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Adhering to ecological practices, and applying their years of environmental educational and organic farming experience, Rachel and Eric are fulfilling Cliff’s desire for the land to be free of chemical practices. Waterpenny’s farming methods are compliant with Virginia’s state organic standards and they are working towards compliance with the new national organic standards, which go into effect later this year.
Explaining practices
to customers
They don’t intend, however, to become certified. When I asked them why, Rachel and Eric replied since they sell directly to their customers, they can explain their practices without having to rely on the “O” word. They believe that the national standards, though, are important for grocery store consumers who can’t speak directly to their farmers.
Not having direct contact with the source of food is still a big drawback for consumers, whether it is labeled organic or not. With a growing demand for organics and increasing market share falling to this sector of food sales, many conventional and industrial style farms are jumping into the conversion to organic.
Yet substituting biological sprays for synthetic and natural fertilizer for chemical does not follow the heart and spirit of true organic agriculture: building and replenishing soil structure and fertility, mulching, sowing green manures, diversifying crops, conserving water, crop rotation and encouraging beneficial insects.
All of these are methods Rachel and Eric do follow at Waterpenny Farm, along with hand weeding, hoeing and using row covers to protect young seedlings until they grow large enough to withstand insect predation.
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