Produce & Flowers

Aliff Acres

Owner: Thomas Aliff

Address:
McDavid, FL

daytime phone: (850) 777-4668
evening phone: (850) 777-4668
Web site: http://www.thefarmonaliffacres.com

Application Date: 2020-04-05

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
We think it would be a great addition to our farm.
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? *
Online
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: *
5 acres
Number of above acreage that you own: *
all
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
Fruit Crops:
1
Hay:
Grains/Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage:
livestock
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: *
minimum till (usually only for breaking ground. We currently use polarization for establishing soil.
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Whatever is in season in our area. It varies.
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
on 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". *
It really does depend on what we think the actual crop needs at the time.
Do you use Manure? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.): *
Our own chicken and horse manure.
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". *
We compost it.
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
After it is composted, when it is needed.
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. *
bone meal and blood meal usually in the holes of tomatoes at planting.
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. *
We hand weed. We sometimes burn, but our method of using the stirrup hoe is effective if we plant thickly.
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. *
We use Integrative Pest management and insect netting. We spray or dust only when needed. White moths on cabbage are challenging, so we don't plant brassicas late. We use BT or Diatomaceous earth if we have to dust. Sometimes we will spray with oil and Dr. Bronner's castile soap. We use neem on the fruit trees. We try not to dust if at all possible. We work with Dr. Majumdar at Auburn University to utilize IPM strategies. We have just been accepted into his farmer program for high tunnels to study IPM using our high tunnel. This year we are participating in a grant with him to have a mesh material on the bottom of our high tunnel for adequate airflow and to test pest pressure. He is very organically minded and we consult him first to exhaust all resources before we use even the "organic/safer" things.
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. *
We use hybrids to control powdery mildew. We use adequate plant spacing to control air flow. If a plant is infected, we will remove that plant before it infects the others.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
We have a well and we use drip irrigation.
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. *
we try to buy organic when we can. We primarily use Johnny's, Southern Exposure, Baker Creek Heirlooms, Hoss Seeds. We have used Twilley's and Renee's garden in the past. (We also are starting an organically grown flower farm). We are open to new seed producers.
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? *
Both
What ingredients does your potting mix contain? If you purchase a mix, please also indicate which product. *
We have mixed them before using Elliot Coleman's mixture. However, right now, we typically used a combination of black cow or mushroom compost mixed with peat. We use the small potting trays mostly 128s so they really don't need fertilizing until they are set out. If they do, we use fish emulsion in the watering cans as needed.
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. *
n/a
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 live in a rural area. The nearest conventional crop is over 1,500 feet away. We have a field in front of us (west side) that is not treated in any way. On the north side, we have a neighbor who uses organic methods in her residence. On the south side we have a wooded field. On the east side we have a residence behind us that is over 500 feet from our property line.

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:
Thank you!