Calvert's Gift Farm
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Our Family owned farm is located in
Sparks, Maryland. The farm has been
certified organic by the Maryland
Department of Agriculture since 1994.
We pride ourselves in our crop
diversity and the quality of food we
produce on our farm.
Heirloom and open pollinated
vegetables are our preferred seed
stock. No genetically altered seeds,
plants, or materials are used on our
farm. We believe "organic" means
more than just no pesticides,
herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. We
utilize extensive crop rotations,
minimize off farm inputs and rely
almost totally on natural systems for
produce safe, healthy food in an
environmentally sound way thus
ensuring the viability and future of our
family farm.
| certified organic produce |
Since our beginning in 1994, we chose to
become certified organic. The term organic
has gone through some evolutions since then.
We believed in the program at our start and we
still do today. We know we can produce great
food that is unadulterated by chemicals or
genetically modified organisms and be good
stewards of the land by using organic
practices. Despite claims to the opposite, it
makes sense to us to eat certified organic
produce. In our daily lives, each of us is
exposed to who knows what kind of chemicals.
Why would you choose to eat them?
We are currently certified organic through the
Maryland Department of Agriculture, which is
accredited by the National Organic Program.
The National Organic program (NOP) has strict
standards that must be met in order to become
certified. There are clear rules, acceptable
methods, forbidden products and enforcement
measures. There is an inspection process and
there is a sheaf of paperwork to complete
annually. No other claims, such as naturally
grown, natural, free range, ecoganic,
sustainably produced, or pastured, to name a
few, have the regulations, federal mandate or
teeth that the NOP has. We are willing to go
through the inspection process and the
paperwork as proof of our convictions. By
choosing the certification path, you, the
consumer can know that our claims are
genuine.
The new buzzwords…….
Local and sustainable. These words are
becoming commonplace in our daily lives. They
can have many meanings and interpretations.
To us, local means that the produce on our
farmers market table has been grown by us.
We do not buy from other farmers and resell,
we do not purchase from a cooperative, auction
or terminal market. Purchasing produce from
Calvert’s Gift Farm means that you are buying
produce that was produced on our farm in
Sparks, Maryland.
Sustainable farming can mean anything from
no-till conventional corn and soybean
production to organic methods of production.
To us, sustainable farming means using
growing methods that enhance soil quality,
providing for the economic well-being of the
farmer and providing for the health of the
environment.
Our farming practices include crop diversity,
extensive multi-year crop rotations, cover
crops, compost, reduced tillage techniques,
crop timing, and low tech inputs. Crop diversity
is one of our keys to success. We find relying
on one or two crops too risky when we have few
controls over Mother Nature. Our crop
rotations are designed to defend against pest
infestations, to prevent soil borne diseases and
to prevent soil degradation. We use cover
crops as often as possible to add nutrients and
organic matter back into the soil and to prevent
soil loss due to wind and water erosion. We
make our own compost from garden waste and
horse manure and incorporate it into the soil
when necessary. We often choose not to grow
a particular crop when we know insect pressure
will be greatest or we rely on row covers to
deter insect damage. We love our job, we love
our farm, we love to eat, we love it that other
people can enjoy the fruits of our labor. That is
true sustainablilty.
become certified organic. The term organic
has gone through some evolutions since then.
We believed in the program at our start and we
still do today. We know we can produce great
food that is unadulterated by chemicals or
genetically modified organisms and be good
stewards of the land by using organic
practices. Despite claims to the opposite, it
makes sense to us to eat certified organic
produce. In our daily lives, each of us is
exposed to who knows what kind of chemicals.
Why would you choose to eat them?
We are currently certified organic through the
Maryland Department of Agriculture, which is
accredited by the National Organic Program.
The National Organic program (NOP) has strict
standards that must be met in order to become
certified. There are clear rules, acceptable
methods, forbidden products and enforcement
measures. There is an inspection process and
there is a sheaf of paperwork to complete
annually. No other claims, such as naturally
grown, natural, free range, ecoganic,
sustainably produced, or pastured, to name a
few, have the regulations, federal mandate or
teeth that the NOP has. We are willing to go
through the inspection process and the
paperwork as proof of our convictions. By
choosing the certification path, you, the
consumer can know that our claims are
genuine.
The new buzzwords…….
Local and sustainable. These words are
becoming commonplace in our daily lives. They
can have many meanings and interpretations.
To us, local means that the produce on our
farmers market table has been grown by us.
