Naturally Grown & Deep Organic Principles

We are often asked about the difference between organic and naturally grown. In simple terms, natural farming operates within organic standards but goes a step further—actively working with existing ecological systems rather than attempting to manage or override them. While certified organic farms may produce similar-looking food, the underlying relationship with land, soil, and surrounding ecosystems can vary widely.

From the very beginning, we felt strongly that our farm needed to function as a living system rather than a factory. Inspired by pioneers of organic agriculture such as Eliot Coleman, we manage our land according to deep organic principles—ones that respect natural cycles, biological diversity, and long-term ecological health. Our goal is not only to grow healthy food for our community, but also to ensure a thriving environment for our family, our neighbours, and everyone downstream.

Soil Health & Fertility

Healthy soil is the foundation of our entire farm ecosystem. After the initial tillage required to bring the land into production, we strive to disturb the soil as little as possible. Minimal and shallow tillage allows soil structure, microbial life, and fungal networks to remain intact—key components of a resilient soil ecosystem.

We build fertility by feeding the soil rather than the crop. Green manures and living mulches—such as buckwheat, oats, peas, radish, and rye—protect bare ground when food crops are not present. These cover crops prevent erosion, capture nutrients, moderate soil temperature, and improve structure. In many cases, winter-killed cover crops are left in place to form a living mulch for the following season, suppressing weeds while adding organic matter as they decompose.

Nitrogen is grown on-site using leguminous cover crops like clover, vetch, and alfalfa, which naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil. Additional fertility comes from poultry manure and locally sourced composted horse manure, helping us return nutrients that leave the farm as harvested food back into the soil where they belong.

Weed Management

Weeds are part of every agricultural ecosystem, and while we don’t always “win,” we approach weed management as a matter of balance rather than eradication. Some years—and some crops—are lost, especially during prolonged wet periods when weeds thrive. That reality is part of farming within natural systems.

Our first line of defense is prevention. Cover crops and silage tarps are used on resting ground to shade the soil and prevent weed establishment. In production areas, fertile, biologically active soil allows crops to grow quickly and outcompete weeds naturally. We support this process with organic and synthetic mulches, shallow cultivation, and careful timing.

Early in the season, when crops are still vulnerable, we rely on mechanical cultivation. A restored 1948 Allis-Chalmers Model G tractor allows us to cultivate entire rows quickly and shallowly, while vintage Planet Junior wheel hoes handle tighter spaces. And when all else fails, we return to the most fundamental tool of all—hand weeding.

Pest Management

Our farm is part of a much larger web of life, and every organism within it plays a role. We see insects, animals, and microorganisms not as enemies, but as participants in a complex and dynamic ecosystem. For that reason, our interventions are intentionally minimal and highly targeted. In 2017 we were reminded why keeping our farm ecosystem intact is so important.

We prioritize cultural practices that encourage balance: crop rotation, diverse plantings, beneficial habitat, and physical barriers such as row covers and screened hoophouses. These measures dramatically reduce pest pressure before intervention is ever required.

When pest populations exceed what the system can absorb, we respond biologically. Cats, dogs, birds, amphibians, and beneficial insects all play an active role in regulating pests. Our creek, riparian buffer, and irrigation pond support amphibians that patrol the farm for insects and rodents. We occasionally introduce lady beetles, praying mantis, and parasitic trichogramma wasps to manage specific pests, and use Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki (Btk) to control caterpillars and cabbage moths when necessary.

These tools are effective without disrupting ecological balance. No pest is ever fully eliminated—because total eradication would destabilize the system.

Disease Management

Disease prevention begins with diversity and resilience. Whenever possible, we select disease-resistant varieties and spatially separate vulnerable crops so that outbreaks remain localized. Long crop rotations prevent pathogens from accumulating in the soil and interrupt disease cycles naturally.

Rather than reacting with treatments, we focus on strengthening plant immunity. One of our most powerful tools is compost tea—brewed on-site in a 200-litre aerated system. By extracting and multiplying beneficial microbes from active compost, we inoculate leaf surfaces with life. Through competitive colonization, these microbes occupy space and resources that disease organisms would otherwise exploit—effectively posting a “no vacancy” sign on our crops.

This approach draws on the pioneering work of Dr. Elaine Ingham and the soil food web model. In rare cases where disease pressure persists, we may use targeted organic controls such as copper-lime sprays or Bacillus subtilis, a naturally occurring bacterium that suppresses fungal pathogens.

At every level, our farming philosophy is rooted in relationship—between soil and plant, predator and prey, water and land. We don’t aim to dominate the ecosystem. We aim to belong to it.