Organic/Horticulture Library

A Brief Overview of the History and Philosophy of Organic Agriculture

This publication outlines the origins of organic agriculture, highlighting the concepts that define it as a distinct and sustainable approach to farming.

A Few Facts about Biochar

This intern report gives a brief overview of biochar.

A&L Reference Guide: Soil Sampling

This guide covers procedures, tools, sample preparation, size, depth, and timing, and recommendations for specialized sampling locations and situations.

A&L Soil Analysis Fee Schedule

This is a fee schedule from A&L Laboratories.

A&L Soil Sample Information Sheet

This is a soil sample submission form from A&L Laboratories.

Are We Organic Yet?!

This presentation covers organic practices, prohibited substances, food safety, integrity, seeds & planting stock, marketing, steps to certification, and resources.

Assorted Resources: Equipment and Organic Pesticides/Tools

This handout lists various supplies and equipment used in the Kerr Center’s organic horticulture program.

Blending Guide for Low-Analysis Fertilizers

This handout discusses points to consider when blending organic fertilizers. It contains several tables of nutrient contents of different organic fertilizers.

Cherry Tomatoes in Self-Wicking Containers

In 2020, the Kerr Center horticulture program trialed several varieties of cherry tomato from the Sun series, indoors in self-wicking containers. This report contains the results of that trial.

Compost & Soil Humus Resource List

Extensive bibliography, step-by-step outline, and list of common materials giving carbon:nitrogen ratio for each. Compost & Soil Humus Resource List

Compost Presentation Notes

This handout includes a table of different compost feedstocks and their approximate carbon-to-nitrogen ratios.

Cover Crops as Beneficial Insect Habitats

This publication outlines thoughts on, and experiences with, using cover crops as beneficial insect habitat in organic farming.

Designing an Organic System

This is a two-page description of how to apply the concepts of systems theory to practical management for certified organic production.

Drip and Micro Irrigation Suppliers

This handout lists contact information for several commercial suppliers of drip and micro irrigation equipment.

Elderberries in Oklahoma

The findings from three years of work with different elderberry varieties at the Kerr Center are available in this free report.

Elements of Organic Farming: Pest, Insect, and Disease Management

This presentation discusses the management of crop pests on an organic market farm.

Elements of Organic Farming: Putting Your System Together

This presentation gives an extensive overview of setting up an organic farming system.

Exploring Biochar

This intern report consists of an annotated research bibliography on biochar.

Farm Made: A Guide to On-Farm Processing for Organic Producers

This report provides an overview of the general requirements for organic certification and for food processing facilities, followed by a discussion of four different on-farm enterprises, including table eggs.

Farming with Walk-Behind Tractors

This report covers the Kerr Center’s decade of experience using walk-behind tractors in the Cannon Horticulture Project. It serves as both backgrounder and how-to manual.

Finding Sorghum Varieties Resistant to Sugarcane Aphid

This update to Sweet Sorghum: Production & Processing offers promising news about sweet sorghum varieties resistant to sugarcane aphid.

Harvest and Post-Harvest

This presentation discusses harvest and post-harvest handling of fruit and vegetable crops for market farms and gardens.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2008: Sweet Sorghum

This publication presents the results of our 2008 heirloom sweet sorghum variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2009: Squash

This publication presents the results of our 2009 heirloom summer squash variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2009: Tomatoes

This publication presents the results of our 2009 heirloom tomato variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2010: Grafted Tomatoes

This report presents the results of our 2010 grafted heirloom tomato variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2010: Sweet Potato

This report presents the results of our 2010 heirloom sweet potato variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2010: Tomatoes

This document discusses interesting observations we made in our 2010 heirloom tomato variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2011: Flour and Meal Corn Demonstration

This report presents the results of our 2011 flour and meal corn demonstration.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2011: Sweet Potatoes

This report presents the results of our 2011 heirloom sweet potato variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2012: Sweet Potatoes

This report presents the results of our 2012 heirloom sweet potato variety trial.

Heirloom Variety Trial Report 2012: Three Sisters

This report presents the results of our 2012 heirloom Three Sisters variety trial.

Heirloom Vegetables, Genetic Diversity, and the Pursuit of Food Security

This report defines and describes heirloom vegetable varieties and discusses their implications.

