Organic Materials Review Institute

As an organic farmer at Camas Swale Farm, and as a Product Review Coordinator at the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), spring is a thrilling time of year for me. In the office we are flooded

with applications from fertilizer, pest control and other agricultural input manufacturers who wish to have their product reviewed and verified to organic standards, in time for the growing season. On my fa
rm we do our seeding, care for young chicks, and we are in awe and gratitude of the warm and dry season we had this year.

On our farm we tilled a month earlier than last year. This being done, we had energy left to cultivate a new area of the pasture to expand our crop rotation space. We disc a portion of pasture (formerly mowed by sheep) and apply rock dust to the soil to raise the pH. Then we sow a summer cover crop of buckwheat and oats. 

Finding a rock dust that is compliant with organic standards can be difficult, because minor ingredients are not always listed on the product labels. Learning how to read between the lines of ingredient lists and nutrient claims, and learning which organic standards apply to input materials, can assist you in ensuring your garden or farm are truly organic. Knowing where to go to find brand name products that are compliant with organics can also be challenging. I appreciate working with OMRI and being a part of the solution as we help farmers answer these questions and find what they need quickly and efficiently.