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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&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 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
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.
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
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.
Supply & Equipment List
This handout lists various supplies and equipment used in the Kerr Center’s organic horticulture program.
Sweet Sorghum: Production and Processing, Second Edition
Sweet Sorghum: Production and Processing, enduringly popular and useful, is now available in an updated second edition! Download or order a copy today!
The Kerr Center’s 2014 Demonstration Market Garden
This report describes the demonstration organic market garden planted as a teaching tool for the 2014 Oklahoma Beginning Farmer & Rancher Program.
Two-Barrel Nested Biochar Retort
This is a drawing illustrating how a two-barrel nested biochar retort operates.
Vegetable Crop Irrigation Chart
This handout lists, for several different vegetable crops: irrigation frequency, critical moisture period(s), rooting depth, and potential defects.
Water and Irrigation Systems for Market Farming
This presentation discusses watering needs and approaches for small-scale horticultural crops.
Where We Shop: Sources of Seed, Tools, and Supplies
This is a list, by item, of sources of seeds, tools, and supplies used in the Kerr Center horticulture program.