How We Farm
Certified Naturally Grown (CNG)
At Sassafras Hill Farm, we are Certified Naturally Grown, utilizing sustainable and regenerative farming practices to grow seasonal and regionally appropriate food. We integrate methods of composting, low-till, and crop and animal rotations to enrich soils adding to its ability to produce nutritious food. This way of farming contributes to a dynamic, self-renewing system that doesn’t need synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or other harmful, artificial inputs. The fertility of our soils increase with each subsequent year of farming, unlike conventional farming, which depletes the soil with each harvest.
“Certified Naturally Grown is a Grassroots Alternative to the USDA’s National Organic Program meant primarily for small farmers distributing through local channels - farmer’s markets, roadside stands, local restaurants, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, and small local grocery stores—the farmers that make up your local landscape!
The CNG Standards and growing requirements are based on the USDA National Organic Program rules. They are no less strict, in fact CNG farmers are constantly improving their soil and striving to increase the sustainability of their farming operations.”
What Do We Grow?
Almost year-round, we grow over a hundred varieties of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs on our 27.5 acres of outdoor fields, gardens, woodland forests, and hoophouses. By protecting the soil, we are able to produce a large variety of highly nutritious and flavorful vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. Each season, we select and plant crops that are best suited to the season and soil regeneration.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture begins with SOIL—healthy, fertile soil. There is absolutely NO hydroponic growing on our farm as we aim for the highest standards of farming in harmony with nature. We practice regenerative agriculture by:
Restoring and maintaining soil health and fertility through composting, crop rotation, diversification, waste recycling, mineral balancing and other methods
Utilizing both natural resources and non-renewable resources efficiently and sparingly
Harnessing the power of natural biological cycles and ecosystem function to control weeds and pests and address other problems that arise
Respecting wildlife, native biodiversity and the ecosystem of which we are a part
Helping people discover and appreciate the sources of good food—both the land and water in which it is grown and the farmers who grow it
Treating our animals in keeping with the highest ethical and humane standards
Animals
Our laying hens live humane lives on an abundance of pasture. We utilize rotational grazing methods for our hens that enriches their lives, the grasses, soil, and the eggs they produce. We supplement their foraging with an organic, non-GMO, non-soy, vegetarian, Classic Feed for laying hens from North Country Organics. All the organic grain in this feed is grown in the USA. We don’t keep roosters with our hens, as this is important to our vegetarian customers.
Bees
Our resident bees enjoy the remoteness of the Pine Barrens, where they also gather nectar and pollen from stands of Maple and Sassafras Trees. Our bees feast on the diversity of flora, including the many varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs we grow, such as Lavender. The bees particularly enjoy the native Wild Blueberry blossoms and other natural wildflowers growing at the farm. In appreciation of the bee’s hard work and generosity, we are careful to leave the hives with sufficient honey to sustain them through the winter. We also choose not to harvest their pollen or royal jelly needed to keep the colony thriving. We are thankful to Beekeeper Andrew for helping us tend our hives and harvest our honey.
