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Certified Naturally Grown

@cngfarming

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Peer Review Certification for ecological farmers and beekeepers.
🌱Certify your farm or apiary
🌱Learn with us: CNG Farm School
#cngproud

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Certified Naturally Grown is a grassroots movement of farmers and beekeepers producing food, flowers, and fiber for their local communities by working in harmony with nature.

🥕No synthetic chemicals or fertilizers.
🍅No GMOs, ever.
🌻And a commitment to sustainable growing practices

Our standards are based on the highest ideals of the organic movement. Our approach is based on transparency, direct relationships and a firm belief in our ability to create something uniquely valuable by working together.

CNG farms are certified through a participatory guarantee system, or PGS. It’s a network of peer accountability, where all members play a role in upholding standards and maintaining a high level of transparency. No third parties here! CNG farms are inspected by local peer farmers with the same commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Ask your farmer about how this model has helped them! We think it’s one of the very best things about CNG: Farmers helping farmers to grow you the very best food! 🙌

#supportlocalfarmers #sustainableag #sustainablefarming #regenerativeag #certifiednaturallygrown #cngproud #localfarms #localfarmers #supportlocalfarms #naturalfarming #certifyyourfarm by @cngfarming

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a year ago

We may be biased, but we think that Peer Review is the very best thing about CNG! Here’s how these inspections work:

🌱Each year, member farmers schedule an inspection of their operation by a local peer grower.

🌱Inspectors are guided by a detailed and approachable inspection form that helps ensure every topic is covered and every practice is evaluated.

🌱To facilitate accountability, farmers must use different inspectors in sequential years, and cannot provide a reciprocal inspection for another producer in the same year.

🌱Farmers are encouraged to invite customers and community stakeholders to observe how their food is grown!

Some of the biggest benefits of this model include:

🥕Vibrant, connected communities where members know each other and support one another.

🥕Knowledge exchange between experienced, likeminded individuals who are familiar with regional growing challenges. Neighbor farmers know your market, pests, and weeds because they experience them too!

🥕High levels of accountability! Farmers recognize that the value of their own certification is dependent upon other members adhering to high standards, encouraging thorough inspections that preserve the integrity of the label.

🥕An affordable option for certification - there is no third party to pay for their time or travel.

What did we miss? CNG farmers, tell us what you love about peer review! 👇

#sustainableag #regenerativeagriculture #farmernetwork #localfarmer #peerreview #farmerssupportingfarmers #cngproud #certifiednaturallygrown by @cngfarming

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a year ago

Perhaps the number one question customers ask when trying to understand a farmer’s growing practices is “is your farm organic?” 🤔

It’s an important point to make clear. In an age where branding and labeling can be deceiving, customers deserve a sense of confidence in their food. Certified Naturally Grown farmers adhere to a set of rigorous standards that shares many commonalities with the National Organic Program, including:

❌ No synthetic chemicals or fertilizers
❌ No GMOs
✅ A commitment to sustainable growing practices

But we’re not exactly the same, and there are some important distinctions to note. For example:

❌ CNG does not certify hydroponic operations
❌ CNG does not permit practices using animal confinement
✅ CNG farms are verified through peer review inspections.

Each year, our members invite a nearby farmer to inspect their production (and they also perform an inspection for someone else). By facilitating strong farmer networks, we support knowledge exchange, comaraderie, and mutual commitment to ecological farming that benefits local communities.

So what does a CNG farmer say when a customer asks “is your farm organic?”

The answer is: “We’re proud to be CNG!”
🥬🌻🍅🐝🥕

#regenerativeagriculture #sustainablefarming #organicfarmer #supportlocalfarmers #sustainableag #cngproud #certifiednaturallygrown by @cngfarming

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a year ago

Fun fact: Certified Naturally Grown is the only certification with standards specifically designed for natural mushroom production.

Mushrooms are unique and growing them naturally comes with considerations that don’t always fit neatly into traditional crop standards. That’s why, a decade ago, CNG worked with a Mushroom Advisory Council of experienced growers and experts to develop standards specifically for fungi. Those standards take a holistic look at natural mushroom production, from substrate sourcing and preparation to sterilization, pest and disease management, water, containers, and spent substrate.

Now, ten years later, we’re taking a fresh look at those standards with Steve Gabriel: mushroom farmer, author, educator, and member of CNG’s Mushroom Advisory Council.

Steve will kick things off by sharing how the standards came together and the thinking behind some of the rules. Then, we’ll open the floor for your questions about the standards and mushroom growing in general.

Whether you’re already growing mushrooms, thinking about getting started, or just curious about natural mushroom production, come with questions, ideas, and experiences to share!

When: Tuesday, October 27 | 8 PM Eastern Where: Online via Zoom Who: FREE + open to everyone! Certification is NOT required to participate.
RSVP at the link in our bio!

Come connect with fellow growers, compare notes, and dig into the questions that matter to you. 🍄 by @cngfarming

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9 days ago

Small farms deserve a voice in the larger organic movement!

In the latest episode of CNG Field Notes, Executive Director Jennifer Miller talks about how independent certifications, like CNG, helps make small and ecological farms part of the bigger conversation.

There are many of farmers across North America following organic practices who aren’t part of the USDA Organic program. CNG gives those farmers a way to be recognized, connected, and counted.

In the latest episode of CNG Field Notes: All About Certified Naturally Grown, the folks who keep the organization running dive into how CNG was started, why independent certification matters, how to get certified, and what value certification can bring to your farm business.

Listen to the full episode wherever you find podcasts, or click the link in our bio!

#cngproud #goodfoodgrownright #eatlocalfood by @cngfarming

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14 days ago

Did you see our friends @vabfarming showing up for local farmers at @farmaid this past weekend?!

@vabfarming does incredible work to support and promote biological farms in the great state of Virginia!

Give them a follow to help Root for Local Farms and support Good Food, Grown Right! by @cngfarming

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15 days ago

Congratulations to CNG member Ron St. Louis of Capital Bees in Ottawa, Canada, on bringing home second place in the Judges’ Choice Awards at the Glengarry Honey and Pollinator Festival!

A sweet recognition of the care, craftsmanship, and dedication behind every jar. Way to go, Ron! 🍯🐝
 #CertifiedNaturallyGrown #Beekeeping #LocalHoney #CNGMembers by @cngfarming

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a month ago

Making compost with manure? There are a few things you’ll want to keep an eye on.

We know compost standards can feel like a lot of numbers, temperatures, and requirements to keep track of, so we put together this quick guide to help CNG farmers make sense of it.

The short version: if you’re making farm-produced compost that includes manure, you’ll need to monitor your starting C ratio, keep an eye on temperatures, and turn that pile regularly to make sure it gets properly finished.

And if your compost doesn’t meet those requirements? No big deal! You just need to treat it as raw manure and follow the 90/120-day manure rule, or use it on crops that aren’t going to be harvested for human consumption.

We don’t want to scare anyone away from making their own compost! We are all about keeping the fertility cycle on-farm, but our standards are food safety! (A hot topic these days!)

For more info, check out our Compost & Manure Factsheet through the link in our bio.

#goodfoodgrownright #onfarmcomposting #compost #marketgardens #cngproud by @cngfarming

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a month ago

Our community of certified producers is growing!

We’re thrilled to welcome the newest farms and beekeepers to the Certified Naturally Grown community. They’re joining a grassroots network of folks committed to growing good food, caring for the land, and keeping agriculture rooted in transparency, connection, and community.

Go give our newest members a follow and say hello:
* @awareness.ranch
* @grazinggoatcolorado
* The Queen’s Honey, MD
* @slowtalkinfarm
* Signal Hill Farms, LLC, NY
* @borriewilsonfarm
* @rootsongfarm

Welcome to CNG! We’re so glad you’re here, and we’re looking forward to growing alongside you.

#CertifiedNaturallyGrown #CNGProud #SmallFarms #LocalFood #Beekeepers by @cngfarming

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2 months ago

Borrie Wilson Farm is proud to now be Certified Naturally Grown (CNG). At this time, we are the only Certified Naturally Grown livestock operation in Pennsylvania.

Certified Naturally Grown is a grassroots certification program designed for small-scale farmers. It uses rigorous standards based on organic farming principles, including requirements surrounding animal welfare, prohibited inputs, and responsible farming practices. Certification includes peer inspections and accountability within the farming community.

Check out @cngfarming for more info! by @cngfarming

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2 months ago

It’s Market Day!

As we wrap up National Farmers Market Week, we’ve loved zooming in on the true value farmers markets bring to our communities.

But these markets don’t just pop into existence thanks to some magical local food fairy!

There are SO many people working behind the scenes to make your market happen, from market managers and volunteers to farmers, beekeepers, cheesemakers, bakers, and all the other vendors who show up week after week.

So next time you’re at the market, take a moment to thank the people who make it possible. A little extra love goes a long way (especially in the dog days of summer)!

Shout out in the comments your favorite farmers market, vendor, or market manager and show them some appreciation!

Happy Market Day!

#nationalfarmersmarketweek #farmersmarket #localfood #goodfoodgrownright #certifiednaturallygrown @fmcorg by @cngfarming

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2 months ago

Fresh, healthy food shouldn’t be a luxury.

Farmers markets are making local food more accessible by accepting SNAP, WIC, and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits, and many even offer matching programs that help families bring home even more fresh fruits and vegetables.

When more people can shop at the market, everyone benefits: families gain access to nutritious food, farmers earn more from their harvests, and local communities grow stronger.

#NationalFarmersMarketWeek #KnowYourFarmer #SNAP #LocalFood #SupportLocalFarmers by @cngfarming

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2 months ago