Applefield farm is a highly innovative retail operation. Our eight greenhouses enable us to grow a large variety of interesting and new plants, and reduce our dependency on local wholesale markets. We have our own favorites, and like to try some new things every year. We sell these directly to you at our farm stand. In our flower production, concern for the environment is a priority. We use beneficial insects, biological controls, and monitoring techniques that minimize spraying pesticides or fungicides. Also, we are now using Solar Energy!
Right down the street our newest greenhouses use a flood floor irrigation system. This reduces water usage and the need for fungicides by keeping foliage dry. Self watering helps us to keep our labor costs down and produces a high quality product. It is set up in 14 separate watering zones, and uses radiant floor heat. This new system was developed in Europe to protect ground water.
We are a farm with about 25 acres under cultivation each year. We have chosen not to become "certified" organic mainly because of the need for additional record keeping and the added expenses involved with certification. We will continue to follow and use all of the generally accepted organic production standards. We often buy in conventionally grown local fruits and vegetables (peaches, apples, and early corn for example) and always clearly label them as such.
