How do I start a small organic farm?
I live in Denver, Colorado and I would like to know which crops would grow best in the climate I live in and also when I should plant my seeds, what type of soil I should use, and natural ways of dealing with pests.
Daniel, if i were you I would get a job for a season on the kind of farm you wish to run. You question tells me you do not know enough to start a farm of your own without failing badly within 2 years. you should already know how to select crops and when to plant seed and what kind of soil is best in your area.
Working for a farmer for a season will allow you to quickly learn what you need to know
You also need to learn how to market what you grow as it will not sell itself. I suggest doing farmers markets before attempting a CSA or selling to restaurants
And if you want to sell your crops as organic you will need to get your land certified organic which takes 3 years of transition (and is a great way to learn how to farm using organic methods). I assume you do realize it is against the law in the USA to sell food as organic unless either you are certified organic or selling under $5000 in gross sales AND you are following the regulations as if you were certified organic (which includes keeping a lot of paper work on a daily basis).
some links
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org (these guys started the US organic farming movement, tons of info)
http://www.localharvest.org
http://www.attra.org (an amazing amount of information about sustainable farming)
http://www.growingformarket.com (the best magazine for the market grower, an essential publication if you have been a market grower less than 13 years)
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming (the best list serve for market farmers, period)
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop (the USDA National Organic Program)
well i have a lot of info, cuz i grow organic plats
bug pest – easy, soapy water lol, it works wonders!
deer, golfer, rat ect pests (not sure if you get deer or golfers) – go to your local groomers and pick up some dogs hair, or just get a dog, or just let ur dog in ur garden, the smell to the means danger
plants: any type order your seeds online from a site you are sure you can trust, also see if you can find this guy named organic jack’s website. he has lots of good stuff there
References :
If you are growning for sale as organic produce, you should decide which governing body you want your certification from. That organization will point you in all the right directions.
If you are growing for your own consumption, I recommend your local Coooperative Extension office for your questions, especially about soil.
References :
Google the book "Micro Eco Farming". This will answer almost of all of your questions. What questions you still have remaining, you can probably find in one of the other books that this one recommends. I wish you all the best of luck with this. I hope it works for you!!!
References :
Daniel, if i were you I would get a job for a season on the kind of farm you wish to run. You question tells me you do not know enough to start a farm of your own without failing badly within 2 years. you should already know how to select crops and when to plant seed and what kind of soil is best in your area.
Working for a farmer for a season will allow you to quickly learn what you need to know
You also need to learn how to market what you grow as it will not sell itself. I suggest doing farmers markets before attempting a CSA or selling to restaurants
And if you want to sell your crops as organic you will need to get your land certified organic which takes 3 years of transition (and is a great way to learn how to farm using organic methods). I assume you do realize it is against the law in the USA to sell food as organic unless either you are certified organic or selling under $5000 in gross sales AND you are following the regulations as if you were certified organic (which includes keeping a lot of paper work on a daily basis).
some links
http://www.rodaleinstitute.org (these guys started the US organic farming movement, tons of info)
http://www.localharvest.org
http://www.attra.org (an amazing amount of information about sustainable farming)
http://www.growingformarket.com (the best magazine for the market grower, an essential publication if you have been a market grower less than 13 years)
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming (the best list serve for market farmers, period)
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop (the USDA National Organic Program)
References :
I have been making my sole living from a small sustainable farm in Ohio for the past 15 years and I have trained several farmers in that time and have done lots of other educational outreach including leading workshops and farm tours