Market Farming

["Jeanine Fore" <Jeanine4 AT aol.com>]

The questions that I am about to ask, will probably make some of you think
that I am not competent enough to be growing veggies, much less selling
them to the public.

But I don’t grow organic; we use 8-8-8 as our fertilizer. (Don’t hiss
please) I am interested in growing organic, but from what I have been
reading it appears the EPA is going to be making it kind of hard with the
purposed regulations. That is if I am comprehended what I have read
correctly. What type fertilizers do organic growers use?

My main question is what is the definition of raw manure?

To me it means that the steam is still rising from it. My husband thinks
it means manure that is dry or fresh, standing alone by itself, with no
other additives. Our daughter (a teenager) thinks it just gross that I am
asking someone about poop.

In one of the GFM newsletters, (April 2000) there was an article about not
using raw manure on crops within 90 to 120 days of harvest. (EPA’s
opinion, not organic growers opinion)Is the use of raw manure banned now?

Another reason behind the question is: I was planning on purchasing a
compost tumbler, and mixing dry horse manure (we have large quantities of
the stuff) with leaves, pine straw, etc. And with hopes of having in 14
days, dark compost to enrich our fields. The compost tumbler holds 18
bushels, I realize it want go that far in the fields, but we have several
bad spots in the gardens and we are going to put it out in the worst spots
first.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thank for reading,
Jeanine Fore
The Veggie Nook
Perkinston, MS