Hoop House Construction Plans

This document explains how to build a low-cost hoop house, of the design developed by Tod Hanley.

Hoophouse Materials List

This is a list of materials and cost calculations for building a hoophouse. It was most recently updated in fall 2017.

Horticulture Main Demonstration Plot Scheme

This handout maps the Cannon Horticulture Plots, as well as the field within them where the 2013 warm-season cover crop trial was conducted.

How We Converted Bermuda Pasture to Organic Vegetables

This fact sheet describes how to eliminate bermudagrass from future vegetable fields using a sorghum-sudangrass cover crop.

Market Farming with Rotations and Cover Crops: An Organic Bio-Extensive System

This report outlines how to control grasses and weeds, and build soil life, health, and fertility organically, using cover crops and rotations.

Notes on Tillage & Seeding Equipment for Small Vegetable Farms

This is a list of resources and description of basic equipment necessary for soil preparation and seeding in different farming methods.

On-Farm Composting and Vermicomposting

This presentation discusses the composting options for fertility in market farming/gardening.

Organic Bio-Extensive Management Revisited

This report recounts the lessons learned from nine years of organic management of the Cannon Horticulture plots.

Organic Production in Oklahoma: Questions & Answers

This is an FAQ-format summary of organic farming for producers considering certification.

OSU Soil Test Pricing

This is the 2011 fee schedule from OSU’s Soil, Water, and Forage Analytical Laboratory.

Other Hoop House Resources

This is a selection of off-site resources on season extension.

Overview: Sweet Potatoes at the Kerr Center

This summary of sweet potato work at the Kerr Center from 2010-2013 contains a guide and links to more detailed publications resulting from that work.

Pesticides: Safety, Handling, Application

This presentation discusses the safe handling of pesticides in a market farm setting.

Planting Calendar

This handout shows seeding and transplanting dates for a variety of vegetable crops.

Produce Safety at the Farm Market: A Guide for Farmers and Sellers

This handout has guidelines for farmers and sellers at farmers markets to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

Rotations, Cover Crops, and Green Fallow on the Cannon Horticulture Project: A 2010 Status Report

This report outlines the “bio-extensive” approach to fertility and weed management used on the Cannon Horticulture Plots.

Seed Starting Guide – Arkansas River Valley

This seed starting guide covers both spring and fall planting dates for the Arkansas River Valley (but is easily adapted to other areas).

Seeds, Seeding, and Growing Transplants

This presentation covers seed biology, germination, storage, variety selection, planting dates, field & greenhouse plantings, and growing out transplants.

Shiitake Mushrooms

Shiitake Mushrooms outlines the basics of small-scale shiitake mushroom production. The report covers inoculation, harvesting, marketing, and more.

Small Scale Organics: A Guidebook for the Non-certified Organic Grower

This report includes guidelines and an organic system plan to help determine whether an organic farming operation meets the USDA standards.

Small-Scale Gardening Technology at the Kerr Center

This report relates the Kerr Center’s experiences with small-scale farming and gardening tools during a decade of bio-extensive management on the Cannon Horticulture Plots. Tools evaluated include spades, digging forks, broadforks, hoes, and more.

Small-Scale Technology and Practices for Sweet Potato Growing in Southeast Oklahoma

This report contains an overview of insights and observations from three years of grant-funded investigation of small-scale technologies and techniques for growing sweet potatoes that might benefit gardeners and small market growers.

Soil Management: Site Selection, Soil Fertility

This presentation discusses the management of soils for market farming operations.

Soil Sampling and Analysis

This is a presentation by Brian Freking from the livestock track of the 2012 Oklahoma Beginning Farmer & Rancher Program. …

Soil Test Interpretation for Vegetable Crops

This is Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service publication number HLA-6036.

Soil Testing, Soil Sampling, and Soil Fertility

This presentation discusses soil nutrient management.

Soil Testing: The Right First Step

This is Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service leaflet number L-249.

Soils and Organic Fertility Management

This presentation discusses the management of soil fertility under organic regulations.

Southern Organic Resource Guide

The Southern Organic Resource Guide was designed to help certified and transitioning organic farmers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee minimize and manage risks associated with obtaining and maintaining organic certification.