Richland Gardens

Our Growing Methods

What does Organically Grown mean?

What does Richland Gardens do to meet this standard?
What is our water source?
Do we fertilize our plants?
Do we use pesticides?
Where do we get our seeds and starts?

What does Organically Grown mean?

Requirements generally involve a set of production standards for growing, storage, processing, packaging and shipping that include: USDA Organic Standard

Avoidance of most synthetic chemical inputs (e.g. fertilizer, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives, etc), genetically modified organisms, irradiation, and the use of sewage sludge;
Use of farmland that has been free from chemicals for a number of years (often, three or more);
Keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail);
Maintaining strict physical separation of organic products from non-certified products;
Undergoing periodic on-site inspections.

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What does Richland Gardens do to meet this standard?

Our farm plan lays out a detailed crop rotation schedule that grows seasonal food, flowers and cover crops using the natural carbon/nitrogen cycle of the soil. We inter-crop to naturally discourage pests and attract beneficial pollinators and pest competitors. We till sparingly, preferring to use deep grasses like rye and oats to draw minerals up from the subsoil. Every year we collect over 100 tons of leaf litter and cow manure and mulch our beds, returning free organic matter to the soil.

Since our gardens are unfenced and open to the public, we maintain a close working relationship with our landlords and our neighbors. In order to keep our fields clean, we solicit their cooperation in using organic methods on adjacent properties, maintaining setbacks and clear channels for drainage and run-off. We minimally handle our harvest and use no prohibited substances to clean, preserve or polish our fruits and vegetables.
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What is our water source?

Rain is the preferred way our plants receive water. Most of our beds also use drip irrigation carrying pressurized water from the Richland Creek. Should the creek dry up, we may truck in city water if the crop is worth it. We work with the Cumberland River Compact to perform periodic water tests for nitrates, phosphates, etc., etc.
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Do we fertilize our plants?

Our beds are prepared for planting with an infusion of leaf and cow manure, a mixture of blood, bone and feather meal and a mixture of organically approved trace minerals. We are currently also using a Harmony Ag Fertilizer, a chicken manure based feed, for bed prep and side dressing. This summer we will use some Fetrell #1 Fish Emulsion for foliar feeds and drip irrigation supplements. Both are approved for organic farming by the Organic Materials Review Institute.
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Do we use pesticides?

Organic Pest Control

Many organic farmers swear that the best pest control is good soil. A well-balanced plant has fewer free amino acids and are less appetizing to the lil critters. While we have not achieved a pest free garden, we do have some pretty healthy plants and have fared well in the past few years. I plant wormwood and castor bean to scare off the moles, voles, rabbits and deer. Marigolds stink, and they also discourage harmful nematodes in the soil. Other smelly plants, like basil and nasturtium, are freely planted amongst the crops.

We plant hot peppers and elephant garlic, grind it up, mix it with insecticidal soap and use it as a foliar spray. Aphid infestations are usually removed from the gardens and fed to chickens. Some plants get covered with reemay and others are planted as trap crops simply to draw pests away from the more preferred plants. In a nutshell, we do what we can to discourage the pests, large and small, and then figure whatever they eat is their share. We always plant extra.
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Where do we get our seeds and starts?

Each year there is more and more organic seed available from certified seed companies. We buy from High Mowing Seed, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, Fedco Seeds, Moose Tubers and Seeds of Change.

In the past I have also received starts via barter or business relationships with Eaton's Creek Organics, Delvin Farms and Turnbull Creek Farm. This year I am working with Clover Cove Farm to start our herbs and Victor's Lavender for the new lavender field. We buy our fruit trees and berries from Hidden Springs Nursery. Perennials are deemed organic after they have been cultivated under an organic program for a year, so these items will enter our organic product list sometime in 2010.
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