Profile: King's Crossing Farm
 John and Jimma Byrd own and manage a 110-acre organic pecan orchard in San Saba called King's Crossing Farm. They've been certified organic for twelve years, and are maintaining their certification as their 800 pecan trees mature. In the meantime, they are selling some organic veggies. You can read the full interview here.
Quote of the Week
"We love growing pecans, fruits, and vegetables and sharing them with others that value wholesome, nutrient-dense foods." — John & Jimma Byrd
 Transition Made Easy
If you're thinking about "going organic," you may want to start small, on just part of your acreage. Organic and non-organic crop production may take place on the same farm, provided that you take some basic precautions, such as maintaining a buffer zone between organic and non-organic fields. You can generally use the same equipment and harvesting bins for both products, as long as you clean them properly to prevent contamination by prohibited substances. For more information, visit here.
Myths & Misconceptions
 Myth: "It always takes three years to get a field certified organic."
Truth: If your field has recently been treated with synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, you will have to wait three years. However, if you can provide an affidavit stating that the land has been free of prohibited substances for the past three years, the certification process can begin immediately. The affidavit form is here.
Organic Facts
 According to the Organic Trade Association, eight in 10 U.S. families now purchase organic foods at least sometimes. Christine Bushway, OTA's CEO, says "consumer trust is on the upswing for organic as the gold standard when seeking to avoid toxic and persistent pesticides, antibiotics, synthetic hormones, genetically engineered ingredients, and additives." For further reading, visit here.
Questions from the ATTRA Vault
 Q: Are there organic controls for field bindweed?
A: Bindweed is very difficult to control organically. Field bindweed roots of two inches or more that are not brought to the surface and dried out by the sun can re-grow. Read the full answer here.
Q: I am starting an organic peach orchard. What are the disease and pest concerns associated with growing peaches?
A: Geographic location and climate play a particular role in the incidence and severity of peach diseases and pests. Commercial scale production of organic peaches in the eastern U.S. is very, very difficult; in fact, it is virtually non-existent. Read the full answer here.
TOFGA Corner
TOFGA has divided the state into 9 regions. Currently, the most active are Regions 2 (central Texas) and 4 (Dallas/Ft Worth area). The Region 2 leadership team meets regularly to plan events like farm tours and workshops, and is starting a listserv. Region 4 will have its first regional networking meeting in a long time on June 24th in Plano, and has a listserv for upcoming events and questions about bug infestations, production methods, group purchasing of supplies, and more.
Check here for your region. If you're in either of these two regions, email region2@tofga.org or region4@tofga.org to join the listserv. Otherwise, email admin@tofga.org with your name and county and our administrative assistant Lee will direct your email to the correct regional director. Keep Growing!
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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