Produce & Flowers

Joy Haven Farm

Owner: Jim and Sheila Dicks

Address:
605 Old Federal Rd.
Shorter, AL 36075
Macon County

daytime phone: (334) 652-3459
Web site: http://joyhavenfarm.weebly.com

Application Date: 2013-02-28

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
We started by doing research on how to get organically certified and also found your website. After reading all information we felt this fit us better, because we are a small farm just starting to expand, and we are proud that we grow our vegetables organically. We visited The Gathering Place Farm and also made two other telephone inquires about CNG, with very positive response. Thank you for considering our application.
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? *
Internet
How did you learn to farm, and for how long have you been farming for market? What has prepared you to farm successfully according to CNG standards? *

General Farm Information

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally GrownTM:
Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on: *
1.5
Number of above acreage that you own: *
28
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
1.5
Fruit Crops:
0
Hay:
0
Grains/Beans:
0
Sugarbush:
0
Other Acreage:
26.5
Please check all items you grow and will market as Certified Naturally GrownTM *











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). *











Please Specify Other Markets:
Sell some flowers to Floral Shop and hope to sell to grocery stores in future

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
Combination systems are used on our farm, original garden space is beds and small open ground area with a no till system. Expanded this year with a 3/4 acre field and was mulch tilled first then ridges where created for rows. This field will be only be ridge tilled in future.
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
This is our first year of expanding to a large open area and plan to use cover crops this fall.
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
Our compost started out small with yard leaves, kitchen scraps and disposed garden plants. We now are expanding with leaves from our wooded areas and horse manure. We have 3 horses on farm and use there manure, hay and wood shaving that are cleaned from barn. All compost used has matured no shorter than one year.
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". *
2 inches deep
Do you use Manure? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.): *
Manure from 3 horses on our farm. Aged manure is added to other compost. We do not directly apply manure to dirt.
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". *
2 inches deep
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
late winter - early spring
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. *
Miracle Grow Organic Bone and Blood meal, Neptune Fish Fertilizer and Sea Plus Liquid
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? *
no
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. *
Broad leaf and grass weed. Also new field that we are using this year use to be a horse pasture and we will have a problem with grass. We are row covering with black plastic, physically pull or hoe. Rock walkways are sometimes treated with 1part vinegar 2parts water.
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, cutworms, colorado potato beetle, stink bugs, flea beetle, squash vine borers, tomato hornworms and some white flies. We first check plants frequently before infested, remove insects and eggs from plants. Stray with Safer Insect soap and dust with DE.
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. *
Late blight, black spot, and unknown fungal spores. We have used Safer brand fungicide in past however I will be implementing different water practices, like only watering in am and use of irrigation to ground around plant. Also will water deep and less often. I am going to try Oxidate for prevention and maintenance.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
Well, rain water collected and occasionally city water.
Are there any known contaminants in the irrigation water? *
no
Are you a maple producer who seeks to certify your sugarbush? *
no

Seeds, Transplants and Buffers

How do you select your seeds? CNG standards call for growers to make a good faith effort to locate organically grown seeds by contacting at least 3 major suppliers. *
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
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? *
yes
If any transplants are not grown according to CNG standards, please list them here. (If they all are, put "N/A".) This produce may not be marketed as Certified Naturally Grown. *
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. *
North public road 60 ft, south our own horse pasture and back to woods on our on property for 8 acres, east own yard and future orchard, then house and surrounding yard 2 acre and on our west is 50ft and 10ft tree line to neighbor who grows no crops.

Agreements

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 GrownTM. *
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 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. *
You may use this space to tell us anything else you think we should know about your farm:
We have no other CNG farms in our area and in future would like to offer education for naturally growing fruits and vegetables.