Locals learn tricks of the trade of organic farming
Jon Toombs, of Berryville, Ark., spoke to the Front Porch Conversations with Garden People at the Cassville Library on Thursday, June 12, about organic farming practices that he utilizes on his farm.
June 17, 2015
Shania Stumpff
Jon Toombs, a full time farmer from Berryville Ark., owns Homestead Farms, a farm that uses strictly organic methods.
On Thursday, Toombs made an appearance at the Cassville Library to give some helpful information about how to grow organic foods and what tools to use to keep pests out of your garden.
Toombs runs his farm year-round, growing many different kinds of fruits, vegetables and spices. Homestead Farms is planted more like a garden, rather than a crop field. Toombs sells most of the products they grow in Eureka Springs.
“You can grow organic foods that are not good for you,” Toombs said at the presentation. “It can be hard for most people to believe that.” Toombs added that it is extremely important to use the appropriate products if you are trying to accomplish growing a healthy garden.
For example, years ago farmers were known to use tobacco concoctions to kill insects. Those tobacco products will soak into the food and will be harmful for people to consume.
Toombs went on to say that he uses organic gardening catalogs to find the products he wants to use to kill pests in his garden. In some cases soap and water can be useful to kill insects but isn’t always effective.
The gardening process is all about observation. “The more you know about your garden, the better you can control it,” said Toombs. One of the major things that will keep your garden in good condition is to keep the soil in good shape. Although, getting your soil optimal and healthy can be a lengthy process. For some farmers, it can take years to get the soil where they want it.
Toombs expressed that if you take time in your garden and pay attention, it will be successful.
Getting an early morning start working on the garden can help with the control of insects. Early when dew is still on the plants, grasshoppers and other insects can be hand-picked off, and it makes a difference in the population of the bugs.
Toombs also said, “If you abuse your insect controls, the only things that survive is what was immune to it; you want the controls to be at a manageable level.”
Some major things you can do in your garden to keep it thriving is give it significant attention, use traps, apply repellents, lots of hand picking and crop rotation.
In the conclusion of the presentation, Toombs said, “Knowledge is power. Use books and the internet to find information you’re looking for.”
Shania Stumpff
Jon Toombs, a full time farmer from Berryville Ark., owns Homestead Farms, a farm that uses strictly organic methods.
On Thursday, Toombs made an appearance at the Cassville Library to give some helpful information about how to grow organic foods and what tools to use to keep pests out of your garden.
Toombs runs his farm year-round, growing many different kinds of fruits, vegetables and spices. Homestead Farms is planted more like a garden, rather than a crop field. Toombs sells most of the products they grow in Eureka Springs.
“You can grow organic foods that are not good for you,” Toombs said at the presentation. “It can be hard for most people to believe that.” Toombs added that it is extremely important to use the appropriate products if you are trying to accomplish growing a healthy garden.
For example, years ago farmers were known to use tobacco concoctions to kill insects. Those tobacco products will soak into the food and will be harmful for people to consume.
Toombs went on to say that he uses organic gardening catalogs to find the products he wants to use to kill pests in his garden. In some cases soap and water can be useful to kill insects but isn’t always effective.
The gardening process is all about observation. “The more you know about your garden, the better you can control it,” said Toombs. One of the major things that will keep your garden in good condition is to keep the soil in good shape. Although, getting your soil optimal and healthy can be a lengthy process. For some farmers, it can take years to get the soil where they want it.
Toombs expressed that if you take time in your garden and pay attention, it will be successful.
Getting an early morning start working on the garden can help with the control of insects. Early when dew is still on the plants, grasshoppers and other insects can be hand-picked off, and it makes a difference in the population of the bugs.
Toombs also said, “If you abuse your insect controls, the only things that survive is what was immune to it; you want the controls to be at a manageable level.”
Some major things you can do in your garden to keep it thriving is give it significant attention, use traps, apply repellents, lots of hand picking and crop rotation.
In the conclusion of the presentation, Toombs said, “Knowledge is power. Use books and the internet to find information you’re looking for.”