13 Moon Harvest grows and sells authentic, local, and
chemical-free food with a heavy emphasis on heirloom crop varieties. Although
not certified organic by the USDA, 13 Moon Harvest follows most NOFA
(Northeast Organic Farming Association) and USDA guidelines for certified
organic production.
Why aren't we certified?
After having been
USDA certified organic in 2005, 13 Moon Harvest opted to forgo certification in subsequent years. Having been through the certification process, it became clear that the certification exists more to encourage conventional, industrial farms to turn a few fields over to organic production rather than to protect the integrity of small, New England farms. The certification does not address the larger issues of industrial agriculture; it simply addresses the products and methodologies used within the existing agricultural model. The extensive paperwork and the high cost of certification also contributed to our decision not to be certified after 2005.
Instead, we opted to grow food the way it was meant to be grown:
Start with heirloom and indigenous seeds, sell locally, and maintain top-notch soil health through the use of cover crops and crop rotation.