemical/Spray Drift and Buffers:

Is there any likelihood of Chemical/Spray drift contamination of your fields?

no

Do you have an adequate buffer to protect yourself from potential contamination?

yes

Please describe your buffer. Be as specific as possible. 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.

Market garden is located on 100-acre farm with no other agricultural production. 1 kilometer from nearest trafficked road. Buffer of 1000' from permanent pasture on nearest adjoining farm.

Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by checking the boxes.

I will not label, or in any way lead consumers to believe that produce not raised in accord with CNG standards is Certified Naturally Grown^TM.

I agree

I understand that I have to complete at least one (and hopefully more) Certification Inspection(s) of another farm in my area each year, and that the inspection will NOT be of the same farmer that inspected me.

I agree

I have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown certification standards, I understand them, and I will abide by them. I understand that if I have any questions I may contact CNG for clarification.

I agree

You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm:

Discontinued organic certification after 2009 because not happy with what it represented overall: not geared to small producer, not easy for consumer to understand, lumped in with large corporate organic producers, and restriction on use of the word "organic." Want something more direct and easier for consumer to understand.