Professional Growers
To support organic growers we've developed production guides and identified additional resources to help you grow healthy crops. Our agronomic guides are based on our experience and university based research. While we hope this information helps you grow the best crops possible, it is meant to be used as a general guide you should adapt to your specific growing conditions. Please also refer to our helpful Links page for additional resources and organizations. If there is a subject that you'd like to know more about but can't find here, let us know by emailing us, your input is always appreciated. Send along any links you think should be added to this section as well.
Planting/ Seed specs:
- Seed Count Chart -- Click here to view a chart of the number of seeds per ounce/pound.
Agronomics:
Detailed information for each variety on growing conditions, planting specifications, harvest/storage, and pest and disease prevention.
- Bean to Eggplant: Includes beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, chard, corn, cucumbers, and eggplant
- Kale to Onion: Includes kale, leeks, lettuce, melon & watermelon, and onions
- Pea to Tomato: Includes peas, peppers, radish, spinach, summer squash, pumpkins & winter squash, and tomatoes
Pests and Disease:
ATTRA Pest Management Publications: Publications about organic pest management including specific recommendations for flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, squash vine borer, nematodes, and much more. http://www.attra.ncat.org/pest.html
Insect Pest Management for Organic Crops: A good overview of organic pest management practices including, cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical approaches as well as information on beneficial insects and equipment. Published by the California Small Farm Program and the UCDavis Vegetable Research and Information Center. http://www.anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/7251.pdf
Soils, Cover Cropping and Nutrition:
Soil Fertility Basics: Interpreting Soil Tests by Steve Peters
Soil Fertility Basics I: Essential Plant Nutrients by Steve Peters
Soil Fertility Basics II: Organic Matter by Steve Peters
Cover Cropping Guides: Very informative cover cropping guides from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program at UCDavis including general recommendations, seeding rates, and methods for over 40 different cover crops. http://www.sarep.ucdavis.edu/ccrop/
ATTRA Soils Publications: Includes information on organic potting mixes, understanding soils tests, and organic soil amendments. http://www.attra.ncat.org/soils.html
Cornell Composting is maintained by the Cornell Waste Management Institute and provides access to a variety of composting educational materials and programs developed at Cornell University.
http://compost.css.cornell.edu/Composting_Homepage.html
Crop and Production Information:
Guidelines for Conducting On-Farm Variety Trials by Micaela Colley
ATTRA Field Crops Publications: Lists an array of publications on organic crop production including biodynamic methods. http://www.attra.ncat.org/field.html
Organic Vegetable Production Guidelines: Recommendations and guidelines for organic crop management from the Integrated Crop and Pest Management Center of Cornell University. http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/recommends/11frameset.html
- herb cultivation -- coming soon...
- Post harvest handeling/ storage charts -- coming soon...
Weed Management:
Weed Management for Organic Crops: Comprehensive overview of organic weed management techniques including cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical organic weed control methods. Published by the California Small Farm Program and the UCDavis Vegetable Research Information Center. http://www.anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/7250.pdf
Weed Science Society: Good weed identification source with extensive photo library including many at seedling stage. http://www.wssa.net
Organic Business and Marketing Support:
ATTRA Organic Marketing Publications: Information on organic marketing topics including resources for direct marketing and value added products. http://attra.ncat.org/marketing.html
Organic Farming and Marketing, USDA: Information on labeling and compliance for organic products. www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/orgusda.htm#AMS
New Farm Organic Price Index: Current organic produce pricing indexes from the Rodale New Farm website. The site also contains many marketing related articles and news updates. http://www.newfarm.org/opx/
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