We Farm Organically. Here’s Why We’re Not Certified.
, by Earthwise Garlic, 2 min reading time
We use OMRI-listed organic inputs, no synthetic pesticides, and biological pest controls. So why don't we carry the USDA Organic label? Here's the honest explanation.
It's the question we get more than any other: "Is your garlic organic?"
We farm organically. We use OMRI-listed organic inputs, no synthetic pesticides, no synthetic fertilizers, and biological pest controls. We rotate our crops, feed our soil, and tend these fields the way a serious organic operation does. What we don't have is the USDA Organic certification label.
Here's why, and what we do have instead.
What We Actually Do on the Farm
Pest management is biological. We use beneficial nematodes and beneficial insects rather than synthetic sprays. No residue in the soil, no residue on the crop.
Our fertilizers are OMRI listed for organic production. Feather meal is a favorite of ours because it releases nitrogen slowly and builds soil biology rather than just feeding the plant and moving on. Every input we use is OMRI listed for organic production.
We rotate our garlic plots every season. Garlic grown in the same soil year after year builds up disease pressure over time. Rotation breaks that cycle. It's one of the most important things a small garlic farm can do, and we take it seriously.
Licensed and Inspected
We hold an Oregon Nursery Stock License from the Oregon Department of Agriculture. This licenses us to sell plant material, including seed garlic, and it requires ODA review of our operation.
The ODA inspects our operation annually during the spring growth season as part of nursery license compliance. We welcome those visits. They're an independent set of eyes on our practices and our seed stock, and they confirm that what we say we do is what we actually do.
Why We Don't Have USDA Organic Certification
USDA Organic is a third-party certification program. To carry the seal, a farm applies through an accredited certifying agent, maintains detailed records, undergoes annual inspections, and pays annual fees that typically run $500 to $1,500 or more depending on farm size and certifier.
For a small farm selling directly to home growers, the cost and administrative burden don't change what's actually in the ground. We already have state licensing and annual ODA inspections that address what matters most for seed garlic quality. The math just doesn't favor adding a certification layer on top of that.
What This Means for You
When you plant Earthwise seed garlic, you're planting bulbs grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, using OMRI-listed organic inputs and biological pest management, on an ODA inspected and licensed nursery in Coburg, Oregon. You're also planting with someone you can actually contact and ask questions.
That's not a label. It's a track record.
Browse our naturally grown seed garlic varieties