Produce & Flowers

SoulsInSoil

Owner: Doug Poteet

Address:
Brooksville, FL

Application Date: 2020-04-27

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
I would like to grow crops to sell at our Farmers' Market and hopefully local restaurants and chiefs.
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? *
I was a co-manager at Auro Community Garden in Hernando county which is CNG certified.
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: *
1/2 an acre
Number of above acreage that you own: *
2.5 acres
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0
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 till first time 8-10” deep, broad fork for a few years to help deepen the flow of organic matter and life forms.
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Soil here is VERY sandy, when not in profit will be covered with a cover crop. Would like to try a heavy hand of Buckwheat to boost up the organic matter, probably throw in just as much of legumes. Not sure what type of peas and or beans will thrive here looking to run some side by side trials.
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
On the farm - homemade.
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". *
four 5-gallon buckets per 100-foot
Do you use Manure? *
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. *
Hay is used in the Fall. Par4 consists of bone, blood, and feather meal. FEEDertalizer, purchased FoxFarm Bush Dr. Manganese and Big Bloom both OMRI approved. Covered garden with 2’ of mulch last year covered with weed cloth removed May 1 to prep to grow. See SOIL.
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. *
Weed control is handled by flame-weeding or by hand, until desired crop is established - then it is chop and drop. WEEDS will be addressed regularly with a Flame Weeder and its several attachments that will allow both broad and narrow applications. As the weeds persist so do I, I am winning.
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. *
Insect challenges are dealt with as needed. Currently dealing with a flea gnat that likes to eat our bok choy and chinese cabbage. We are using a safer soap product, Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap, active ingredient is potassium salts of fatty acids. We also just released 3,000 lady bugs to combat bad bugs with good bugs. Bug(s) every-body has to eat. I let them stay until I have i.d. them and know if I can neutralize them by introducing another Bug. Then that is what I do. Yes, data, eats Herb, Carn, Omni, morphs, Eggs, pupa you get the drift. Side note ANTS are a very cool crew. As powerful as their stings may be, they are just as powerful in cleaning up the place and maintaining relationships with others while trying to keep the peace.
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. *
If mildew, blight, mosaic virus, etc. show up, we will manage these challenges by whatever product you recommend so that we stay compliant with this certificate. Diseases will be removed quickly, cut about 1-2” below soil line. Do what I need to i.d. then its compost, burn, or trash. Of course, data, what plant, life stage, site of attack, Intern/Exos. Color, shape, size, mycelium. When available, let it ride, see it to its END. DATA
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
We use well-water from our property.
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. *
Most of our seeds come from Johnny's 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? *
Purchase potting soil from a local nursery - Hildreth Nursery.
What ingredients does your potting mix contain? If you purchase a mix, please also indicate which product. *
This mix contains Florida Pete, composted cow manure, composted leaf, and pine or hardwood shavings. Th
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. *
Neighbors on two sides don't spray anything but water. The backside is old-growth pine forest. No through traffic - at least 100 yards away from garden.

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: