Farm Philosophy
Organic Practices
You won’t find us using harmful pesticides, herbicides, or any other “…cide” for that matter. We are certified organic by the Maine Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). Organic certification gives customers piece of mind that all of our produce is grown without the use of synthetic chemicals. Our boutique style of farming allows us to ward off weeds and pests without the use of chemicals because we maintain extremely healthy soil.
Healthy soil is undeniably the leading cause of healthy food! It’s the underlying reason our customers return to market week after week asking for those gorgeous heirloom tomatoes; or those bags of salad mix that last for 3-4 weeks in the fridge; or even the delicious sweet peas we offer in the spring. Healthy soil is not a commodity, but rather a HUGE part of life here at Tiny Roots Organic Farm.
Healthy soil is undeniably the leading cause of healthy food!
No-Till Practices
We use organic, no-till practices to build our soil. Organic matter such as compost, straw, and cover crop residue is placed on top of our vegetable beds. Microbes, insects, worms and other organisms feed upon the organic matter and convert it into plant food. In sum, promoting a healthy web of organisms in our soil provides us with our most valuable resource on our farm—Healthy Soil!
To maintain healthy soil it’s imperative that we leave the web of life occurring beneath the soil surface intact. Organisms are hard at work making plant food down there. To do this we avoid disturbing the soil with implements like rototillers, shovels, hoes, and even foot traffic. The only disturbance we make happens when we sow seed, transplant seedlings or harvest. Well, we might tickle a worm or two when we pull a weed but nothing else!