Organic Vegetable Production

1
Organic Vegetable Production

• Stanley Hughes
• Pine Knot Farms
• Hurdle Mills, NC

2
Why Organic Production?

• Desire to stay on the farm
• Economics
• Costs less
• Boosts local economy
• Healthier for customers and me
• Reduce use of chemicals
• Rebuild the soil fertility/biology

3
My Background in Organic Production

• 1996 1 acre organic tobacco trial
• 1997 3 acres of organic tobacco
• 1997 meeting that discussed organic crops
  compatible with tobacco
• 1998 introduced winter greens and sweet
  potatoes into crop mix

4
Marketing

• 1998 Durham and Carrboro Farmers Markets
• 2001 Local natural foods market and an organic
  producers cooperative
• 2002 Local restaurants
• 2004 New organic producers cooperative
• 2006 Cooperative CSA

5
Production

• 8 acres of tobacco
• 6 acres of sweet potatoes
• 3 acres of collards (2 crops)
• 2 aces of kale (2 crops)
• ½ acre Swiss chard
• 1 acre broccoli (2 crops)

• ½ acres of cabbages
• ¼ kohlrabi
• ¼ turnip and mustard greens
• 2 acres of other seasonal vegetables
• Pork and chicken

6
Soil Fertility

• Cover crops
• Fertilizers
• Lime

7
Insect Control

• Dipel
• Crops to attract beneficial insects

8
Disease Control

• Crop rotation
• Soil fertility

9
Equipment and Facilities

• Use equipment already on hand
• Modifications to fit need
• Cooler

10
Resources

• Growing
• Vegetable Growers
• Cooperative Extension
• Operation Spring Plant
• Agricultural Universities
• Carolina Farm Stewardship Association
• ATTRA