Produce & Flowers

Hawkins Homestead Farm

Owner: Rachel & Brandon Hawkins

Address:
Dothan, AL

daytime phone: (334) 595-5128
Web site: http://www.hawkinshomesteadfarm.com

Application Date: 2020-05-22

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
We would like those in our community to know that Southeast Alabama is more than just cotton, corn, and peanuts. It is our future goal to be certified organic and we view CNG as a stepping stone on our way to reaching this goal. There is such a need for clean, safe, local food in our community. We are serious and proud of how we grow food and becoming CNG helps our customers see just how serious we are about our farm and farming practices.
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? *
Bain Home Gardens
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
Number of above acreage that you own: *
4
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
.25
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
90
Fruit Crops:
5
Hay:
0
Grains/Beans:
5
Sugarbush:
0
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:
The majority of our business is done through our website. We have a goal to open our farm stand in the next year.

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
Low/No Till depending on location. We started out tilling, but have since converted to mostly raised or permanent beds which require no tilling. Our new location is a converted wooded area and has to be tilled at first, but will also be converted to no till once complete.
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Peas, greens, and beans
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
On farm compost that consists of aged chicken manure, grass clippings, leaves, vegetable debris, vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, and wood shavings. We will supplement with purchased if needed.
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.): *
We use our own composted chicken 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". *
2 inches deep
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
Spring and 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. *
Bone meal, blood meal, fish emulsion, epsom salt, and organic vegetable granular fertilizer.
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. *
Crabgrass is our nemesis along with dichondra, wild lettuce, red sorrel, Virginia spiderwort, Carolina geranium, chickweed, pigweed, henbit, dandelions, and spurge. We hand pull most of these weeds, but also use a standard garden hoe or a stir up hoe as well.
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, armyworms, ants, cabbageworms, soliderbugs, flea beetles, whiteflies, potatobugs. We use a soapy spray using Castile soap, diatomaceous earth, and neem oil.We will also use BT if necessary.
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. *
Powdery mildew is handled through a mixture of of baking soda, water, Castile soap, and oil.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
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. *
We only purchase organic, Non-GMO, and heirloom seeds.
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? *
Mix
What ingredients does your potting mix contain? If you purchase a mix, please also indicate which product. *
Organic spaghum peat moss, coconut coir, vermiculite, pearlite, and compost.
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. *
Residential location with no other growers on leased location and wooded land surrounding 4 acre lot.

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: