Organic Gardening Info from Peaceful Valley

I love this book! The full title is “Gaia’s Garden: a Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture”. For anyone interested in the basics of permaculture gardening, it’s a great primer-informative and inspiring! The author writes, “Ecological gardens meld the best features of wildlife gardens, edible landscapes, and conventional flower and vegetable gardens, but they go beyond simply adding these styles together…An ecological garden feels like a living being, with a character and essence that is unique to each.” (p 3) I love the pictures and helpful diagrams, as well as the tables of useful plants (even one on which weeds are edible!). After reading this book, I challenge anyone to NOT allow their imagination to run wild with visions of lush, edible, wildlife-filled landscapes!

Taken from facebook here.

WHAT: Come Home To Eat 2010, a local food celebration and festival

WHEN: Sunday, August 22, 2010, 3 pm to 8 pm

WHERE: Western Gateway Park, Penn Valley

COST: Free admission and parking. Everyone is welcome.

1) The food (of course): Food is the heart and soul of this event. This is not your ordinary festival, where the food you eat is “processed”, you don’t know where it came from or how it was grown, etc. This is special food, a rare opportunity to eat with consciousness. As of Friday morning the meats will already be in the marinade at BriarPatch meat dept. Also on Friday, local farmers will harvest the produce. On Saturday at 8 am a whole bunch ofvolunteers will start prepping it and cooking it at In the Kitchen in Nevada City. It will all get hauled to the park on Sunday in a refrigerated truck, where more prepping and cooking will happen, and then at 4 pm, you get to eat it!

Picnic dinner prepared from locally grown foods (served from 4 pm to 7 pm):

The menu is potato salad (with herbs and olive oil vinaigrette), panzanella salad (tomatoes, cucumbers, chunks of toasted bread with different herbs and olive oil vinaigrette from the potato salad), corn on the cob, grilled beef and lamb kabobs with veggies, or veggie kabobs, and a piece of fresh fruit. Food is being sourced from many local farms — they will be identified at the event.

Cost: adults $12 in advance, $15 at event

adolescents (12-18): $6

children under 12: free

benefactors: $20-35 per adult

Advance food ticket outlets:

APPLE Center, BriarPatch, Peaceful Valley, UCCE office (Grass Valley Vets Hall)

Advance tickets must be purchased by Saturday,August 21. No whining on Sunday morning about how you didn’t buy your advance tickets. There will be plenty at the event. We are cookin’ for 1000!

2) Special dessert: We will be offering for sale smoothies and milkshakes (fresh peach!) made from local fruit and regional organic ice cream.

3) Local wines and regional beers will also be available for sale.

Local wineries participating: Pilot Peak, Szabo,and Smith Vineyards/Wineries.

Beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co and Auburn Alehouse and hard cider from Fox Barrel.

4) Entertainment by local string bands and contra dancing:

Past Due and Playable, Ragged But Right

Contra dancing (7 pm): Hot Cider, with Bob O’Brien calling

Thank you local musicians for supporting local farmers!

5) Fun activities for adults and kids:

Leave your electronic gadgets at home. We’re gonna have fun the old-fashioned way!

+ Dunk your favorite farmer in the dunk tank! The dunk tank is being run by Nevada Union FFA, and net proceeds will benefit them.

+ Games for kids of all ages (egg toss, sack races, etc.) with help from the Clear Creek School 4-H club.

6) Meet and rub elbows with your local farmers,and learn a lot more about local agriculture past and present. Farmers will be identified with red ribbons, interns with green ribbons. Chat it up with them. And take a Walk Through the Living Farm Guide.

A Walk through the Living Farm Guide will be an actual stroll to various “stations” representing the geographical areas of the county, with lots of great info about historical and current farming, and there will be some farmers at the stations to interact with the public. Participants will have a set of questions to find out as they walk through the farm guide (the scavenger hunt part).

7) Program honoring local farmers and ranchers at 6:30

We will be bringing all farmers/ranchers and interns to the stage to be briefly introduced. They will be given an honorary item (it’s a surprise), and then get a standing ovation. We’ll be taking a group photo.

Come Home To Eat is a 100% volunteer event.

Net proceeds will benefit projects that support local agriculture.

SPONSORS (Thank You!):

Lead sponsor: BriarPatch Co-op Natural Foods Community Market

Supporting sponsors: Nevada City Farmers Market

Nevada County Certified Growers’ Market

Nevada County Farm Bureau

Nevada County Grown

Nevada County Land Trust

Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company

Garlic Seed Ready for Pre-Order:
Now’s the time to stock up and order all of your garlic seed. We start shipping starting early September, and many of our varieties sell out during the Pre-Order stage. So to ensure that you get your favorite garlic this year, make sure you take a look at our online store and place your organic garlic seed order today!

Visit http://www.groworganic.com/default.html#panel-4 to order your garlic seed today.

The first decision to make when choosing organic garlic seed is whether you want Softneck garlic or Hardneck garlic.
Depending on the flavor you’re looking for (hardnecks usually have stronger flavor) or the shelf life you desire (softnecks usually store longer), you’ll be able to find what you want in our catalog and online store.

Here’s a list of our customer and staff favorite garlic seed varieties:
Hardneck Garlic:
Organic Dujansky garlic seed: $9.99/lb (This is our newest variety with a strong rich flavor)
Organic Chesnok Red garlic seed: $9.99/lb
Organic Music garlic seed: $9.99/lb

Softneck Garlic:
Organic California Early White garlic seed $4.99/lb

We have 14 varieties of hardneck garlic seed and 2 varieties of softneck garlic seed to choose from! If you can’t decide which kind you want, you can always order our Garlic Seed Combo Pack for $29.99 which includes (this comes in a few bulbs as opposed to the 1 lb per variety minimum):
3 California Early White garlic heads
3 Music Garlic Heads
3 Chesnok Red Garlic Heads
3 French Red Shallot Heads
1 Elephant Garlic Head

Garlic Seed Yield:
In general, you can expect an optimum 10 lb yield for every lb of garlic planted. Each clove of garlic seed planted will grow into a full garlic bulb.

Happy Growing!
Darren

I have only been around the organic farming and gardening business for about two months now, but that has been more than enough time to learn that people are continuously looking for organics to be defined in more simple terms. A recent request for particulars concerning the organic industry on our Peaceful Valley Facebook page, sent me on yet again, another search for more information concerning the wonderful world of organics. I am lucky enough to work in an office full of people who know all about this topic, and also have an endless supply of facts posted on not only this blog, but our Freshman Farmer blog as well.

In the post, “What does it mean to grow organically,” featured on this very blog, there is a broad definition of  organic agriculture stating its basis as, farming or gardening “in rhythm with nature’s laws in a sustainable manner that provides a healthy eco-system for all beings involved.” This definition however, differs from the legal use of organic regulated by the federal government. The Federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, set a standard for those who practiced US organic farming in order to create a consistency in the word, and for it’s consumers, and the NOP (National Organic Program) set regulations in 2002 which impacts anyone who buys or sells organics. Here, at Peaceful Valley, we have no problem providing any information that we have and which might help you in deciding if our products comply with the NOP regulations.

While we are on the topic of our products, Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply, does not assure the conformity of its products to the organic standards of any certifying agency. In our catalog and on our website, we do indicate which of our products pass OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) and NOP standards, however, we can’t ALWAYS guarantee this accuracy based on the fact that the status of any product can change at any given time without our knowledge, thus meaning that for absolute assurance that  your products are truly organic, you should always check with these organizations.

Summary of NOP Standards

• Certified organic crops must be grown on certified farmland that has not been treated with prohibited pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or other substances for at least three years.
• Certified organic farmland soil health is maintained with crop rotation and other sustainable growing methods to eliminate toxic or persistent synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
• NOP strictly prohibits the use of genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, sewage sludge, antibiotics and growth hormones.

Certified organic farmers must follow NOP specifications to determine which materials (fertilizers, pesticides, etc) they can use. To avoid having to research NOP regulations in order to make decisions, a farmer may also rely on the OMRI or manufacturers’ statements of compliance.

*Take a look at the actual regulations, or speak with your certifying agency to make a decision, and for more information concerning NOP, here is a good link to take a look at: http://bit.ly/ae45qk

More About OMRI

OMRI is an independent, nonprofit organization who evaluates the acceptability of products for organic use. OMRI is based in Eugene, OR, and was started in 1997 to benefit the organic community and general public. Before there was OMRI, it was the job of certifying agencies to determine which materials were allowed, regulated, or prohibited  in organic production. The primary mission of OMRI, is to provide information collection and dissemination  services, as well as expert analysis and recommendations regarding the use of products in organic production. If you would like more information about OMRI, you can go to their website, www.omri.org, or email them at info@omri.org.

