2010 Growing Practices and Community Ethics Statement

In accordance with the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York's Farmer's Pledge program, the practice of growing food at Common Ground Farm will be as transparent as possible. The pledge that we have signed is based on integrity, education, and health; any shareholder, market consumer, or concerned citizen who wishes to discuss our growing practices with us is encouraged to do so, and will receive an honest, clear picture of how our growing practices affect the land and community that supports it. At a basic level, we pledge that in our farming practices 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 our laying hens humanely by providing access to open pastures, fresh water, and rejecting the use of non-organic feed;
• Handle raw manure and soil amendments with care;
• Encourage the distribution of unsold but edible food to people who need it;
• Work in cooperation with our community to promote a more healthy and just regional food system;
• Train the next generation of farmers by sharing and developing farming skills among apprentices, volunteers, and work-share members;
• Transparently discuss the wages of all farm workers and acknowledge their freedom of association and their right to collective bargaining.