Growing Organic Vegetables

Organic Seed - where are we?

Organic seed must be used in order to comply with Canadian Organic Management Standards. If a grower demonstrates a reasonably thorough search for an organic seed and clearly documents that it is not available, then a grower may use non-organic seed. As outlined in CAN/CGB 32.310, certified organic crop producers must avoid the following prohibited substances, methods, or ingredients that may be found in conventional seed :

1.4.1.a: all materials and products produced from genetic engineering . . .
1.4.1.b: synthetic pesticides . . .
1.4.1.e: synthetic growth regulators
1.4.1.i: equipment, packaging materials and storage containers, or bins that contain synthetic fungicide, preservative or fumigant

For more extensive discussion, go to:

• Why Organic Seed? by John Navazio, Organic Seed Alliance and Washington State University.
• Organic Seed Resource Guide: Introduction and Table of Contents authored by Micaela Colley, Organic Seed Alliance: Alex Stone, Oregon State University; Linda Brewer,Oregon State University; & Brian Baker, Organic Materials Research Institute.

Pertinent CAN/CSGB 32.310 standard excerpts
Pertinent excerpts from CAN/CGSB 32.311 the Permitted Substance List

- by Joanne Warren, May 2009

Other Seed Sites of Interest
Seed Ambassadors Project - Stewardship and free sharing of open-pollenated seed.
Seed Saving (Internal link)
* Organic Seed Sources - available to Canadian farmers (Internal link)
The Changing Nature of Seed Ownership and Control in Canada
* Organic Seeds Supplier in Canada (Internal link)
Organic Seeds, Heirloom Seeds, Untreated Seeds, Seed Suppliers
Suppliers of Seed for Certified Organic Production (ATTRA)
* Growing Vegetables for Seed (Chris Wells on Cyber)
Farmers' Privilege Under Attack (GRAIN)

Soil Fertility & Crop Nutrition (OMAFRA)
Manures for Organic Crop Production (ATTRA)

Organic Weed Control: Many Little Hammers! (OMAFRA)
Cover Crops Deter Root-Damaging Nematodes in Vegetable Systems (USDA)

Mustard in nematode control and other potato diseases - Pesticide Action Network
Mustard ". . . planted after a wheat harvest in August or September. Fields spring to life with the green and yellow crop in two to three weeks. It is incorporated back into the soil after six weeks of growth." (Capital Press) According to PANNA chemist Dr. Susan Kegley, "Mustard plants produce small amounts of MITC, the same active fumigant that is produced when metam sodium reacts with water. Unlike synthetic MITC, the mustard plant produces very small amounts of this chemical in the soil over the entire growing season, rather than in one high-dose treatment, so the levels emitted are very small, and therefore pose less toxic risk than with chemical-based farming methods." Mustard is proving especially effective on curbing nematodes and "early die" in potatoes. The crop also helps hold soil in place, and plowing in this green manure enhances soil percolation.

Planned Crop Rotations (ATTRA)

Seed balls for no-till farming (Permies.com)
Organic no-till for vegetable production? (New Farm)
Cover Crops for Organic No-Till Mulch Systems (New Farm - includes a chart)
Covered up: A look at no-till options (New Farm - an html slide show)
Using Winter-Killed Cover Crops to Facilitate Organic No-till Planting of Early Spring Vegetables (2010 eXtension Webinar)

A cover crop roller without all the drawbacks of a stalk chopper (New Farm)
Ten Steps Toward Organic Weed Control (UVM)
Using Plastic Mulches & Drip Irrigation for Vegetable Production (NCSU)
The Myth of Allelopathic Wood Chips (WSU)

Intercropping Principles and Production Practices (ATTRA)
Companion Planting: Basic Concept and Resources (ATTRA)
Companion Plant Spacing Calculator (KYSU)

Conservation Tillage (ATTRA)
Soil Compaction: The Silent Thief (UMC)
Pursuing Conservation Tillage Systems for Organic Crop Production (ATTRA)
Market Farm Implement (Pennsylvania)
Use of Mechanical Cultivators for Market Vegetable Crops (Ag-Can/pdf)
Small Farm Machinery, Equipment, Hand tools Information
Scythe Supply

Using cover crops for weed management (Ag Canada)
Weed control in organic vegetable cultivation (FiBL) [PDF, 900k]
Twelve Steps Toward Ecological Weed Management in Organic Vegetables (eXtension)
Video Clips on Organic Weed Management (eXtension)
Non-chemical weed management for row crops (Kansas Rural Center) [PDF, 140k]
Weeds Guardians of the Soil (A manual by J. Cocannouer)
Weed Management For Organic Crops (UCDavis/pdf)
Non-Chemical Weed Management for Row Crops (KansasRC/pdf)
New Cultivation Tools for Mechanical Weed Control in Vegetables (UConn)
Flame Weeding for Vegetable Crops (ATTRA)

Season Extension (Midwest Organic)
How to Build a PVC Hoophouse (Travis Saling)
How to Improve Profitability Through Season Extension (UMOC)
Extend the Growing Season with Coleman's Double-Covered Low Tunnels (MOFGA)
Hoop House How-to (Kerr Cente)
How to Build a Low-Cost Hoop House Manual (Kerr Cente/1.63 MB PDF)
Building Hoop Houses out of Electrical Conduit (Choit`s Run blog)
Homemade Hoop Bender (Concord Magazine blog)
Quick Hoop Bender Manual (Johnny`s Selected Seed/2.29 MB PDF)
Season Extension Books

Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control (ATTRA)
Plant Disease Management For Organic Crops (UCDavis/pdf)
Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America (Cornell)
Alternative Controls for Late Blight in Potatoes (ATTRA)
Silver Scurf of Potato (Cornell)

The Worrisome Lowdown on the Wiley Wireworm
Wireworm damage in root crops can be damned annoying and frustrating for the home gardener, and plain devastating to the commercial grower. Wireworms damage newly planted seeds, feed on the roots of young plants, and devalue root crops. Losses in potato production alone in the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia were estimated at between $500,000 to $800,000 reported in l994. To read rest of article click here.
Down to the wire! Winning the war on wireworms (Ont. Min of Ag.)

Packing Shed Layout (WISC-HFHP/pdf)
Streamlining Your Sales Area (WISC-HFHP)
Mesh Produce Bags: Easy Batch Processing (WISC-HFHP)
A Strap-on Stool for Field Work (WISC-HFHP)
Standard Container (WISC-HFHP)
Try a Long Handled Diamond Hoe for Weeding (WISC-HFHP)
A Rolling Dibble Marker for Easy Transplant Spacing (WISC-HFHP)
Build a Hands-Free Washer (WISC-HFHP)
A Specialized Harvest Cart for Greens (WISC-HFHP)
Plans for a Specialized Harvest Cart (WISC-HFHP)
Roll Produce on a Narrow Aisle Platform Truck (WISC-HFHP)
Narrow Aisle Platform Truck Schematic Drawings (WISC-HFHP)
Narrow Pallet System (WISC-HFHP)
Motorized Lay-Down Work Carts (WISC-HFHP)
Stretch out your season with hoophouses (WISC-HFHP)