Organic Farm Certifying Agencies

On the same post as talked about earlier, we provide a small list of organic agencies. These agencies tend to work on the West Coast often, but their inclusion is in no way an endorsement by Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply.

• Organic Certifying Agencies: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)- their main function is coordinating the network of the organic movement around the world. IFOAM is a democratic federation and is grassroots oriented. Their international “IFOAM basic standards of organic agriculture and food processing,” is translated into 17 different languages. Check out their website : www.ecoweb.dk/ifoam
• California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF): This is a nonprofit, democratically organized membership association of organic farmers, food processors, handlers and retailers. They are the largest state based organization or organic interests in the nation and the primary certification association for the organic industry in California. Learn more about them at: www.ccof.org
• Oregon Tilth: Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit organization providing organic certification to growers, processors, and retailers, worldwide. This organization also advocated for and provides education about practices which creates and supports a healthful and sustainable food supply. Here is their website: www.tilth.org

Another really helpful source for information about the organic industry is the Organic Trade Association, whose website is, www.ota.com

On this website, they give the National Organic Standards Board definition of organic, which was decided in April of 1995. As defined by the board, “Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony. ‘Organic’ is a labeling term that denotes products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. The principal guidelines for organic production are to use materials and practices that enhance the ecological balance of natural systems and that integrate the parts of the farming system into an ecological whole.”

According to this same website, when something is “certified organic,” the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations. Certification includes inspections of farm fields and processing facilities, detailed record keeping, and periodic testing of soil and water to ensure that growers and handlers are meeting the standards which have been set.

I am providing a link to the Q & A section of this website. There is tons of wonderful information provided on this page and I encourage all interested in the business of organics to check it out : http://bit.ly/bZ6tTk

As some may have gathered, my last few blog posts have answered questions brought about on the Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply Facebook. In continuing with this theme, todays post is in response to a follower wanting more ideas for people who are looking to create a small garden, or already have one. After some research, I have compiled a list of good ideas about this very topic.

The bulk of my information comes from a book we have in our very own library, “Garden Design Made Easy,” by Tim Newbury. This book is full of excellent information, not only for beginner gardeners, but also for the experts. First, for those of you who are planning on planting a small garden, here is a quick and helpful checklist you might want to go through to ensure success with your project.

Assess the future garden site’s physical attributes: sun exposure, soil, nearby features, etc, then answer these questions about the site you have chosen.

* How many hours a day will your garden receive: full sun, partial sun/shade, mostly shade, and dense shade?

*What is the time of day that your garden will receive full sun exposure?

*What kinds of things will the garden be exposed to? Wind, foot traffic, pets, wildlife, road salt, etc.?

*What type is your soil? Sandy, sandy loam, loam, clay loam, clay, silty loam, silt? (Loam is soil with roughly equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay.)

*What is your soils PH? Acidic- <7.0, Neutral- 7.0, Alkaline- >7.0

*What is your access to a water source? Natural, hose/sprinkler, irrigation system?

*Are there any competing plants and/or trees?

*What is nearby to the garden? Buildings, foundations, walkways, driveways, roads, utility boxes/poles/wires, drain pipes, etc.?

*What is the color and style of your house?

*Are there existing gardens?

After answering these questions, you will better be prepared in knowing what to plant and where to plant it in order to give your garden the best chance for survival and ability to flourish. Here are reasons, taken directly from Newbury’s book for why this is such an important checklist.

Aspect

The direction in which a garden, or par of a garden, faces will affect not only the plants that can be grown there successfully but also the location of other garden features that may rely on sun or shade to be effective.

Soil

The type of soil in your garden will have a direct bearing on the plants that can be successfully grown in it. The texture can vary from very sandy and light to having a high proportion of clay, which makes it sticky when wet and hard when dry. In most situations, the best approach is always to try to select plants that will suit the existing soil rather than to try and change the soil conditions to suit a particular type of plant.

Climate

Gardens that are exposed to strong winds can often be uncomfortable places for plants as well as for people. Apart from not growing as rapidly as they might in a sheltered spot, plants can also be badly damaged by wind, particularly if it is cold and dry.

