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

Having been the grower for a certified organic farm for four years, I came to realize there are better ways to grow than using conventional methods. You protect not only the land and the environment but also the people who consume your product. After considering becoming certified organic, I realized it was cost prohibitive for a small start-up farm and began looking for alternate certifications.

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?

no

Have you ever been denied certification?

no

How did you hear about Certified Naturally Grown?

From a certified organic grower

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

Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on:

2.5

Number of above acreage that you own:

5.6

Number of above acreage that you lease:

0

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

no

General Listed Acreage Breakdown

Veg Crops:

2

Fruit Crops:

.5

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:

Iron clay peas

Do you use Compost?

yes

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

Purchased complete, on-farm and local dairy

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".

one ton per acre

Do you use Manure?

yes

If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.):

Local dairy and horse farm, composted

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".

1000 lbs

What time of year do you apply the manure?

summertime

Do you apply any non-composted Manure within 120 days of veg-crop harvesting?

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.

Dolemite, Rhizogen 6-2-6 fertilizer, OMRI approved

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.

Pigweed and nutsedge. Use cultivators to control weeds as I have found that none of the organic materials listed as organic are effective

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.

Aphids, thrips, stinkbugs. OMRI approved oils such as rosemary, insecticidal soap, pyganic 1.4% OMRI approved--only when all other methods fail. Also, interplantings of herbs as a repellant

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.

Fungus. Milstop, Actinovate AG, rosemary oil and drip irrigation system to reduce wetting of leaves

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

Well water

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.

To the north is a cow pasture. We have a bamboo buffer planted between us and the pasture. To the south is a residential horse pasture and a bamboo buffer which separates us. To the west is a buffer of oak trees and roadway, total area approximately 250 feet to nearest neighbor. To the east is property we own.

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:

We are a small family start-up farm and will be in production by October 2012. Having run a Certified Organic farm, I am familiar with all NOP rules as one of my primary responsibilities was to keep all records and meet with inspectors for our yearly inspection. The company I worked for was inspected four (4) times. All four inspections passed with flying colors.