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You are here: Home / Organic Production / Organic Culture: Crops and Gardening 
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Organic Production

Interested in organic agriculture? Whether you're a small-scale farmer or backyard gardener, there are a variety of crops to sow including tomatoes, cotton, grapes, flowers, potatoes, corn, peaches and cucumbers.
AFSIC Highlights
Organic Gardening: A Guide to Resources. 1989-September 2003
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
This bibliography is intended for organic gardeners and small-scale organic farmers. Covers gardening techniques, plant varieties, geographic locations and philosophies. Addresses landscaping, soil fertility, edible plants, ornamental plants, pest control and various aspects of an "organic lifestyle." Updates Organic Gardening, a guide to resources published before 1989.
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A man using a magnifying glass to look at seeds in the palm of his hand. [Source:  IStock International, Inc.]Finding "Organic": Search Strategies and Terminology
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.
Defines common terminology used to describe organic food and fiber production systems, practices, markets and commodities.
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Information from Other Sources
Organic Crop Production Overview. Fundamentals of Sustainable Agriculture
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Explores the history of organic agriculture; reviews key concepts and practices of sustainable farming. Describes and accesses ATTRA resources; links to selected topical publications and Web sites.
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NCAT's Organic Crops Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Intended for organic farmers, beginning farmers and those transitioning to organic methods. Helps farmers understand the National Organic Standards and the certification process. Describes and links to ATTRA's organic agriculture resources.
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Transitioning to Organic Production  (PDF|1246 KB)
Sustainable Agriculture Network.
Introduces organic farming, discusses economic issues and addresses the transition to organic production. Includes farmer profiles.
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Organic Garden Weed Management Web Site
Cornell University. Weed Ecology Research Group.
Identifies the weed species common in New York, summarizes control strategies and briefly describes "various aspects of the species' ecology."
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Organic Vegetable Gardening Techniques  (PDF|470 KB)
University of Missouri. Cooperative Extension Service.
Focuses on improving and maintaining soil fertility when transitioning to organic gardening. Discusses sources of organic matter, organic fertilizers and management of diseases, weeds and pests.
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Intensive Organic Gardening
Ohio State University. Cooperative Extension Service.
Reviews intensive organic gardening practices for use in small gardens to produce an abundance of fresh vegetables.
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Complete Results of the Fourth National Organic Farmers' Survey: Sustaining Organic Farms in a Changing Organic Marketplace  (PDF|761 KB)
Organic Farming Research Foundation.
The results of the Organic Farming Research Foundation's 2001 survey of organic farmers in the United States offers insight into "organic farmers' experiences, attitudes and needs around marketing organic products."
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Organic, Heirloom, Untreated, Organic Seed Suppliers Mostly in North America
GreenPeople.
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two hands holding organic seedsOrganic Seed Suppliers Search
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Provides sources for organic seed of both agronomic and horticultural crops with an emphasis on small alternative seed companies offering open-pollinated vegetable, flower and herb seed.
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Saving Our Seed Project
Saving Our Seed Project.
Provides a collection of seed production information resources, publications covering production of a varieties of seeds, a certified organic seed sourcing service, an online discussion forum and information about the One Seed At A Time program, a Southeast seed bank and curation facility.
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Last Modified: Jun 21, 2008  
Organic Production
    Organic Culture: Crops and Gardening
    Organic Livestock
    Standards and Certification
    USDA Programs
Visit Organic Roots - Our collection of pre-1942 electronic publications from the United States Department of Agriculture related to organic agriculture
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