Appendix E from the COABC`s Small Scale Certification Research

Appendix E from the COABC’s Small Scale Certification Research Project prepared by AEL &
Resilient Solutions Consulting.
2012 FARMER’S PLEDGE ™
http://www.ctnofa.org/documents/2012%20farmers%20pledge.pdf
Knowing your farmer is the best assurance that the food you buy is responsibly grown; grown with
methods that recognize the inherent implications of the web of life in all our individual actions. CT NOFA
(The Connecticut Northeast Organic Farming Association) believes that farmers should work in harmony
with natural forces and leave the little piece of the world over which they have stewardship in better
condition than when they found it.
To further enable consumers to identify the farms they want to support with their food dollars, CT NOFA
is using the Farmer’s Pledge, separate and distinct from USDA Certified Organic. Farmers and market
gardeners who adhere to the following pledge have signed a copy which they display for customers and
neighbors to view. This pledge is based on the integrity of the farmer/gardener. Those who sign this pledge
agree that consumers may inspect, by appointment, their farm/garden to judge the truthfulness of this
statement. CT NOFA does not investigate or make any guarantee that the individual farmer is complying
with the Farmer’s Pledge.
WE PLEDGE THAT IN OUR FARMING, PROCESSING AND MARKETING WE WILL:
Reject the use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides & fertilizers
Reject the use of GMO’s, chemically treated seeds, synthetic toxic materials, irradiation & sewage
sludge
Treat livestock humanely by providing pasture for ruminants, access to outdoors & fresh air for all
livestock, banning cruel alterations, & using no hormones or antibiotics in feed
Support agricultural markets & infrastructures that enable small farms to thrive
Maintain & build healthy soils by farming practices that include rotating crops annually, using compost,
cover crops, green manures & reducing tillage
Conserve natural resources by reducing erosion & pollution of air, soil & water through responsible
farming practices
Maximize the nutritional value of food & feed by practicing careful post harvest handling
Practice minimal processing for all food products to preserve the natural nutritional value of food: NO
use of irradiation, ultra-pasteurization, excessive heat, synthetic preservatives, or GMO processing agents or
additives
Reduce the ecological footprint of farms & homes by limiting energy use & converting to renewable
sources of energy
Reduce food miles by selling produce locally & regionally
Create beneficial habitat for wildlife & encourage biodiversity
Help preserve farmland & farming know-how
Ensure food safety by using potable water for washing crops
Handle raw manure & soil amendments with care
Use ethical business practices
Pay a living wage to all farm workers & acknowledge their freedom of association & their right to
collective bargaining
Treat family members & farm workers with respect & ensure their safety on the farm
Work in cooperation with other farmers & with neighboring community to create a more sustainable
way of life
Sustain the land in healthy condition for future generations
Name of Farm/Organization (please print)
Name (please print) Signature Date
Received by CT NOFA Date
CT NOFA ~ PO Box 164 ~ Stevenson, CT 06491
ctnofa.org 203-888-5146
2
Appendix 1 from the SOUL report completed by Rochelle Eisen and Heide Hermary
Affidavit
I, the undersigned agree to the following:
1. I guarantee that, when I promote this accreditation in conjunction with selling food, it
has been produced according to the latest edition of the SOUL Organic Land Care
Standard.
2. My certification may be revoked if I breach this agreement.
Signed:
Witnessed:
Name:
Name:
Address:
Address:
Date:
Date:
3
Further examples
# 1 The Kootenay Mountain Grown Pledge ............................................................................................... 4
# 2 Farmer’s Pledge ................................................................................................................................... 5
# 3 Round Right Farm................................................................................................................................. 6
# 4 Farmer's Pledge .................................................................................................................................... 8
#1 The Kootenay Mountain Grown Pledge
http://www.growinginthekootenays.ca/introductiontothesociety3foldletter.pdf
We, the members of the Kootenay Mountain Grown have pledged to manage our farms as follows:
1. We use no synthetic herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, or fertilizers on our crops, fields, or livestoc
k. The only products we use on our farms are those allowed for organic agriculture.
2. We care for our soil, water, and air quality with sustainable management practices, including cover
crops, composts, crop rotations, mulching, crop diversity, perennial pastures, and buffer strips.
3. We use no chemically treated or genetically engineered seed; we use organically, sustainably,
locally, or regionally produced seed when‐ ever possible.
4. We treat livestock humanely. We use no hormones or antibiotic‐laced feeds or feeds of genetically
engineered origin. We provide consistent access to pasture and feed from organic or sustainable, and
local or regional, sources.
5. We follow sanitary post‐harvest practices, including proper transport, storage, and use of only
potable water for washing.
6. We seek to enhance the biodiversity of native species on our land and to continually improve our
conservation practices, land and water stewardship
7. We work to enhance the local economy by selling and buying locally as much as possible. We
encourage local and seasonal eating to minimize the transport of food.
