Sustainable, Conventional, Organic, etc!
Uses natural principles to maintain soil health and nutrients in food
Sustainable
The Buyer chooses the products that go into the box. This is normally on a weekly basis.
Buyer's Choice
What is a hoop house/high tunnel?
A large greenhouse-like structure where farms are able to extend their growing seasons.
What are 2 benefits of sustainable agriculture?
Nutrient dense food
Conserves and builds healthy soil
Less soil erosion
Higher water retention
Smaller carbon footprint
Replenishes and nurtures natural ecosystems
See image provided by Abby
Sustainable!
What does CSA stand for?
Community Supported Agriculture
Used during the off-season or during crop rotation to put nutrients back into the soil. They help reduce soil erosion, increase water retention, reduce weeds, and generally build better soil health. (Hint: Mackenzie just spoke about this in roundup)
Cover Crops
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A process you can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.
Costs around $1000/yr (costs vary per state)
Takes 3 years to obtain
Not always realistic for some smaller farms
Certified Organic
What type of CSA they are offering
How long have they been operating their CSA
How many members do they have
How do their members pay for the CSA
When their CSA starts/ends
When do they start signing up customers or taking payments for memberships/have they already started taking payment for next season/how many
Can sustainable farms use pesticides?
Yes and No:
Synthetic pesticides are prohibited.
There is a short list of natural pesticides that Farmers can utilize, for instance Neem Oil. OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) approved pesticides are sufficient as well.
Surprise objection! You're talking with a produce farmer and they say "I'm too busy planting, call me in the summer!"
We exist to save Farmers time!
We know you're busy! We help Farms who are busy all the time - you're going to be even busier in the summer.
Do you want to increase sales this year? Have you been thinking about an online store to save you time?
Other certifications can fall under sustainability:
A Greener World
Certified Naturally Grown
Why is Barn2Door a useful tool for CSA Farmers?
Subscriptions
Easy one click ordering
Credit and debit card payments
Recurring payments before delivery or upfront
An agricultural technique for growing crops without disturbing the soil and its natural composition. It can help to reduce soil erosion, increase water retention, and create more resilient soils (especially in sandy and dry soils).
No- till farming
How to successfully package/sell products on Barn2Door?
Subscriptions!