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to the first issue of Texas Organic Chronicles. This occasional newsletter will profile organic farmers and the organizations that support them. We'll also be tackling some of the questions that Texas specialty crop growers are asking about organic certification, soil fertility, pest and weed control, and other topics. If you're already farming organically, thank you! If you're not, we hope you'll consider it. And if you're not a farmer, we hope to increase your awareness and appreciation for the amazing organic farmers of Texas.
Please click here to answer a few completely anonymous questions about your interest in organic farming. We promise this will take less than five minutes. Many thanks.
Profile: Gabriel Valley Farms
The folks at Gabriel Valley Farms are pioneers in organic certified wholesale nursery production. Cathy and Sam Slaughter have been serving Central Texas retail garden centers, landscape companies, and farmers with certified organic plants since 1989. In 2007, they began the process of becoming a certified organic nursery and received their certification through the Texas Department of Agriculture in 2008. We asked them to share their thoughts about organic production and certification, and you can read the full interview here.
Questions from the ATTRA Vault
Q: What can you tell me about flame weeding as a method of weed control in organic crops?
A: Flame weeding is a non-chemical weed-control technique common among organic farmers. Flame weeding, also referred to as flame cultivation, often uses propane gas burners to produce a carefully controlled flame that briefly passes over weeds...Read the full answer here.
Q: What can you tell me about software products for organic farm recordkeeping?
A: Developing an easy recordkeeping system is essential for organic farm certification, but it can also be useful in helping you make business decisions for your farm…Read the full answer here.
TOFGA Corner
I'm thrilled to be part of this first issue of the Texas Organic Chronicles, and would like to introduce you to the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, the statewide grassroots organization that supports organic and sustainable farming in Texas. If you are a Texas specialty crop grower who believes in sustainability, TOFGA is here to serve and represent you, whether or not you've made the transition to "certified organic." We were established in 1993 by a group of producers who saw the need for a community of sustainable agriculture practitioners in Texas. We host regional meetings, workshops, farm tours, and an annual conference with two full days of workshops. I'll be telling you a lot more about our activities in upcoming issues of the Texas Organic Chronicles. Please visit our website at www.tofga.org.
- Susie Marshall, TOFGA President
Texas Organic Chronicles is funded in part by the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program as administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
ATTRA has been a trusted source of information about organic and sustainable agriculture for over 25 years. Visit www.attra.ncat.org, for over 400 (mostly free) publications, as well as many other tools and resources. Send us a question by e-mail, using the form on our website. Text your question to askanag@ncat.org. Or phone us at 800-346-9140 (English) or 800-411-3222 (Spanish). Funded by the USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service, ATTRA is a program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology.
TOFGA is a grassroots membership organization, proudly supporting organic and sustainable farming in all parts of Texas. TOFGA hosts an annual conference, regional meetings and workshops, farm tours, and other events. Whether you're a farmer, gardener, or consumer, please join TOFGA today. www.tofga.org.
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