iNPUTS
At Rocky Comfort Natural Farm, we try to use the most sustainable and natural inputs available to us. This includes minerals that are gathered in an ecologically responsible way, seeds that are sourced locally, and fertility inputs that are humane and local.
Minerals Currently, we are using a product called SEA-90 to provide your vegetables with extra minerals and elements, some of which are naturally unavailable or have been leached out of our soil over time.
"SEA-90 sea mineral solids are natural crystals produced by solar dehydrating H2O from sea water trapped in retention ponds located in a very arid pristine coastal area with no industry or agriculture. This particular sea is considered to be one of the most mineral-rich and diverse in sea life on earth.
The minerals and trace elements in SEA-90 are proportioned and balanced to sustain biological life. Consider that the elements in sea water
are at essentially the same ratios as human blood, and that sea life living in pure and balanced ocean water is seemingly immune to cancer and other degenerative diseases."
We use SEA-90 because it contains all the minerals we need in a form that is accessible to our plants. It is also a more sustainable source of minerals and trace elements because it is dehydrated water, and not a mined resource. Mining can be a very earth-damaging process, causing erosion, loss of biodiversity, contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water, and formation of sinkholes. SEA-90 is also approved for organic agriculture.
Nutrients/Fertility
We try to limit the amounts of manure and other high nitrogen inputs that we use for our crops. While some nitrogen is essential, excess can be catastrophic. Excess nitrogen can be taken up by the plants, causing high nitrogen vegetables, potentially causing nitrate toxicity. If not taken up by plants, these excess nitrates can leach into the groundwater, and run off during storms, contaminating drinking water, as well as creeks, rivers, and eventually, the ocean. Extremely high nitrogen levels also attract more garden pests, and cause too much lush growth, which is damaging to plants. We try to use the least amount we need to keep our soil in balance.
-Manure We NEVER use manure sourced from any sort of industrial agriculture/factory farming operation, organic or otherwise. Animal welfare is a top priority for us. We would never support a system that is responsible for the inhumane and torturous conditions under which industrially farmed animals must live. We encourage our customers to do the same, so if you eat meat, eggs, or dairy, make sure the animals are treated and fed well. Their our many great local protein providers. These our our favorites : Adam's Acres and RP Cattle.
This year we used composted manure from RP Cattle, which was located across the road from us, as an initial fertility input for our beds. We have also used free-range non-gmo fed goat manure off our own farm, and horse manure from these tiny adorable horses kept as pets by a neighbor.
-Mulch/Plant Residue
When we harvest, we keep as much of the plant on the growing bed as possible. We never pull a plant (with the exception of radishes, turnips, beets, etc.) so that the root system remains to break down into organic material and nourish the soil. As much as possible, when we cut a plant, such as a crop or an opportunist, we lay down the plant on the soil so that it becomes mulch first, and eventually soil and nutrients. This works in the same way that nature does, forming a layer of leaves and plant matter to decompose into top soil. The mulch that we use (this year-Triticale straw) also stays on top of the soil, turning into topsoil and feeding our plants, as much so as manure.
Seeds
As much as possible, we try to grow only heirloom varieties and source our from local and ecologically responsible companies.
We source a large amount of our seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, located about 120 miles NW of us in Mansfield, MO. They hire local growers for their seeds when possible, and sell only open-pollinated, non-hybrid, pure, natural, non-gmo seeds. This means that the seeds can be saved, are natural and untreated, and not genetically modified. Read more about Heirloom Seeds and Seed Saving Here.
We source seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, a worker run cooperative located in Central Virginia that specializes in heirloom seeds well suited to the Southeast. They provide many certified organic as well as ecologically grown seeds.
This year we have also sourced seeds from Everwilde Farms, a family-owned and operated farm located in Northwestern Wisconsin that is dedicated to producing and selling the best herb seeds, heirloom vegetable seeds, native wildflower seeds, and native grass seeds available.
Minerals Currently, we are using a product called SEA-90 to provide your vegetables with extra minerals and elements, some of which are naturally unavailable or have been leached out of our soil over time.
"SEA-90 sea mineral solids are natural crystals produced by solar dehydrating H2O from sea water trapped in retention ponds located in a very arid pristine coastal area with no industry or agriculture. This particular sea is considered to be one of the most mineral-rich and diverse in sea life on earth.
The minerals and trace elements in SEA-90 are proportioned and balanced to sustain biological life. Consider that the elements in sea water
are at essentially the same ratios as human blood, and that sea life living in pure and balanced ocean water is seemingly immune to cancer and other degenerative diseases."
We use SEA-90 because it contains all the minerals we need in a form that is accessible to our plants. It is also a more sustainable source of minerals and trace elements because it is dehydrated water, and not a mined resource. Mining can be a very earth-damaging process, causing erosion, loss of biodiversity, contamination of soil, groundwater, and surface water, and formation of sinkholes. SEA-90 is also approved for organic agriculture.
Nutrients/Fertility
We try to limit the amounts of manure and other high nitrogen inputs that we use for our crops. While some nitrogen is essential, excess can be catastrophic. Excess nitrogen can be taken up by the plants, causing high nitrogen vegetables, potentially causing nitrate toxicity. If not taken up by plants, these excess nitrates can leach into the groundwater, and run off during storms, contaminating drinking water, as well as creeks, rivers, and eventually, the ocean. Extremely high nitrogen levels also attract more garden pests, and cause too much lush growth, which is damaging to plants. We try to use the least amount we need to keep our soil in balance.
-Manure We NEVER use manure sourced from any sort of industrial agriculture/factory farming operation, organic or otherwise. Animal welfare is a top priority for us. We would never support a system that is responsible for the inhumane and torturous conditions under which industrially farmed animals must live. We encourage our customers to do the same, so if you eat meat, eggs, or dairy, make sure the animals are treated and fed well. Their our many great local protein providers. These our our favorites : Adam's Acres and RP Cattle.
This year we used composted manure from RP Cattle, which was located across the road from us, as an initial fertility input for our beds. We have also used free-range non-gmo fed goat manure off our own farm, and horse manure from these tiny adorable horses kept as pets by a neighbor.
-Mulch/Plant Residue
When we harvest, we keep as much of the plant on the growing bed as possible. We never pull a plant (with the exception of radishes, turnips, beets, etc.) so that the root system remains to break down into organic material and nourish the soil. As much as possible, when we cut a plant, such as a crop or an opportunist, we lay down the plant on the soil so that it becomes mulch first, and eventually soil and nutrients. This works in the same way that nature does, forming a layer of leaves and plant matter to decompose into top soil. The mulch that we use (this year-Triticale straw) also stays on top of the soil, turning into topsoil and feeding our plants, as much so as manure.
Seeds
As much as possible, we try to grow only heirloom varieties and source our from local and ecologically responsible companies.
We source a large amount of our seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, located about 120 miles NW of us in Mansfield, MO. They hire local growers for their seeds when possible, and sell only open-pollinated, non-hybrid, pure, natural, non-gmo seeds. This means that the seeds can be saved, are natural and untreated, and not genetically modified. Read more about Heirloom Seeds and Seed Saving Here.
We source seeds from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, a worker run cooperative located in Central Virginia that specializes in heirloom seeds well suited to the Southeast. They provide many certified organic as well as ecologically grown seeds.
This year we have also sourced seeds from Everwilde Farms, a family-owned and operated farm located in Northwestern Wisconsin that is dedicated to producing and selling the best herb seeds, heirloom vegetable seeds, native wildflower seeds, and native grass seeds available.