We do not buy from other farmers and resell,
we do not purchase from a cooperative, auction
or terminal market. Purchasing produce from
Calvert’s Gift Farm means that you are buying
produce that was produced on our farm in
Sparks, Maryland.
Sustainable farming can mean anything from
no-till conventional corn and soybean
production to organic methods of production.
To us, sustainable farming means using
growing methods that enhance soil quality,
providing for the economic well-being of the
farmer and providing for the health of the
environment.
Our farming practices include crop diversity,
extensive multi-year crop rotations, cover
crops, compost, reduced tillage techniques,
crop timing, and low tech inputs. Crop diversity
is one of our keys to success. We find relying
on one or two crops too risky when we have few
controls over Mother Nature. Our crop
rotations are designed to defend against pest
infestations, to prevent soil borne diseases and
to prevent soil degradation. We use cover
crops as often as possible to add nutrients and
organic matter back into the soil and to prevent
soil loss due to wind and water erosion. We
make our own compost from garden waste and
horse manure and incorporate it into the soil
when necessary. We often choose not to grow
a particular crop when we know insect pressure
will be greatest or we rely on row covers to
deter insect damage. We love our job, we love
our farm, we love to eat, we love it that other
people can enjoy the fruits of our labor. That is
true sustainablilty.
New Farmer Training
In 2008 we had an idea, an
inspiration, an epiphany, call it what
you will. We live in this very little
corner of this very big world. How
can we make an impact on it? We
are a small farm, just 5 acres, an
oversized garden in some opinions.
But we make a happy, healthy living
here in Sparks Maryland. We have
always had a handful of people work
for us through the summer. In 2008,
one of those workers said, “ We
should be paying you to work here”.
At the same time, North County
Preservation Inc. published the
document “Rural Baltimore County
Agriculture Profitability Study and
Action Plan”. In reading that
document we came to the conclusion
that there just weren’t enough
farmers in Baltimore County. With
the help of North County
Preservation, Inc, the New Farmer
Trainee Program was launched.
The program provides new or
beginning farmers with a
combination of hands-on experience
and classroom knowledge over a
one-year period with the goal of
giving them the skills they need to
start their own farm operation.
In 2009, Calvert’s Gift Farm acted as
a mentor for 5 individuals. Three will
be transitioning in to farming in
2010. Another trainee is working for
in a full time job to assist in
Baltimore City farming projects. In
2010, the program will be expanded
to include the grape growing
industry. At least four candidates
will be selected to work as trainees
for the 2010 growing season and to
participate in the workshop series.
Workshops will be led by University
faculty and mentoring farmers and
will include marketing, small farm
business management, high tunnel
production soil fertility and
transplant production. These
classes will be open to the public
and will begin in February 2010. For
more information or to apply for the
program please contact Cathy tipper
at crtipper@aol.com. For more
information on the workshops,
please contact Dave Martin at
dmartin@umd.edu.
In 2008 we had an idea, an
inspiration, an epiphany, call it what
you will. We live in this very little
corner of this very big world. How
can we make an impact on it? We
are a small farm, just 5 acres, an
oversized garden in some opinions.
But we make a happy, healthy living
here in Sparks Maryland. We have
always had a handful of people work
for us through the summer. In 2008,
one of those workers said, “ We
should be paying you to work here”.
At the same time, North County
Preservation Inc. published the
document “Rural Baltimore County
Agriculture Profitability Study and
Action Plan”. In reading that
document we came to the conclusion
that there just weren’t enough
farmers in Baltimore County. With
the help of North County
Preservation, Inc, the New Farmer
Trainee Program was launched.
The program provides new or
beginning farmers with a
combination of hands-on experience
and classroom knowledge over a
one-year period with the goal of
giving them the skills they need to
start their own farm operation.
In 2009, Calvert’s Gift Farm acted as
a mentor for 5 individuals. Three will
be transitioning in to farming in
2010. Another trainee is working for
in a full time job to assist in
Baltimore City farming projects. In
2010, the program will be expanded
to include the grape growing
industry. At least four candidates
will be selected to work as trainees
for the 2010 growing season and to
participate in the workshop series.
Workshops will be led by University
faculty and mentoring farmers and
will include marketing, small farm
business management, high tunnel
production soil fertility and
transplant production. These
classes will be open to the public
and will begin in February 2010. For
more information or to apply for the
program please contact Cathy tipper
at crtipper@aol.com. For more
information on the workshops,
please contact Dave Martin at
dmartin@umd.edu.