Also in this section of his book, Newbury gives fantastic advice about making the most of what you already have to work with, stating that wherever it is possible, we should look at our gardens with the idea of turning already existing features to our advantage. Here are some tips on how to do so:

SLOPING GARDEN

*Steps and low retaining walls can be used to provide interesting changes of level, allowing the use of lots of trailing or climbing plants to cascade over.

*Create a rockery or a scree garden on a sunny bank

*A stream or waterfall can run into a pond lower down a natural slope.

HEAVY SOIL OR WET AREA

*A bog garden is ideal for moisture-loving ornamental plants.

*A natural pond and wet area is the perfect habitat for wild plants and other forms of pond life.

HOT, DRY DPOT IN FULL SUN

*A paved area for sunbathing could be built next to a refreshing pool or fountain.

*Slightly tender or unusual plants will grow against a sunny wall or fence, sheltered form the cold wind.

*A pergola or other structure will create shade beneath.

COLD, NORTH FACING-CORNER

*A sitting area or shady arbour will provide escape from the heat of the sun in summer.

*A bed or border can be created for plants that do not like direct sunlight or excessive heat– for example, astilbes, rodgersias and hostas.

*Use the space as a garden utility area for a shed or compost heap.

My inexperience in organic farming and gardening has once again left me with my head in the books, researching a new topic for our Facebook followers, IPMs. Again, I have learned so much helpful information about this subject, that I can’t help but share it on our blog. Of course, being a social media intern, my first stop was google, which led me directly to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencies website. It was here where I learned what exactly IPM is and how they work. Although I have a pretty good grasp on this topic now, I couldn’t possibly put the information into better words than the website does already. It is for this reason, that the following information has been taken directly off of their web page.

Here’s a link: http://bit.ly/bfxWOO

What Is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management (IMP) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least hazard to people, property, and the environment.

The IPM approach can be applied to both agriculture and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, or workplace. IMP takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.

How Do They Work

IPM is not a single pest control method but, rather, a series of pest management evaluations, decisions and controls. In practicing IPM, growers who are aware of the potential for pest infestation follow a four-tiered approach. The four steps include:

Set Action Thresholds

Before taking any pest control action, IPM first sets an action threshold, a point at which pest populations or environmental conditions indicate that pest action must be taken. Sighting a single pest does not always mean control is needed. The level at which pests will either become an economic threat is critical to guide future pest control decisions.

Monitor and Identify Pests

Not all insects, weeds, and other living organisms require control. Many organisms are innocuous, and some are even beneficial. IPM programs work to monitor for pests and identify them accurately, so that appropriate control decisions can be made in conjunction with action thresholds. This monitoring and identification removes the possibility that pesticides will be used when they are not really needed or that the wrong kind of pesticide will be used.

Prevention

As a first line of pest control, IPM programs work to manage the crop, lawn, or indoor space to prevent pests from becoming a threat. In an agricultural crop, this may mean using cultural methods, such as rotating between different crops, selecting pest-resistant varieties, and planting pest-free rootstock. These control methods can be very effective and cost-efficient and present little to no risk to people of the environment.

Control

Once monitoring, identification, and action thresholds indicate that pest control is required, and preventative methods are no longer effective or available, IPM programs then evaluate the proper control method for both effectiveness and risk. Effective, less risky pest controls are chosen first, including highly targeted chemicals, such as pheromones to disrupt pest mating, or mechanical control, such as trapping or weeding. If further monitoring, identifications and action thresholds indicate that less risky controls are not working, then additional pest control methods would be employed, such as targeted spraying of pesticides. Broadcast spraying of non-specific pesticides is a last resort.

• Many, if not most, agricultural growers identify their pests before spraying.
• In most cases, food grown using IPM practices is not identified in the marketplace like “organic” food. There is no national certification for growers using IPM.

*My note- Pesticide is a word that is heavy with assumptions, however, a pesticide is simply anything that kills a pest/pests. There are such things as organic pesticides and certain bugs can work as active and helpful pesticides just the same.

Another source that had a large doing in teaching more about IPM, was the book, “The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control”. This book details many different ways in which a gardener can fight off pests without the use of harmful chemicals. A lot of this information was quite fascinating to me! Who would have thought that garlic oil could help in killing insects? Or that our kitchen spice cabinets may be holding the weapon of choice for getting rid of pesky ants? I would recommend definitely checking out this book for these and other helpful pest control tips.

I hope you have found this informational to be useful and as always, Happy Gardening!!