Escarpment Gardens Produce and Flowers Application

Application Date:

City: Annan, ON

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) program:
I would like to improve and grow my herbal tea business and feel that being part of the Certified Naturally Grown program would help me to provide the best product I can for my customers.

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?

Total number of acres you want listed as CNG: 10 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:
Fruit: 2 acres wild and cultivated berries
Cut Flowers:
Hay:
Grains:
Dry Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage: 3 acres wild herbs, half acre cultivated herbs

Specify other items: I also sustainably wild harvest tree barks, needles and leaves

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:
coops, stores, Cafes, Farm Stores and Bed & Breakfasts

Farmland Management & Practices

Describe how you prepare your ground for planting.
Minimal tillage with hand tools.
Do you use Cover Crops? No
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. I provide fertilizer to my garden with mulches made from hand weeded plants that grow wild on the farm and also tree leaves.
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? No
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.
I do a lot of hand weeding to use for mulch to use in the garden. The herbal teas that are the product that my farm exclusively produces include a good proportion of sustainably wild harvested ingredients which does require constant hand weeding during growth and harvest.
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.
Each plant, berry, tree bark and root is inspected during the growing season and during harvest for signs of insect and other animal presence or damage which if there is any, are discarded into an isolated pile on the farm. Then before dehydration begins all plant material is inspected again and rinsed. After dehydration all material is inspected again before breaking down for storage and then again before placing in tea bags.
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.
I occasionally encounter leaf and fruit mildew damage. When it is encountered the plants and/or fruits are unusable and are discarded in my isolated plant and fruit damage pile.
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: All irrigation comes from the farms drilled well.
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.

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.
The buffers are fence rows of mature trees and field/meadow with hundreds of feet between the neighbouring properties and my production areas. I've attached a picture of the property with the organic site plan outline. (CNG Staff note: hay field to the north, roads and fallow fields to east and west, and hay and conventional soybeans to the south.) The areas marked "wild harvest area" and the "planted perennials" area in field number 4 are the main areas in production. I have marked the neighbouring properties activity also.

Agreements