Sandy Ashmore, That Guy's Family Farm, describes how her son Conard started work last fall to produce this year's certified organic sweet corn.

"Conard just might be raising the only certified organic sweet corn in the area.  We do not know that for a fact, but I do not know of any other growers.

He started the last fall by planting a cover crop for this year's corn.  Usually it would be a nitrogen fixing crop because corn is a heavy user of nitrogen.

He began this spring with an untreated organic seed (most all sweet corn seed is treated with a fungicide).  He waited until late May to start planting so the soil temperature would be warm and the seedling can get off to a fast start.  Once the corn was up he side dressed with an organic pelleted chicken manure fertilizer and started cultivating.  He cultivated by tractor four times and by hand once since herbicides are not used.

He put out insect traps to see what insects might be in the area to damage the ear, and if he would have to hand treat each ear with vegetable oil as synthetic insecticide are not used.

Harvesting is the same as by most growers, by hand.

Not too glamorous!"

Check back next week for more information about conventional fertilizers as well as their dangers and consequences. 

Wyoming Ave. Farmers' Market is proud to support farmers who grow our food in a sustainable manner.