At Begin Family Farm, we are committed to growing food the right way. We use only organic practices — no synthetic pesticides, no chemical fertilizers, no shortcuts. Here's a closer look at how we grow your food.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
We use Integrated Pest Management to control pests naturally. Rather than reaching for chemical sprays, we use a combination of biological controls and organic-approved products:
- Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) — A naturally occurring soil bacterium that targets specific caterpillar pests without harming beneficial insects, humans, or animals.
- BmJ (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) — A biological fungicide that helps prevent plant diseases naturally.
- Beneficial insects — We encourage populations of ladybugs, lacewings, and other predatory insects that naturally control pest populations.
- Crop rotation — We rotate crop families through different fields each year to break pest and disease cycles.
Organic Fertilizers
Healthy soil grows healthy plants. We build our soil with organic fertilizers and amendments:
- Compost — We produce and apply compost to add organic matter and nutrients back to the soil.
- Cover crops — We plant cover crops like clover, rye, and vetch in the off-season to fix nitrogen, prevent erosion, and improve soil structure.
- Organic amendments — We use fish emulsion, kelp meal, bone meal, and other organic inputs to ensure our plants have everything they need to thrive.
Weed Control
Weeds are managed without herbicides through a combination of mechanical and cultural methods:
- Mulching — We use straw, landscape fabric, and other mulch materials to suppress weeds and retain soil moisture.
- Cultivation — Regular mechanical cultivation between rows keeps weeds in check.
- Hand weeding — Some things are best done by hand. Our team does careful hand weeding to keep crops clean.
- Flame weeding — For some crops, we use flame weeding before emergence to give plants a head start on weeds.
Seed Selection
Great produce starts with great seeds. We carefully select varieties that are:
- Disease resistant — Choosing naturally resistant varieties reduces the need for any intervention.
- Adapted to our climate — We select varieties proven to perform well in New Hampshire's growing conditions.
- Flavor-first — Unlike commercial farms that prioritize shelf life and shipping durability, we choose varieties for their flavor. When you eat our tomatoes, you'll taste the difference.
- Open-pollinated and heirloom — We grow many heirloom varieties alongside modern disease-resistant hybrids to offer variety and exceptional flavor.
Row Covers & Season Extension
We use row covers and high tunnels to extend our growing season and protect crops:
- Floating row covers — Lightweight fabric placed over crops to protect against frost, wind, and insect pests while allowing light and water to pass through.
- High tunnels — Unheated greenhouse-like structures that extend the season by several weeks on both ends, allowing us to start earlier in spring and harvest later into fall.
- Low tunnels — Miniature hoop houses placed directly over beds for additional frost protection during shoulder seasons.
