Produce & Flowers

Coops and Crops

Owner: Dean Snyder & Jane Malone

Address:
11902 Kennedyville Rd
Kennedyville, MD 21645
Kent County

daytime phone: (410) 708-8963
evening phone: (410) 708-9600
Web site: http://coopsandcrops.com

Application Date: 2016-09-10

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
We have been growing a wide variety of vegetables without using pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals on our property since we purchased it in spring 2013. In 2015 we moved to full-year production. We are proud to plan to continue farming without pesticides, herbicides, or other chemicals, expanding from only vegetables to berries and other fruits. Since we know we can fulfill its requirements, we have decided to seek the recognition and accountability provided by the CNG program.
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? *
CASA, farm publications
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: *
2.0
Number of above acreage that you own: *
2.0
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
1.75
Fruit Crops:
0.25
Hay:
Grains/Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage:
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:

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
Initial approach to an area: disc plow and rototiller Ongoing treatment: walk-behind tiller and/or broad-fork
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
wheat buckwheat clover oat radish hairy vetch
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
on farm - plant clippings, vegetable cuttings, straw
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". *
wheelbarrow per 100 foot row
Do you use Manure? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.): *
our own chickens our own goats' waste mixed with straw local horse farm
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". *
1/2 inch deep
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
fall/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. *
lime is used to balance manure as needed for specific crop
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. *
perennial grass - pulling/hoeing multiple weeds near crops - using wheel hoe, weed knife
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. *
potato beetles - pick them off, guinea fowl patrol, row covers squash borers - multiple plantings at a distance, guineas working on attracting beneficials with fruit trees and perennial flowers
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. *
sun-scald on tomatoes - still working on prevention
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
deep well - same as used by household
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? *
yes
From which sources do you buy transplants? *
USDA certified grower
How have you confirmed with your supplier that the transplants are grown without synthetic fertilizers or wetting agents? *
copy of cert. form after conversation
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). *
Bought-in transplants meet CNG standards
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. *
The distance between our growing areas and other uses ranges from 10-100 yards. To the SE/south there is a a wooded area of 30 yards depth separating our growing area from the neighboring farmer's conventional crops. To the SW/west we maintain chemical-free open field adjacent to the neighboring farmer's calf pasture; our growing area is more than 100 yards from the calf pasture. From the road along the north/NE, we maintain a buffer of no less than 50 feet for our asparagus and fruit trees.

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: