Phenomenal Farms
Tom Zogas, Jessica Gore
Honeoye Falls, NY
Products
lettuce, garlic, onions, shallots, leeks, peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, ginger, turmeric, carrots, beets, turnips, kale, celery, chard, radicchio, cabbage, broccoli, romanesco, basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, chives, edible flowers, spinach, arugula, pea shoots, thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, cut flowers
Farm Practices
“Plant nutrition is the primary tool we use to control insects and diseases. We do not use pesticides, conventional or organic. We are working with a certified crop advisor to further monitor the nutrient levels in our soil and apply effective amendments. We are also using sap analysis to better understand plant nutrition at our site. All of the soil amendment and fertilization techniques that we use are allowed under NOP standards. Our primary weed control tools are stale seedbeds and cover crops, which we can use in combination. We invested in a power harrow to minimize the effect of the tillage passes necessary for these techniques. We also use straw mulch where we are able. We do not use herbicides. Our primary approach to soil building is to employ cover crops to increase below-ground biomass, cover the soil and drive biological activity. We also focus on soil aeration and drainage to increase the amount of carbon and biological activity that our soil can hold. We are extending our use of living pathways and permanent beds to include more of the production area. We use a number of additional methods to grow successful crops and improve soil health, and we work continuously to better understand plants and agricultural systems.”