8. We support the greater organic and local agricultural community and advocate for the ideals
expressed in this pledge.
9. We are active within our community encouraging and assisting farmers with sustainable
practices, helping one another to become better farmers, and creating fertile ground for all
local farmers and local markets.
10. We are locally owned and operated. We provide safe, healthy working conditions and fair
compensation for employees, farm staff, and ourselves.
4
#2 Farmer's Pledge
http://www.moffa.net/farmers-pledge.html
MOFFA strongly encourages all farmers who are committed to the principles of organic farming and who follow
organic practices to certify their farms with a certifying agency that is accredited with the USDA National Organic
Program. MOFFA also understands that for valid personal, philosophical, and political reasons, many farmers do
not wish to have their farms and their practices associated with the National Organic Program.
MOFFA also understands that many farms in transition would appreciate having a “Michigan label” that represents
their philosophy and practices.
This is why the MOFFA Board decided to propose a Michigan Farmer’s Pledge. This pledge was created by the
Northeast Organic Farming Association-New York (NOFA-NY) and with their approval MOFFA has adapted the
Pledge for Michigan farmers. This pledge is not a substitute for certification, but for the reasons noted above, it
does offer an opportunity for some Michigan Farmers to identify and promote their ecological practices.
A Michigan Farmer’s Pledge
On our farm we ...
Promise to build and maintain healthy soils by using acceptable crop rotations, cover and green manure crops,
compost and manure where appropriate and available, and natural mineral supplements when needed.
Vow to protect the soil, water and air by preventing erosion and reducing pollution through the most responsible
farming practices we can implement.
Promise to use environmentally friendly farming methods and refrain from using synthetic insecticides, herbicides,
fungicides, synthetic fertilizers, chemically treated seeds, irradiation, sewage sludge and toxic materials, choosing
to rely on materials that are acceptable for use on organic farms.
Pledge to use traditional methods of plant and animal breeding and reject the use of animal cloning and genetic
modification or engineering (GMO or GE) of seeds, and other inputs using this technology.
Promise to treat all livestock humanely and provide access to the outdoors and fresh air, preferably as pasture, to
all animals on the farm and to use no antibiotics, hormones or GMOs in feed.
Will conserve the nutritional value of food and feed by careful handling during and after harvest.
Promise to use health and environment friendly processing methods.
Treat family members, volunteers and farm workers with respect, ensure their safety on the farm, provide a
challenging and comfortable work environment, and pay them as well as the situation permits.
Cooperate with other farmers to preserve farmland and farming knowledge.
Cooperate with community leaders and members to create the most local food system possible in our area and a
more sustainable way of life for all.
Practice conservation of energy whenever possible.
Support agricultural markets and infrastructures that enable small farms to thrive.
Encourage biodiversity and practice its conservation on our farms.
Maintain the land in healthy condition for future generations of farmers.
5
# 3 Round Right Farm
http://www.roundrightfarm.com/pages/ourorganicpledge
We must draw our standards from the
natural world. We must honor, with the
humility of the wise, the bounds of that
natural world and the mystery which lies
beyond it, admitting that there is something
in the order of being which evidently
exceeds
all
our
competence.
-VACLAV HAVEL
Our Pledge of Organic Excellence
Round Right Farm is uncertified organic. We've decided not to seek organic certification because of the additional
cost (now formidable since the WV Dept. of Ag. has ended its subsidies for certification). The cost of certification
would push us toward raising our prices and we feel organic food should be affordable and accessible to all. We
also feel a single annual visit to a farm, as is common practice among certifying agencies, is not adequate enough
to actually certify that a farm follows organic practices. The infrequency of check-ins would make it very easy for
an unscrupulous farmer to be certified organic when they shouldn't be. In our eyes, this makes certification
potentially meaningless.
This is not meant to imply anything negative about farms that are certified organic. We know that organic farming
works, and we trust that the large majority of certified organic farms are the real deal. We also know certification
is required for growers who want to sell to certain wholesale markets and don't have the luxury of a direct
connection to their ultimate customers.
We hope that you will pay us a visit and certify for yourself that the land is being farmed organically. We consider
the farm a semi-public space, and, as such, invite our customers to visit the farm unannounced. Let us know once
you arrive, and please do not be offended if we are occupied and unable to give you full attention, but do feel
welcome to explore our operation. If you'd like a more formal tour, please make an appointment.
We purchased a hay field in 2006 and have been building our dream farm ever since. Since pesticides are not
normally applied to hay fields, you can take comfort in knowing that no pesticides have been used on the land
since it was taken out of corn production over two decades ago.
Our Pledge
We promise not to use unnecessary and harmful inputs in the production of our produce and meats. This means
that we do not use any of the following:





