Organic Standards

• The land must be free of prohibited substances for 3 years prior to organic farming
• Seeds should be organic but right now the use of some non-organic seeds is permitted
• The use of genetic engineering, sewage sludge, or ionizing radiation is prohibited
• Weeds are controlled with management practices and lots of work
• Garden pests are handled with integrated pest management practices which include biological, physical, and mechanical controls.
• Some organic pesticides are permitted
• To maintain soil fertility organic farmers use methods such as: crop rotations, cover crops, animal manures, compost, and diversity in crops.
• Some organic fertilizers are permitted

Alternatives to chemical Ag

Integrated pest management

• is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management
• uses plant positive approaches instead of pest negative ones
• uses natural forms of pest control, such as lady bugs

Soil fertility

A number of things that can be done to maintain soil fertility without the use of chemical fertilizers are:

• crop rotation
• composting
• fallow periods
• cover crops

Weed control

Hand pull

This is the physical removal of weeds pulled out by hand.

Cultivate

Scratching the surface to kill weeds with tools, hoes cut off roots at surface. Hoe weeds when young!

Weed till

Clear a field, water it and let the weeds sprout. Hoe them away and repeat.

Organic Mulch

Lay down at least 5” thick of mulch that does not have weed seeds in it such as straw. Mulch can be put around transplants or over plants like garlic, onions, and potatoes.

Plastic mulch

Lay down plastic and plant in poked holes. Some problems are that plastic breaks down quickly, makes a lot of trash, and blocks water.

Plant a cover crop

Plant a cover crop that out grows the weeds, such as summer buck wheat and vetch or winter oats, bell beans, and vetch.

Flame weeding

Uses a propane torch to cook the weeds.

Drip irrigation

For areas with long dry seasons bury your drip tape and irrigate only where needed.

Do not let weeds go to seed

1 year seeds = 7 years weeds

Use animals

Geese are grass specialists.

Sheep will eat everything they can reach.

Goats will eat everything they can reach including Poison oak.

Organic pesticides and fertilizers

• Neem oil
• BT
• Dolimite

Other Descriptions of Organic Farming

• Organic farming can be described (least in laymen's terms) as growing food the way nature intended.
• Free of artificial hormones, GMO's, and pesticides.

Famous Organic farmers include Senator Jon Tester, Farmer John- of Angelic Organics, skateboarder Bob Burnquist, Eliot Coleman, C.G. Kains, and Rodale.

See also

• Congress hears from organic growers over farm bill - Small farmers seek piece of spending that typically goes to big commodities (April 19, 2007)