How we farm.

There are a few things that people commonly ask us regarding our farming practices. This page is to inform you of our practices and how we choose to farm, so you, as a consumer, can make the best possible choice for your circumstances.

*Literature and information are linked throughout the page to navigate to assist in a constructive learning experience for our future customers.

Organic or not organic…

Organic certification is very difficult to achieve and is not feasible for our farm operations. The grain and cattle operations utilize some conventional techniques but are constantly adapting to new information obtained to achieve the best sustainable and healthy practices. HGH incorporates “organic” and permaculture principles into our horticulture but we cannot call ourselves organic as the farm system as a whole is in symbiosis, which works well as a business and as an ecosystem. What we feel is more important in terms of the future of agriculture and feeding the planet is farming for human health and environmental conscientiousness. These concepts are constantly changing and progressing through time, with new science, information, and technology available.

What does environmental conscientiousness mean in farming?… it means A LOT of research, thoughtfulness, change, and adapting to new ways to make things better for the future of farming and environmental sustainability. Environmental conscientiousness is key to continuing to produce healthy, nutritious food to feed hungry people.

So what does this look like for HGH?

1. Mixed farming - A and B Bickford Farms Corporation is a grain, cattle, and now horticulture, operation. Mixed farming allows for crop residues to feed the cattle (and other animals) and the cattle (and other farm animals) provide manure to feed the soil. Mixed farming is a symbiotic system with practical benefits such as decreasing our carbon footprint and increasing local food security (follow the link to learn about how the mixed farming method has affected Ghana in increasing their food security).

2. Crop rotation - making sure that crops are not ALWAYS planted in the same location. For example, planting corn in one bed for a season and then rotating it out and planting beans the next year as corn is a heavy feeder and beans are nitrogen fixers. This ensures soil health and longevity.

3. Composting - as discussed the farm system at A and B Bickford Farms is symbiotic. We can produce our compost from the manures from the farm animals, and leftover vegetative waste from the grain and vegetable operation. This decreases our carbon footprint from having to purchase and haul compost from outside sources. It is a closed system, but a regenerative system, in a constant feedback loop.

4. Avoidance of synthetically produced fertilizers and crop protection compounds on the vegetable crops - At HGH we use “organic” methods of crop protection such as screen caterpillar tunnels, peppermint oil and neem oil solutions, biodegradable dish soap solutions, vinegar, Bacillus thuringiensis, beer traps, milk solutions, baking soda solutions, and many other methods deemed “organic”. We are continually learning and innovating ways for crop protection that are beneficial or neutral for human health and the environment.

5. Biointensive techniques - meaning that we plant a lot in a small space for a couple of reasons: a) production yields increase and b) when plants grow closely together in polyculture, it increases biodiversity, suppresses weeds, and contributes to the overall health of the plant and health of the garden ecosystem. Watch the video on this page to learn more.

6. Polyculture and companion planting - growing more than one crop, specifically growing crops together that have mutual benefits. There is a reason we chose to do a variety of veggies and flowers. If one crop fails, we have another that will likely thrive. Furthermore, as previously stated, diversity is good for the environment of the gardens. Flowers for example will attract beneficial insects to the gardens and also will help pollinate the vegetables in the process. For example, we typically use marigolds interplanted with vegetables as beneficial insect attractors, but also as a bug repellent, or as a sacrificial plant, depending on the year and insects. Our basil crops are typically planted with our tomatoes because basil repels bad insects and also improves the flavor of the tomatoes!

7. Avoiding tillage of the soil - like with the grain operation at A and B Bickford Farms, the HGH division utilizes minimal tillage practices to maintain soil biology and microbes, which help produce healthier plants; maintains water retention in the soil and prevent soil erosion; It also helps sequester carbon from the atmosphere. Learn about soil carbon sequestration here. You can also learn about soil and it’s ability to sequester carbon through the documentary “Kiss the Ground” streaming on Netflix.

8. Building and regenerating wildlife habitat - personnel of HGH and A and B Bickford Farms are formally educated in biology, engineering, land and water management, alternative energy solutions, conservation, and natural resource management. With this broad knowledge and experience, we will be working toward creating and maintaining viable wildlife habitats for years to come as part of living in harmony with nature on the land we cultivate.

Non-GMO…

At HGH we use the seed and the plants that work best for the climate, produce the best yields, are healthy and nutritious for consumption for our customers, and taste good. We do not claim to be “non-GMO”. Biogenetics is the future of feeding the world and we support the science that will support farmers in doing that for the benefit of human health and in an environmentally sustainable way. A great website to learn more about GMOs is located here.

If you would like to learn more about the future of farming, environmental sustainability in agriculture, and agriculture of consequence I recommend the book written by Robert Saik Food 5.0. Rob, an accomplished agronomist, with a globally diverse background in science, tech, and business, has been working with A and B Bickford Farms for years, helping this 3rd generation farm carry on into the future.

Another resource to learn about genetic modification and public perceptions/misconceptions (albeit about cattle) can be found in this scholarly article: “Gene-edited meat: Disentangling Consumer Attitudes.”