Produce & Flowers

Beauty Blooms Farm

Owner: Nia

Address:
Mount Airy, MD

Web site: http://beautyblooms.org

Application Date: 2022-08-31

Applicant Details

Please briefly tell us why you are applying to be part of the Certified Naturally Grown program: *
I am applying to CNG program because of my values for environmental stewardship that include maintaining and improving soil health and not spraying synthetic pesticides on crops. This is my second season farming and I am transitioning to a 6.2 acre plot where I will be using regenerative practices (cover cropping, composting, low-to-no tillage) on public Maryland Park Land that has been depleted through monocropping corn and soybeans for over 30 years. Since I sell direct to consumer at farmers market, I would like folks to know that I am considering the health of the soil, plants, and themselves in choosing to use natural methods.
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? *
Future Harvest beginning farm training program
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 formally learned to farm in the States through Future Harvest's Beginning Farmer Training Program and I am a returning generation farmer whose Kenyan family have been farmers forever and white family in the states were nursery owners. I sell to Montgomery County MD's farm to food bank program (2 years) and have sold at a local farmers market for the first time this season. I have used the CNG standards for guidance on natural growing (not certified, of course) and would like to make it official. I also have witnessed other CNG farms (i.e. Dodo Farms) located in the same county that are CNG certified and have heard positive experiences from them.

General Farm Information

Farm Acreage you want listed as Certified Naturally GrownTM:
Total Farm Acreage you actually GROW on: *
1.5
Number of above acreage that you own: *
0
Number of above acreage that you lease: *
6.2
Do you have other acreage in "Conventional" Agricultural Systems? *
no
General Listed Acreage Breakdown
Veg Crops:
1 acre in veges
Fruit Crops:
1/4 acre
Hay:
Grains/Beans:
Sugarbush:
Other Acreage:
Flowers - 1/4 acre
Please check all items you grow and will market as Certified Naturally GrownTM *











Please Specify Any Other Items:
I included the bush/snap beans I grow in the 1 acre calculation above^^
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:
County and Regional Farm to Food Bank programs

Farmland Management and Practices

Primary Tillage System: *
Low-to-no tillage; all hand tools Unfortunately, due to to the monocropping the pH of the soil is 4.4 so though my intention was to do no till completely in establishing beds, I did have to use a rototiller to till in lime to raise pH this season and to be able to grow next season
Do you use Cover Crops? *
yes
If yes, please list: *
Cowpeas, sorghum, turnips/radish, millet
Do you use Compost? *
yes
If yes, please note general sources (on farm, purchased complete, local grass clippings, local dairy, etc.): *
yes, LeafGro produced by Montgomery County MD leaf collection, planning to use mushroom compost that you pay for delivery
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". *
1-2 inches deep; 84 cubic yards per acre
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. *
signature lime from home depot (once)
Have any chemical fertilizers been applied to the fields you are seeking Certification for in the last three years (36 months)? *
yes
If yes, as per the Certification regulations, it is acceptable to apply chelated chemical fertilizers to correct specifical micronutrient imbalances as listed on a recent soil test. Does the application of this fertilizer meet those requirements? *
yes
If Yes, please specify types, amounts and application dates: *
Not sure; I am pretty certain chemical fertilizers were applied to the corn in 2021 (the last farmer left the plot in Nov 2021), but I do not know the application rates or what was applied
Have any non-acceptable pesticides and/or herbicides been applied to these fields in the last 3 years? *
yes
If yes, then please specify type and most recent application date: *
Not sure of application; previous farmer used synthetic pesticides which I learned from my local extension nutrient management provider
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. *
Perennial grasses seeded by previous farmer; silage tarping is how I am currently smothering the grass and weeds and then applying compost directly on top. Weekly weeding with hand tools and heavy composting
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 have been a challenge on plant starts - sprayed neem oil. flea/potato beetles - sprinkled diatomaceous earth. I also try to be as preventative as possible and companion plant marigolds to attract beneficial pests
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. *
Septoria leaf spot when tomatoes were spaced too closely/didn't get enough air flow - sprayed OMRI certified copper fungicide
Please list the water source you use for crop irrigation. If source is public river, pond or lake, please note the name: *
Public river - patauxent river
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. *
Small-scale, east coast/ similar growing region seeds with a preference for open pollination/heirloom. Primarily Truelove seeds/Southern Exposure seed exchange crops that have cultural significance or are African heritage.
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. *
Summer Creek Farm Seed Starting Mix, certified organic. https://www.summercreekfarm.com/farmers
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. *
Forest surrounds 3 of the 4 sides of the plot. Of the 3 forested sides, 230ft of wooded forest from plot to road, 75ft of wooded forest from plot to neighbors property, over 700ft of wooded forest on the third side. The fourth side which is not forested is part of the izaak walton conservation league next door and is fallow.

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:
Thanks so much for your consideration. I want to note that the property has no exact address, it is adjacent to the address I provided: 26430 Mullinix Mill Rd, Mt Airy, MD 21771. I am happy to send google map pictures to clarify further, if necessary.