Produce & Flowers

Dancing Spring Garden

Owner: Susan Opitz

Address:
Donaldson, AR

daytime phone: (612) 751-0430
Web site: http://www.dancingspringgarden.com

Application Date: 2022-04-05

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
I value the CNG philosophy and what it stands for. The organic certification is cost prohibitive and I like that farmers certify other farmers. I hope to learn and grow with CNG over time and plan to have a long standing relationship and also work to educate customers on what it means and why it exists.
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 have heard about it in many places from several people over the years. Heard about it at SAWG a few years ago. Most recently through someone I work with at ASBTDC
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? *
I have learned from a couple farmers over the last few years. I learned via permaculture certification. I have been growing and creating products for market since last year. This is my second year. I have studied up on organic certification and info on this website to learn the specifications and differences between the two. I know I will have a lot to learn and I plan to use this opportunity to grow and learn new skills along the way.

General Farm Information

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally GrownTM:
Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on: *
1
Number of above acreage that you own: *
4.4
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
0
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
70
Fruit Crops:
30
Hay:
0
Grains/Beans:
0
Sugarbush:
0
Other Acreage:
0
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: *
No till
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Peas, radish, clover
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". *
1-3"
Do you use Manure? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (local dairy, horse farm, etc.): *
I plan to get a load of cow manure, I use chicken manure from my chickens
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". *
haven't started yet. 1'
What time of year do you apply the manure? *
when creating new garden or over Fall/Winter
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, soldier fly frass, kelp, eggshells. When creating new beds or generally before planting and another time or two during the growing season- every month or two months
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. *
Grasses. I sheet mulch with cardboard and mulch my food crops with rice hulls and straw.
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. *
I have fungus gnats, whiteflies, spider mites, slugs. I use DE and neem spray primarily to control them. I use this when I see an issue or after a rain in trouble spots. I encourage predatory insects like wasps and ladybugs
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. *
I have had some issues with fire blight over the last couple years. I have trimmed branches and sanitized my shears between plants when I see the issue.
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
I use rainwater catchments and 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. *
I choose organic seeds 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? *
purchase
What ingredients does your potting mix contain? If you purchase a mix, please also indicate which product. *
I use pro mix, pearlite, vermiculite, coconut coir
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. *
muscadine, bay tree, roses, mint
Do you purchase any transplants from outside sources? *
yes
From which sources do you buy transplants? *
One green world, rolling river, just fruits. Not veggies, but shrubs and trees yes
How have you confirmed with your supplier that the transplants are grown without synthetic fertilizers or wetting agents? *
no
Please list any bought-in transplants not grown according to CNG standards. This produce may not be sold as Certified Naturally Grown (except, in the case of perennials, after twelve months of CNG cultivation). *
I have a number of perinneals and scions that I will am growing and not reselling within a year
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. *
There is a valley and wooded area to the South and East and North. I know the people there and they don't use chemicals. Across the road to the West is a house that doesn't spray and that's in front of the house not where I grow. The other neighbor is not around often and has pasture with horses- I don't think they spray. No agricultural use close by except for next door and they don't use chemicals on their gardens. All these within a 50-100 yards

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: