Dropping Our Organic Certification + Re-Using Water from Washing Veg

[@ThinkLittleFarm]

i've never related to you more than when you said this -> "try as I may, i am just constitutionally incapable of being motivated by money." biggest high five incoming 🖐

[@MK-ti2oo]

I feel like this is any of us that choose farming and feeding our communities for a living lol. It's definitely not for the money.

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I’m glad to hear others say that because for whatever reason money does not motivate me and I’m not a farmer, I’m a nurse and a personal gardener. But although I made good money as a nurse, my patients were what mattered to me. I left the hospital over moral issues and gave up my wage, my insurance, my paid vacation and now do private care nursing and clean houses.

[@reneedevry4361]

Sadly this is me too. I am low income and have struggled to become money motivated and yet fail miserably at it.☹️ I will work til I drop for something that matters though.😔

[@reneelafont2966]

I came here to say this exactly.

[@kathydoherty]

Yes! I remember the look on my boss's face when, as a precocious 20-something in a sales job, I told him I was not motivated by money (i.e commissions) but wanted to build trust with my customers and solve their issues long term beyond the quick sale. He couldn't wrap his head around it.

[@whitakerfarms51]

as an organic inspector, that's on of the most respectable, fact backed summaries i've heard within the specific context of a person's operation. Well said. Best of luck in your future endeavors.

[@rickbrockthedog8017]

I am not a market grower or a farmer. I barely garden. But I watch your videos Jesse to educate myself ecologically and on what it takes for the folks at the farmer markets to grow and provide food the food I buy. I'm getting a good idea of what it takes from not only a business perspective but also the personal cost to be a market grower. So to all of you out there doing the hard work of providing food...thanks! Keep up the great work!

[@geraldhowse8597]

Thanks. I don't grow for a farmers market. I don't even sell my produce. I give most of it away to families that I know and really appreciate it

[@classicrocklover5615]

100 percent agreed with organic certification. Why struggle and stress with all the inspections and additional bookkeeping and costs when you are already going above and beyond their requirements? ❤

[@robertjanez7467]

and....organic farmers can still spray certain "organic" sprays like sulfur

[@rnupnorthbrrrsm6123]

I have so much respect for you for putting your family and your health over money !!! God bless you !!!

[@donisenberg3032]

This time you have with your children is a one time chance, its not a practice run. Make the most of it. I never regretted forfeiting income opportunities to coach my kids. Those memories are priceless.

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Good on you mate. Respect!

[@mio.giardino]

When my brothers & I were kids/young adults we would LOVE going to market with my grandparents because it meant extra pocket money and a chance to go buy whatever we wanted with it.

[@randalh409]

In 10 years of market gardening and selling at farmer's markets primarily, we have never seen enough reason to go certified organic. We follow beyond organic practices, and our customers know that and trust us. Some people would initially not buy from us because we weren't certified, but over time, we would usually win them over.😊

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Awesome!!!

[@michaelgroce966]

Beautiful to hear another man who makes his choices in life based on family. I too am motivated by my girls, and make sacrifices based on that priority list.

[@spoolsandbobbins]

So awesome!!

[@BongLoy13]

One of the best videos for me, appreciate the honnesty!

[@Cyclonut96]

In my professional career I used to be an electrical certification engineer at CSA (Canadian UL for Americans). We had a highest trust program where after qualifying, the manufacturer could self declare having a product certified by sending us a letter, after which we would list their product being certified. This was based on manufacturer performing all the required documentation and testing to specific standards, and did not take time to be inspected prior to being certified. That manufacturer was on an unannounced schedule by CSA inspectors who probably spent only an hour or so on the inspections, 2-4 times a year. If there were any issues, any/all documentation and production would be inspected in detail. There are huge benefits to be certified, and wonder if the farming industry can figure out something similar, because the organic label is dear to many people who do not want to consume GMO and chemically treated food. 🤔✅

[@andreadinkel4794]

What a delightful shout-out! You’ll be thrilled to hear that the kids outperformed the elves in finals by one point-it was our creative use of props that and accordion feature that really bumped that score up. The elves were impressed and have offered summer internships for the kids at their workshop in exchange for music lessons, so it should be a great partnership moving forward! Anyway, thank you for prioritizing your family’s time. Time is the greatest gift. Thanks again. -Andrea the Band Teacher

[@JohnJude-dp6ed]

I garden for my family and in order to raise enough for our needs I over plant veggies and my cousins gets the extra or neighbors if extras but I don't enjoy anything being wasted Thanks Jesse

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

I agree with you on certified organic label. It went to crap when govt got involved.

[@t4cchi]

i would argue that it was WHEN the Government got involved, but it was not the Gov that ruined it. it was the Big Ag influence and lobbying intent on Co-opting every agricultural innovation and undercutting its value that ruined Organic. (but I am NOT and certified organic grower) but we see them doing this with Regenerative Ag now.

[@sparkysoutdoors6240]

It’s a tough business! Made more complicated by The government hijacking the word organic … another predictable overreach doomed to fail its intended purpose 🤷‍♂️. Hopefully making videos stays in your schedule. Very few people can be entertaining and educate at the same time.

[@davemalinak6802]

It went to crap when big money got involved.

[@brokenmeats5928]

I love ALL No-Till Growers videos!

[@NicoleSmithGardening]

Happy hump day! 🐫☀️

[@DD-rt9lc]

i used to be soil association organic UK. You also get organic farmers and growers or SKAL organic for greenhouse growers. with a few seasonal crops a year like in agronomy, soil association is ok as the paper work is not so heavy but with 50 different crops and many different sowings a season the paperwork is very time consuming for a one man band. Also the term organic is so wishy washy that it does not mean anything concrete. In the main the public also does not know the differences Like SKAL organic versus in the ground organic. and even when it is organic it is treated with apeel etc. just label your stuff pesticide free. Unless like in France you get more subsidies for being BIO.

[@theburnhams2925]

"......work equals Lego's" Wisdom! It also "equals" other things too (as needed....) Thanks J!

[@doncook3584]

Always wondered about the hoops. I’m not a guy who jumps through hoops and you give the impression that you are a savvy businessman so I say BRAVO. Continuing your handling regimen but eliminating non value activities is what I would expect you to do

[@ursamajor1936]

I remember reading the list of accepted organic inputs when the certification process first started like maybe 1980 or something. They listed things like arsenic, lead, copper and others. Yes, they're truly organic but I sure wouldn't want them on my lettuce. So, I grew a bigger garden in my backyard and have never regretted it.

[@bobbyhaney8322]

We have several hundred banana plants, there's a highly active fungus in our area that attacks banana plants, we need to use a fungicide to control it. As a result, our "organic" greenhouse, which is 300 yards away, nothing grown in it can be certified organic, even if everything grown in it is organic. This is because the whole farm needs to be organic to qualify as per the rules, not just the individual products. So, if we stopped spraying the bananas, we could potentially be certified organic. Interestingly, the greenhouse is only 20 yards from the fence line and the neighbor's field, where they spray pesticides and herbicides. It's ironic that a barbed wire cattle fence supposedly prevents any of that from affecting us or the certification. According to the rules, a non-organic spray 300 yards away is bad, but an unorganic spray just 20 yards away isn't considered important. It seems the people who make these rules aren't truly concerned about organic farming; it's more about following the words and rules someone made up. For us it's not important as we are rural and nobody cares about organic labeling, practically nobody around us sells anything labeled organic. Maybe in the cities where that term has a strong marketing value, but not here.

[@chantallachance4905]

I agree for QUALITY LIFE

[@paulasmith-d9x]

Yay! I know a lady close to where I live that has a humongous awesome garden store and she dropped her USDA years back because a lot of their practices aren't really organic

[@bettywilson6351]

Pivoting around priorities 🌞

[@yourfriendwill]

citric acid added to water for veg washing has long been the fix for me & my farmer buds. it's a culinary ingredient you can get to the highest grade of quality for cheap & far far cheaper than buying distilled white vinegar. plus with a powdered/crystalized acidulating component like citric acid you can mix and match your desired level of acidity! & of course it's just a simple organic compound that breaks down rapidly at any level of dilution

[@keithshumaker6402]

My Dad always said family first God Bless you and your family

[@0rganicall3Produced]

Been working a market every Saturday. The 3:15am wake up has been messing with my weekly winter wake up schedule at 7am during the week. The trades with other vendors at market prove to be worth the trouble, meaning four hour sleep cycles. I am single and my child is an adult, so the consequences aren’t that bad. I do miss selling directly to restaurants who will buy me out. Plus the picky customers, sigh.😅.

[@Earthmark_Landscapes]

I completely agree with your USDA decision. Have you considered GAP (good agricultural practices) certification? Possible a video around sanitation and storage could come down the pipeline...

[@johnrosier1686]

I hear you on the organic certification. There are some that grow organically but are not certified and others that are certified but not always in compliance with the certification. If there isn’t a big enough benefit to be certified organic that it might not be worth the hassle. I appreciate your daily videos.

[@plagueBird-xp7bw]

"Work equals legos." ❤

[@sarabielaczyc3968]

Elves do work very hard! Ha! *I own an elf ear making company called Aradani Studios and watch your show most days while I paint ears.🤣

[@WoodruffGroveOutdoors]

No clue about our market. Im just getting started for produce. We have been selling Walnuts for 22 years and that has done reasonably well. We have not used pesticides or herbicides on our property for 25 years yet we can’t get certified because of drift. We live in a heavy orchard area around us and the spray from fogging and from arial spraying drifts and because of that we can’t certify but we do continue to use organic practices to grow our produce and Walnuts. Im going to try my hand at the farmers market and also where they can just come by my stand on my property to get produce. We are close enough to where the local communities would be able to easily come out and pick up produce. We will have daily lists of items they can check prior to coming out. Not sure if I’ll do the actual pick it yourself route. Maybe if the liability insurance protects the homestead. I am not a huge fan of the organic certification due to similar reasons you mentioned. They really did ruin it.

[@questforbalance]

I know u didnt ask for this but i admire your views

[@barbaravanerp4598]

I trust my local farmers when they say they grow organically. And don’t have the USDA

[@willbass2869]

Good on you dropping USDA organic. My falling out was when they allowed conventional bred, born & raised 20+ month old replacement dairy heifers into "organic" herds with just a couple months of "transition". "Organic" mega dairies absolutely LOVED that provision. Can you say, "political contributions"?

[@davidvankainen6711]

No worries! . I as a consumer, very much believe in people purchasing veg/meat products from those that can scrutinize vs ANY other cert/labeling person, org that likely does not discrimate to one's standards.

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

PS FAM FIRST! (raised four sons)

[@pier-annelachance4960]

I do drops for food and delivery routes exactly for the reasons you mentioned. I just cannot convince myself to sit at a market to sell every week. I am working on my marketing plan and I want to do it only 1 time a month to try to increase customers but I refuse to sit there every Saturday.

[@Reflectionofstars]

I believe organic is a big step in the process of transitioning to regenerative agriculture. Hydroponics is interesting but I am concerned about the nutrient values. It may change over time as we research but produce can be organic but not nutritious and that is a big problem.

[@mcraw4d]

Is an on-site farm stand feasible for your operation?

[@jamesalanstephensmith7930]

Just got land to permaculture an organic fruit nut and livestock homestead. I was thinking of only having salt ( for meats) and chlorine to sterilize equpiment with an open invite for anyone to come out andmake their OWN inspection. More verifiable in my own mind anyway...Your thoughts? Love your show

[@GardenBandits]

I am glad someone out there is NOT motivated by the dollar. ❤

[@Julian_Wang-pai]

Natural ecology should be our 'Holy Grail'

[@dorcasrodriguez2901]

❤❤❤

[@Heheikki]

I am wondering if it might be profitable to buy straight from farmers and go sell at farmers markets during weekends. I imagine that most farmers face the same issues and doing it this way takes the risk of no show away, because they are buying it regardless if there is a contract and for the salesperson there should be at least some profit. Thinking of working fewer hours during the week and selling produce during the weekend.

[@curiouscat3384]

I'm perfectly satisfied with local farmers market sellers advertising "organically grown" The only benefit of certification is to provide a ilittle more confidence that theyre keeping the bad guys out but even that is not fool proof.

[@ArizonaGrows]

Am I wrong that Hydroponics isn't organic but aquaponics is? One is fed by fish pooping and the other is normally salt based and inorganic.

[@smhollanshead]

I’m just a backyard gardener, not a farmer. With that being said, I pay attention to organic farming, but I’m not married to it. If there are two ways of gardening, one organic and one not organic, I’m likely to lean organic. At the same time, I will use nonorganic methods if the nonorganic method is substantially cheaper, appears superior, or if it just makes common sense to me. As I get more experience with gardening, the consensus argument becomes less and less persuasive. Given the complexity of gardening, I see the gardening endeavor on a case by case basis, which leads to a lot of individual variability. It makes me wonder if this is true politically as well. Each person or group of people should be free to make individual choices based upon their individual situation. Or, I could be wrong.

[@Robert-vh2cl]

If I was to run a farm, I would have a membership PYO where clients would pay a membership fee in January and when produce is ready they would come and pick produce in bulk for less then they would pay in stores. Only clients who are interested in putting food into storage for later would be my customers. There’s no way I would pick, wash, sort, transport all of that produce.

[@sightline4004]

3:50 Surely you've seen "The Real Organic Project" here on KZbin? I've been meaning to make a post about it on the forums. While you may not be making a grand stand against the governments version of organic the farmers on that channel sure are. They've featured Eliot Coleman once or twice FYI.

[@robertdouglas8895]

I tell my customers that I do my best to grow good produce sustainably and they seem to be satisfied without organic certification. I have made use of manure that is mainly organic, produce grocery stores throw out and coffee grounds from coffee shops and I will tell them that is why I couldn't get certification if they are interested.

[@basalticfarms]

Yeah I made 6000 yards one year and the inspector flipped a lid that I added grocery store throw outs and the coffee grounds and even PGE brush from fire clean up crews. Had to get certification for sawdust and manure, straw and even the oak leaves that fell on my certified ground. Insanity. I hear that CCOF is defending quietly a fraud suit for the misuse of funds. To allow hydroponics is totally insane they use no soil and 100% chemical additives and they call that organic. All these gov agencies have deep veins of corruption. Also heard CCOF is taking over 100% the role of the USDA for business like inspections they are also 100% woke. You get best results with a lobbyist making large contributions. What was intended for good has fallen for the love of money and power.

[@onegrapefruitlover]

A few hundred dollars for organic certification? In my country it costs around 5 to 7k a year, just crazy

[@harlowecustommicrogreens]

I find it more concerning the seemingly steady march of Farmers that I’ve modeled my farm after exiting the trade rather than being concerned with you dropping Organic.

[@myurbangarden7695]

I agree that ORGANIC has been tainted. If i ever get certified it will be CNG and have tha assistance of other FARMERS .

[@Julian_Wang-pai]

Bio-friendly soaps and detergents: biodegradable..? Alcohol will quickly transform to acetic acid, aka vinegar.

[@stevebowman1645]

listen to harry chapin cats in the cradle they are not kids for long and they will be gone sooner than you want spend every waking moment with them its the memories you make now that will form the type of humans they will be later Most respect for putting family first there will always be time for making money later

[@robertjanez7467]

couple hundred to be certified in USA? it's like 2K in CDA for the 1st year - but no certification, (just tons of paperwork and promising no chems & no animal abuse). 2nd year, 1K, paperwork, assertions about no chems and no animal abuse, then certification. bs that profits the "consultants / professionals" at expense of hard working farmers.

[@terryl.9302]

Good. Be glad you dropped the O-cert bcz its all Fed-BS anyway. Unless necessary for an essential mkt venue, it means absolutely Nothing. A commercial PR tag is all. Some tags (Certified Angus) still mean something, but not O.

[@mishkahappy3839]

I saw that an organic certification was useless for our biodynamic and naturally grown produce when New Farmer Academy had the organics class. Organics laws are useless in ensuring your food is free of pharma and chemical companies products.

[@Reutzel507]

I dropped out organic cert. It’s worthless.

[@maggierainville3321]

Yeah, not all organic regs are humane for animals. We had our own difficulties here with just row crops.

[@jonnybritnorth7966]

should call it "ground organic" instead of " Water organic" i know which one I'd buy

[@ClubhouseGardens]

Thank the Corrupt USDA for corrupting the Certificatied Organic label

[@sable4980]

If you were more capable of being motivated by money, i probably wouldn’t be as interested in your channel! Part of your draw is that you appear to strike a great balance between relationships and productivity.

[@goatsofwar7181]

hey, are you quitting the farmers market to make a statement? 😁

[@jaymeez]

So you could have kept the Organic title for less than $100 and only 2-3 hours with a inspector? Seems like a no brainer to keep it if it’s that simple but then again if you are planning to use chemicals then of course getting rid of the title makes sense. For me chemicals are a no no and I only buy Organic no matter what.

[@rejeandurette3471]

100% agreed. It promotes integrity and shows your commitment to organic as a grower. Telling your customers that you're organic, but you don't want to spend the time to go through the inspection process, makes me wonder if you have the time to really truly be organic, because it is more labor intensive.

[@wesbaker6287]

Droping USDA Organic: Brah, you led the way with your book, you were state of the art with NO-Till and now the next move is to join the project (you hinted at it a lot in this video with out saying the name) as I know you know it is the best next step, beyond USDA Orgainc and that dropping the cert is a neg move, (although it seems some of your commenters believe it is the next move) truly I do not belive they are aware of the project and its beliefs and its activisom in regards to the dillution of the USDA logo (hydrophonics, off shore imports, animal raising allowances) yes they are true but..... the project with folks like you, influncers like you (your NO-Till) got our USDA Organic up and running and now yep we are part of the project. I know you agree we farmers need eaters of toxic free food, our USDA tried to make this happen, at least they tried to give folks a choice, the choice is now dluited but he project is all about disclosure and trust in their lable for honest truthfull disclosure and toxic free food. The paper work: we both know the paper work is minimal and you said in this video you do it still as it is "right thing to do and is needed for the business" and true that bro. The inspection time: its just a few farm hours come on, you spend more time editing post here on youtube, and you get to say high to your inspector, who as we know and again you said were nice good people, its fellowship in farming and the world which is going to fix this. The USDA Organic seal is broken and it was a big hope at one time, but now the Project is here and it is a Real hope in future of Orgaincs. The project is now providing mini-grants (non govt funding) for outreach, truly you could work that into your income stream as you are an influncer , you are. Please recosider your decision to drop, and I hope you consider the Project as an adder to the cert and help us all gain support vs just tossing in the towel. Please call them and speak with them before you drop the USDA cert (as we know you need maintain that in order to be part of the Project. truly: a market farmer in Nor-Cal with relaitive farmers in KY HOPE is alive when we think global and act up locally, your locality is huge man Jessie please help us help others, we need eaters not haters of Organic.

[@AnthonySNY]

disappointed. organic needs a real voice, and acting like money isn't a motivation is just an insult to human intelligence.

[@Samb1600]

If you think this channel isn't a full throated support for organics, then you're a silly Billy ding dong

[@johnny_fly7249]

I disagree. Money as a motivation (aka “greed”) is not a human instinct, but rather a culture. It seems to me that prioritizing family, relationships, and personal well being over accumulation of wealth is indeed intelligent. If you support faster/easier more profit greed culture, then that is contradictory with organic method culture. Money may be a reality, but greed doesn’t have to be.

[@AnthonySNY]

@@johnny_fly7249 I'm not sorry to say this, but you're being grossly naïve. money is a responsibility. if the right people DON'T have it, then the wrong people DO have it. telling people money isn't important is a lie, its grossly irresponsible, and its coward. that said, if organic isn't profitable then we need to say it, and figure out a way to make it profitable. that doesn't happen by acting like money isn't important.

[@AnthonySNY]

@@Samb1600 if nothing else, you made me smile

[@cassiemarkland]

No. We need to grow the organic movement, there's no good excuse for "being too busy" to have your food inspected. Especially as you are monetized here. Unfollowing.