October 30, 2024
Paula Boyle and her family have a lot going on in their second season at Roo’s Farm in Perkinsville, VT. Paula is participating in the Transition to Organic Partnership Program and has been paired with a mentor, Lisa McCrory, to help achieve her organic practices and certification goals. Paula will soon be outside of the organic sales exemption* and is working to finish her certification application within the year.
Paula says that the organic label is important to her and in pursuing it, doesn’t want to make [non-organic] mistakes that she can’t undo. This is where having an experienced mentor comes in handy. Lisa McCrory has much knowledge to share through her experience managing her own organic farm (Earthwise Farm & Forest), and through her work as an organic inspector. Lisa has been able to alleviate Paula’s fears about the certification process and provide the needed tools for success.
On a recent visit with NOFA-VT staff, Paula gave a short tour and explained her plans for the farm. She and her family moved to land that had been untouched for 15 years. It has a history of being home to sheep, dairy, and horses. Now, the agricultural land is home to chickens, guineas, heritage turkeys, pastured pigs, dairy goats, honey, hay, fruit, and vegetable production. Paula breeds her own poultry in the old horse stalls with “sky maffia” crows to keep the hawks away when the chickens are foraging outside. Paula is bringing about 8 acres of hay back into production, growing vegetables using no-till methods, installing a milk tank for her goats’ raw milk, and has plans in the works for a greenhouse next year. Her farmstand is abundantly stocked with homemade scones, various preserves, honey, intricate wreaths, and more!
Recordkeeping is one of the most important aspects of organic certification. Paula and her family all juggle off-farm jobs, in addition to providing the daily animal care on the farm. With complicated schedules due to evening work as a cellist and working remotely in European and California time zones, they use an app on their phones to document important farm details and communicate information. They are establishing systems that work for them and will be prepared to provide a complete picture of the activities on the farm for the certifier and inspector.
You can learn more about organic certification, recordkeeping resources, and mentorship on the Vermont Organic Farmers website.
If you could benefit from working with an experienced organic grower, visiting their farm, and having their help with the certification process, we’re recruiting for new mentees and mentors this fall for mentorships to begin in December or early 2025. Learn more and fill out the short application to be paired with an organic mentor!
*According to the USDA organic regulations in 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 205, some farms and businesses are exempt from the requirement for organic certification. These farms and businesses may represent and sell their products as organic because they have less than $5,000 gross annual organic sales.