Synthetic and chemical pesticides or herbicides
Fossil-fuel based and chemical fertilizers
Genetically modified seeds or feeds
Growth hormones or antibiotics
Manure from animals whose daily diet includes antibiotics or synthetic hormones
Organic is not just a list of "do nots" however. At Round Right Farm, organic means that we make every possible
effort to improve the quality of our soil and increase the number and diversity of soil organisms on which healthy
soils depend.
Incorporating cover crops and applying mulches adds organic matter to the soil, and organic matter is central to
improving soil quality. It is the food that allows the myriad of micro and macroscopic soil organisms to grow and
6
multiply. These organisms convert formerly living tissue (organic matter) into nutritive forms that are usable by
the plants. They then become plant-available nutrients themselves when they die and decay. Undigestible portions
of organic matter remain in the soil, adding to its moisture retention ability, nutrient carrying capacity, and soft
texture. Soils with large amounts of organic matter and a diverse biosphere create a stress-free growing
environment, giving plants an ideal place to grow and the strength they need to naturally resist pests. Combined
with a good crop rotation, this makes pesticide inputs largely unnecessary. We have never been tempted to try
agricultural strategies based on substances that are not biologically derived. To the contrary, we have always been
able to find organic solutions to farming's many challenges.
7
#4 Farmer's Pledge
http://localfoodmarketplace.com/nevadacounty/Content.aspx?content=content0
Most Farmers that Participate in this program are either Certified Organic, Registered Organic or
Certified Bio Dynamic. As well, many farms that are not Certified Organic adhere to -or even exceed the
requirements of the National Organic Program. In an effort to provide ethical Farmers with an even
playing field, we acknowledge that ethical farming practices are the most important considerations in
choosing a farm or purveyor. And in an effort to further enable consumers to identify the farms they
want to support with their food dollars separate and distinct from USDA Registered or Certified Organic,
we have asked our participating Farmers and Market Gardeners to sign and adhere to the Farmer's
Pledge. This pledge is based on the integrity of the farmer/gardener, and can be signed regardless of
whether or not the farm is USDA Registered Organic. Those who sign this pledge agree to abide by it's
principals and agree to the condition that consumers may inspect, by appointment, their farm or garden
to judge the truthfulness of this statement.
Knowing your farmer is the best assurance that the food you buy is responsibly grown, with methods
that recognize the inherent implications of the web of life in all our individual actions. We believe that
farmers should work in harmony with natural forces and leave the little piece of the world over which
they have stewardship in better condition than when they found it. The Farmer's Pledge and the
National Organic Program are both important ways of quantifying this holistic idea.
THE FARMER'S PLEDGE
Growing Practices and Community Ethics Statement
Agreed to by ALL participating Farmers and Purveyors
WE PLEDGE THAT IN OUR FARMING, PROCESSING AND MARKETING WE WILL...









Build and maintain healthy soils by applying farming practices that include rotating crops
annually, using compost, cover crops, green manures, and reduced tillage;
Serve the health of the soil, people and nature by rejecting the use of synthetic insecticides,
herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers;
Reject the use of GMO’s, chemically treated seeds, or synthetic toxic materials;
Treat livestock humanely by providing pasture for ruminants, access to outdoors & fresh air for
all livestock, banning cruel alterations, & using no hormones or antibiotics in feed
Handle raw manure and soil amendments with care;
Encourage distribution of unsold but edible food to people who need it;
Work in cooperation with other local farmer’s to promote a more healthy and just regional
food system;
Train the next generation of farmer’s by sharing and developing farming skills among
apprentices, volunteers, and workshare members;
Transparently discuss the wages of all farm workers and acknowledge their freedom of
association and their right to collective bargaining.



Reject the use of synthetic insecticides, herbicides, fungicides & fertilizers
Support agricultural markets & infrastructures that enable small farms to thrive
Maintain & build healthy soils by farming practices that include rotating crops
annually, using compost, cover crops, green manures & reducing tillage

Conserve natural resources by reducing erosion & pollution of air, soil & water through
responsible farming practices
8








Maximize the nutritional value of food & feed by practicing careful post harvest handling
Ensure food safety by using potable water for washing crops
Practice minimal processing for all food products to preserve the natural nutritional value of
food: NO use of irradiation, ultrapasteurization, excessive heat, synthetic preservatives, or GMO
processing agents or additives
Reduce the ecological footprint of farms & homes by limiting energy use & converting to
renewable sources of energy
Create beneficial habitat for wildlife & encourage biodiversity
Pay a living wage to all farm workers & acknowledge their freedom of association & their right
to collective bargaining
Use ethical business practices
Sustain the land in healthy condition for future generations
9