Expert: Kindred Beisinger penname K D Elizabeth Beisinger - 3/24/2008

Question
Hi, I live in a high agriculture area of California and I would like to start an
organic farm here someday.  My question is; since this area is known for it's
intense usage of pesticides and Lord knows what else, if I set the farm and
veggie stand up and not use those things can I still call it organic...

Answer
Dear Shelley,
There are different criteria and standards for the word "organic."  It's still rather vague in definition.  If you do not use chemicals for pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizer, and avoid planting "treated" seeds, then you will be farming organically.  I couldn't begin to tell you what has been done to the land before I got here, but I do know there hasn't been a chemical on the place since, and we are known all around as "organic."  Even the electric company has a note on our account to not spray herbicides around the light poles on our place.  We can't undo the damage that's been done, but we don't have to add to it and once we change it, then it becomes natural or organic or  . . .
I wish you much success in your endeavor.
Kind Regards,
Kindred
www.eingedi.us

P.S.  By the way, I use heirloom and heritage seeds to avoid hybrids and genetic modification.  That's just another part of our definition of "organic," although it isn't everyone's.