Produce & Flowers

Sacred Roots Herbal Sanctuary

Owner: Hillary Banachowski

Address:
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV

daytime phone: (301) 452-2075
evening phone: (301) 452-2075
Web site: http://sacredrootswv.com

Application Date: 2018-01-06

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
We feel it's important for our customers to know that we do not use herbicides or pesticides, yet organic cert is expensive and full of hoops to jump through now that the gov't has taken it over. We like the idea of peer reviewed and supported accountability instead....keeping it local.
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 farmer friend- Max Dubansky.
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: *
3 acres
Number of above acreage that you own: *
34 acres
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0 acres
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
0 acres
Fruit Crops:
0 acres
Hay:
0 acres
Grains/Beans:
0 acres
Sugarbush:
0 acres
Other Acreage:
3 acres
Please check all items you grow and will market as Certified Naturally GrownTM *











Please Specify Any Other Items:
Hemp
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:
We sell to herb shops , vend at herbal gatherings, local festivals and sell to individuals when we have events on our land.

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
no till
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
alfalfa, oats, rye, red clover , crimson clover
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
We use grass clippings on farm, mushroom compost from local plant nursery and leave dead plant matter around to feed back into the soil.
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 inches deep
Do you use Manure? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.): *
horse farm next door
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 inch deep
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
Fall
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. *
none
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. *
Johnson grass and Sow Thistle are an issue. We mow both frequently and dig out by hand, with shovel and mattock, when necessary.
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. *
Japanese Beetle- pick them off by hand and we put small cups of soapy water at base of plants for them , and offer at least one sacrificial plant to keep them busy. They have a substantial impact, but not huge because we also do a lot of inter cropping, build the fertility of the soil and use insectary plants to attract beneficial predatory insects.
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. *
Our only real disease challenge is minor, Downy Mildew on the monarda. They seem to thrive despite it and it's not something we harvest and sell, so we leave it be.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
Our well.
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? *
organic Herbal vendors only- strictly medicinals,and other small herb farms
How have you confirmed with your supplier that the transplants are grown without synthetic fertilizers or wetting agents? *
yes
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). *
not applicable
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. *
We own 34 acres and are buffered on two sides by acres of mature trees, on one side by the road, and the other by an empty unused field. The closest field of any significance is the neighboring one closest to the herb gardens. We are 500 feet away from our neighbor's field and buffered by a mature tree line. He grows conventional corn.

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: