Produce & Flowers

St. Joseph Center of Arkansas

Owner: Sandy DeCoursey

Address:
6800 Camp Robinson Road
North Little Rock, AR 72118
Pulaski County

daytime phone: (501) 993-4560
Web site: http://www.stjosephcenter.org/

Application Date: 2018-04-14

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
St. Joseph Center is a non-profit based on a 63-acre urban farm that used to be a self-sustaining orphanage run by nuns. These nuns fed themselves and hundreds of kids, and seniors everyday. They used their farm to support their community and help those in need. We believe that legacy should be carried on by restoring St. Joseph Center to be a farming epicenter that is sustainable,responsible, and drawing people back to the soil. We believe a Naturally Grown certification could be a great step in that direction for many reasons: so that we can make sure we are using the best practices, connecting with other farmers like us and continuing to build this grass roots movement, and to feed people who want better food, and to take care of the Earth.
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? *
We have a farm-stand on site through which we sell thousands of pounds of local produce every year and we know of many CNG farmers who sell us food and enjoy the benefits of the certification.
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: *
10
Number of above acreage that you own: *
0
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
10
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
Fruit Crops:
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: *
Tractor
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Red clover, vetch, other mixes.
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
American Compost (purchased complete) On farm composting system.
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.): *
Our cattle, sheep, goats, and chickens manure is all composted before applying.
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
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
All year.
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,
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. *
Bermuda, nut sedge, and other common perennial grasses. We manage our weeds with mulching, and hoeing, and other hand tools.
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, squash bugs, and horn worms. Which are managed with soap spray, neem oil, and diatomaceous earth.
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. *
Tomato blight, blossom rot, and wilt. We have high tunnels to try and isolate the diseases, and pruning methods. Since we are just starting we will make sure we learn the organic methods of treating disease and stick to them.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
We use Central Arkansas Water from the city.
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. *
We are not near any other agricultural operations, and we are located in city limits surrounded by a residential area and a heavily wooded military base so there is no likelihood of drift.

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:
St. Joseph Center seeks to become a sustainable farm with an emphasis in agri-education and agri-tourism.