Admit it , you ’ve think about make your farmCertified Organicat some point , and why not ? The prices you get at market are generally better , “ organic ” is a gracious thing to tote up to your food market sign for customers , and being certified eliminates that whole conversation about “ Do you spray ? ” It ’s a very attractive idea overall . But perhaps you find the process pall , you just are n’t quick to throw down the money ( currently around $ 250 for the year per venture ) , or you are n’t sure whether it ’s necessary for your farm . Whatever the reason , if somewhere in the back of your mind endure the idea that you may want to one day become Certified Organic , the whole operation can be made easier ( and faster ) by simply surveil a few canonic guideline .
Use Only Recognized Amendments
Every certifier is a little different , but in my experience they all observe the documentation of the Organic Materials Review Institute or those that adjoin the National Organic Program standard . In other password , if you contrive to append an amendment to your soil or potting mixture , make indisputable it is an approved product . Most O.K. products will add “ OMRI Certified ” to the label , but some wo n’t . you could look it up online or call your local certifier to hold back .
Take Really Great Notes
Certifiers love to see that you ’re organize , but they also need to see your body process . The appointment when you civilize a harvest is not as important as when you fertilized it , seeded it , treat it with a an approved bio - pesticide , harvest it — those sorts of things . Keep all the notes that you may . Also keep any invoice for gross revenue in shell a certifier want to see those . I keep a runningjournalon my reckoner and update it at the same sentence every day with the date , what I did that day , and any amendment or product I used .
Order Organic Seed
You do not have to utilise all organic seed to be organic , butbe thrifty with conventional seed . If it is pelletized or treat with anything that does not meet National Organic Program touchstone , it can cost you certificate in the fields where it was used for three age . Also , if you do not use constitutional seed for something — say you have a sort of bread you like that is not usable organically — you will have to show that you checked at least three other source . Price can not determine purchase either , so just because you find it cheaper as established germ does not stand for you may use that as an apology to grease one’s palms it .
Fertilize With Compost & Approved Fertilizers
If you ’ve been using chemical substance or unapproved fertiliser , becoming Certified Organic will command you to switch , so you might as well get in the habit . For organic husbandry , you’re able to use any variety of compost , with a slight catch , mostly involving how long the pile suffer to certain temperature . This type must be apply 120 days before harvesting a crop that meet the undercoat , such as beet and wampum , or 90 Day before a harvest that does n’t , such as maize , okra or beans . Certifiers do not call this compost , but rather “ manure . ” irrespective , if you get in the habit of following those rules now it will help when you go for certification .
Get A Yearly Soil Test
Every class your inspector will require for asoil test . This will supervise the efficaciousness of your practices , but you should get one no matter what because it will also tell you where you are deficient and where your pH stand up . Keep those results in a brochure with any account and receipts so that if the inspector makes a specific request you may bring forth it jolly quickly .
Do these few things and organic authentication should come pretty quickly — when and if you finally decide to make the leap .
