Starwood Eco-Farm Growing Practices

 

This farm is not certified organic.  We are not big enough to have the resources we need to meet the USDA certification requirements. 

 

 

We do follow all natural practices.

 

For fertilization, we use composted leaves, plant waste, vegetable waste, coffee grounds, and horse and llama manure.  We age manures as is necessary for safety. 

 

We use organic or natural soil amendments – e.g. seed meal, kelp meal, bone meal, blood meal, lime, fish fertilizer 

 

For pest control, the natural methods we use include:

Hand picking                      Companion Planting

Row covers                        Colored plastic mulches

Attracting beneficial insects and birds     Plant extracts

 

For weed control, the natural methods we use include:

Hand pulling and hoeing          Mulching

Flaming                            Shading 

Natural herbicides approved for organic production like corn gluten meal, clove oil and vinegar

 

 

We have practiced these methods on this land for the last six years.  Previously, the land we farm was wild.