Thinking about certified organic farming?  The following steps will take you through what you need to know to get started.

Step 1:  Get to know the new Canadian Standards and Regulations.

Step 2:  Learn organic farming methods.  Use COG’s resources:

a. COG has many useful publications available to order or for download free of charge.  Our publication Gaining Ground: Making a Successful Transition to Organic Farming is intended for transitioning farmers just like you! Also check out COG’s Organic Field Crop Handbook and Organic Livestock Handbook.

b. Become a member of COG to network with organic farmers in your region and to use our free mail order library. Borrow from over 1,000 collected titles postage paid! As a member, you’ll also receive the Canadian Organic Grower magazine. After over 30 years of Canadian organic expertise, the tradition continues. 

c. Use our online database of organics in Canada to find out who is

already organic farming in Canada, where are they, what are they producing.

d. Visit our Organic Links for many more resources, including the

Organic Trade Association's collection of resources for exploring the transition to organic in the US and Canada.

Step 3:  Do a land survey.  What can be grown on your land? What was the land used for before?  Were synthetic chemicals used?  How long ago?  You may need to conduct soil testing.

Step 4:  Decide what you want to produce.  Do a market survey. Figure out how you will market your products. For example, you may decide to export your products, sell it to other provinces, or locally at a Farmer’s Market or through a community shared agriculture venture.

Step 5:  Find a certifying body to start the certification process. Also review the list of questions you should ask when choosing your CB.