Produce & Flowers

Botanical Bites & Provisions, LLC

Owner: Anita Roberson

Address:
4738 Massaponax Church Road
Fredericksburg, VA 22408-8751
Spotsylvania County

Mailing Address:
10400 Campbell Drive
ATTN: Anita Roberson
Fredericksburg, VA 22408-2572

daytime phone: (540) 287-0635
evening phone: (540) 287-0635
Web site: http://www.botanicalbitesandprovisionsllc.com

Application Date: 2021-04-28

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
We are applying to reinforce our commitment to naturally grown practices on our farm and to show how much we value the health of our customers and the environment. It is our desire to be good stewards of our land to leave it as a resource for future generations.
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 learned about this program from other farmers and from online resources.
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: *
3-5
Number of above acreage that you own: *
10
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
3-4
Fruit Crops:
1
Hay:
0
Grains/Beans:
0
Sugarbush:
0
Other Acreage:
5
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 with rotary tiller and broad fork tillage.
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Red clover (crimson), rye, and rape.
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
Mushroom compost is used along with compost we create from vermicomposted kitchen scraps.
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". *
Approximately ten wheelbarrow loads per 1,000 square feet
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. *
Neptunes Harvest Seaweed is applied as needed by the results from our soil sample. Neptune's Harvest Seaweed Plant Food is made from Ascophyllum Nodosum that grows along the cold North Atlantic Ocean Floor.
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. *
Our primary weed challenges are henbit, dandelions, and wild onions and we mitigate them by mulching heavily around problem areas.
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. *
During our heavy growing seasons we often encounter hornworms, squash borers, Japanese beetles, and stink bugs. The use of low tunnels has been beneficial in keeping pests off crops allowing light and water to penetrate. We also practice companion growing and plants marigolds interspersed with our vegetables, monitor for pests, and manually remove them from the plants. We also apply food grade diatomaceous earth around plants when needed.
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. *
Hot and humid days can bring in opportunities for powdery mildew especially following heavy rains. Running fans to ventilate the high tunnels to circulate the air helps to mitigate this problem.
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 dedicated well that is used to irrigate the fields and high tunnel. The well is professionally tested annually.
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 make a good faith effort to local organically seed sources from Johnny's Selected Seeds, Park Seeds, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, and Burpee Seed companies.
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
What ingredients does your potting mix contain? If you purchase a mix, please also indicate which product. *
Mushroom compost is purchased from Full Circle Mushroom Compost, Address: 288 Stevens Rd, Rising Sun, MD 21911 Phone: Marketing/Sales 610-331-1849
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. *
A forest buffer surrounds three sides of our farm. Furthermore, we are the only vegetable farm on the eastern end of Massaponax Church Road. A busy roadway constitutes the front of our farm (on the northern side). On the western side of the farm, on the other side of the trees lies I-95.

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: