Organic & Specialty Grown I.P.M. Produce
Wishing Stone Farm is certified organic on 35 acres of land. Our other parcels are in transition to organic or are utilized as IPM (integrated Pest Management)/conventional land.
The farm has two acres of I.P.M. Peaches, which are grown conventionally. We tried for several years to grow the peaches organically but found that stone fruit in New England could not with stand the bacterial and bug pressures prevalent in this region. The designation of (I.P.M.) means that the farmer uses only the minimum amount of sprays to achieve his goals. In 2007, our peaches were only sprayed three times! Compared to the average New Jersey Fruit Farmer who sprays his peaches typically twelve times or more a season.
We also grow several varieties of beans, broccoli and squashes that are not available in as organic seeds. Each year we strive to gather the best seeds we can to give our patrons the best quality vegetables we can grow. Sometimes this means seeking out seeds that are produced as hybrids. All the seeds we get in this manner are untreated and absent of any chemical seed coating; and of course, they are all non-GMO's.
At our farmers markets and CSA distributions all items are clearly marked as organic, transitional or IPM conventional. Those CSA members wanting only organic produce can always indicate their preference and get other items to fill out their share.
What does it mean to be an Organic Farmer?
While it is important to acknowledge and respect the calling of agriculture in all its forms, there is a significant difference between organic farming and typical modern conventional farming. One of the most salient differences is over the issue of organic matter and general regard for soil life. The organic farmers goal is to feed his soil where the conventional farmer, (at least up through the seventies) is more concerned with feeding his plant. This is why organic farmers are always adding compost, animal manures and green manures to their soil. The organic farmer is always acutely aware of the biological cycles going on in his soils. In fact, for the organic farmer the more complex the soils diet of compost, green manures, etc.. the better. For many years the typical land grant extension agent (funded by the large chemical companies) encouraged their conventional farmers to lower their soils organic matter so the chemical herbicides they gave the farmer could work without interference! In their view, the simpler the soils components the better. By removing the competition offered by the strong biological components the chemists could more easily achieve their goals. As we have seen time and time again, it comes down to another vain attempt by man to try and control nature. By acting thus they miss out on participating in one of life’s greatest mysteries.
In opposition to this trend, the organic farmer embraces the diversity and complexity contained within his soils. He doesn’t try to dominate nature as much as participate and coax it to a state of dynamic fertility. It has been only after years of growth and struggling, that the organic movement has been taken seriously enough to be finally invited into the hollowed halls of some of the great land grant universities. Cornell along with Rutgers University are just now investing funds to study the advantages of encouraging broader biological soil life so long promoted by the organic movement.
At Wishing Stone Farm we strive to capitalize on natures diversity by consistently taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure our soil is as healthy as it can be. At the end of each season we always protect our soils by putting cover crops on them for winter protection. We also go a step further and take all of our parcels out of production for one season at least once every four years. The purpose is to give the soil a rest so it may rejuvenate itself to sustain life for the upcoming generations.
Specialty Grown Produce
We grow over 385 different cultivars in the average season here at Wishing Stone Farm. A lot of the more unusual vegetables are also sought after by the restaurants. We like to have our restaurants help inspire our pallet of offerings. Some of our favorite heirloom tomatoes varieties have come from suggestions given to us by our chefs. If you are a restaurant and have some specialty items don’t be afraid to call skip and ask if your items can be worked into one of our plantings…. We even encourage chefs to bring back seed from some of their trips over seas…