Begin Family Farm

Begin Family Farm grows all of its produce following the organic production rules of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and applies its own additional standards. Pest management follows an Integrated Pest Management approach: prevention comes first through planting timing and trap crops, physical barriers such as row covers and netting come second, and certified organic biopesticides are used only as a last resort. Biopesticides used include Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for caterpillars on brassicas and other crops, Bacillus Mycoides Isolate J on tomato foliage to delay late blight, and Chromobacterium subtsugae for corn pests. The farm uses only certified organic fertilizers, including combinations of pelleted and composted chicken manure, fish fertilizer, feather meal, and potash. No chemical herbicides are used; weed control relies on tillage, mechanical cultivation, crop rotation, cover crop residue, plastic mulch, and silage tarps. GMO seeds are not used.