On Becoming a Certified Farmer

There are many decisions that a farmer must make in order to successfully raise crops, livestock, or to support the environment. All of those choices directly impact the well-being and quality of those products. As a consumer, it can be nearly impossible to determine whether the farmer made the best choices so that their products are the best possible.

This is why so many farmers are choosing to become certified. Certifications offer the consumer a guarantee that everything the farmer does or decides is in the best interest of the produce, animals, and environment. Hence, the consumer can feel confident that they are supporting only those operations that are actively promoting ecological health, social justice, and transparency.

Out of the many certification bodies, we at Birdie & The Bees Farm have chosen to become Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). CNG is a certification program created by a group of farmers in 2002 as a way to provide consumers with a reliable way to identify produce grown using natural farming methods. The certification is based on a grassroots approach to ensure food safety, ecological sustainability, and social justice.

We are currently in the process of becoming fully certified, so we thought we would explore what it means to become Certified Naturally Grown, how the certification process works, and the benefits of this certification for farmers and consumers.

What is Certified Naturally Grown?

Certified Naturally Grown is a grassroots certification program for farmers who grow crops using natural farming methods. Becoming CNG is a significant accomplishment for farmers who choose to grow their crops without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The produce is grown according to the four CNG principles:

1. Ecological health: CNG farmers are required to use farming practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and water conservation. This includes using cover crops, crop rotations, and natural pest control methods.
2. Social justice: CNG farmers are required to follow fair labor practices and treat their workers with respect and dignity.
3. Local food systems: CNG farmers are encouraged to sell their produce within their local communities and support local food systems.
4. Transparency: CNG farmers are required to be transparent about their farming practices and make their farms accessible to the public.

How does the certification process work?

The certification process for CNG is based on a peer-review system. Farmers who want to become certified must first fill out an application and pay a fee. The application includes questions about the farmer’s farming practices, including what type of crops they grow, what fertilizers and pest control methods they use, and how they manage their soil health.

After the application is submitted, a CNG inspector will visit the farm to verify that the farmer is following natural farming practices. The inspector will check the soil health, the use of cover crops, crop rotations, and natural pest control methods. The inspector will also interview the farmer and their workers to ensure that fair labor practices are being followed.

Once the inspector has completed the inspection, they will submit a report to the CNG certification committee. The committee will review the report and determine whether the farmer meets the requirements for certification. If the farmer is approved, they will receive a certificate and be listed on the CNG website.

The certification process is repeated every year to ensure that the farmer continues to meet the requirements for certification.

What are the benefits of becoming Certified Naturally Grown?

There are many benefits to becoming Certified Naturally Grown for both farmers and consumers.

Benefits for Farmers:

1. Increased marketability: Many consumers are willing to pay more for produce that is grown using natural farming methods. Being Certified Naturally Grown can help farmers differentiate their products from conventionally grown produce and increase their marketability.
2. Reduced costs: Natural farming methods can be less expensive than conventional farming methods because they do not require synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.
3. Increased community support: CNG farmers are encouraged to sell their produce within their local communities, which can lead to increased community support.
4. Access to a network of like-minded farmers: CNG farmers have access to a network of like-minded farmers who are also committed to natural farming practices. This can be a valuable resource for farmers who want to learn more about natural farming methods and share their experiences with others.

Benefits for Consumers:

1. Access to healthier produce: Produce grown using natural farming methods is generally healthier than conventionally grown produce because it contains fewer synthetic chemicals.
2. Reduced environmental impact: Natural farming methods reduce the environmental impact of farming by promoting soil health, biodiversity, and water conservation.

3. Support for local food systems: CNG farmers are encouraged to sell their produce within their local communities, which supports local food systems and reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation.
4. Transparency: CNG farmers are required to be transparent about their farming practices, which provides consumers with confidence that their produce is grown using natural farming methods.

Conclusion

Becoming Certified Naturally Grown is a significant accomplishment for farmers who choose to grow their crops using natural farming methods. This grassroots certification program provides consumers with a reliable way to identify produce grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and GMOs.

The certification process is based on a peer-review system, which ensures that farmers are following natural farming practices that promote ecological health, social justice, local food systems, and transparency. The benefits of becoming Certified Naturally Grown include increased marketability, reduced costs, increased community support, access to a network of like-minded farmers, access to healthier produce, reduced environmental impact, support for local food systems, and transparency.

Consumers who want to support natural farming practices and reduce their exposure to synthetic chemicals can look for the Certified Naturally Grown label when purchasing produce. By supporting CNG farmers, consumers can help promote ecological sustainability, social justice, and local food systems while enjoying healthier and tastier produce.