How to convert from Community Shared Agriculture to Organic Raspberry production

I have decided to document the shift between Barnswallow Corner the CSA, to Barnswallow Organic somethingorotherfoodproductionandretreatdealio. Ok, so I haven't come up with a good name yet. I'm open to suggestions. 

 The "BIG PICTURE", the one say, 5 years down the road, will include food production, such as organic raspberries, garlic, and perhaps a small CSA (yeah, yeah, my people will be all over me for this one.  I'm just not done, even if my back is.  I promise to ask for help).  A retreat is also in order.  One that incorporates good food, art as therapy, yoga and permaculture.  

A little update: Randy and I had gone to "Berry School" in Red Deer, Alberta, where we hoped to glean enough information on producing raspberries that I could use the old CSA garden for a new raspberry patch.  It's about 1/2 acre on a corner of the property, visible enough from the highway that we could easily have enough business to sell that small amount.  

We attended a "weed management" talk.  After 5 minutes of playing lip service to the organic world ("yadda yadda organic blah blah blah, chemicals work better bladee blah blah blah") I wrote Randy a note to say I'm checking out.  He stayed (I worried he'd come out a convert).  

I followed the other organically minded gal to a table in another room where we'd eventually have lunch and exchanged reasons for being there.  She is part owner of En Sente winery, just outside Edmonton (within 1 hour from my house).  She and her sisters make wine from organic fruit.  This was of intrigue to me, but even more so was the fact that she asked if I would be interested in producing raspberries organically for them. Actually, it was more like a pleading request. 

This is a very exciting thought.  To have the berries sold before they are ripe, and to a winery! that uses organic fruit! I wanted to yell YES!  Alas, I must contain my excitement, and do my homework before jumping into the grape mashing barrel with both bare feet.  I have been in situations before where I honoured my entrepreneurial, creative side way too much, and not done the leg work to see if it's feasible. 

I'm also excited today because I've initiated the organic certification process.  Well, what I've done is talked with OPAM, the certification body I'd go thru if all goes well. The excitement comes from hearing that hurdles I thought I might have either don't exist anymore or are far more achievable.

One of the reasons I didn't certify for the CSA was that I would have had to buy organic feed for the horses because 1) they are on the property and the whole property must be organic to keep one's certification and 2) we use their manure on our crops.  This is far more sustainable than buying organic manure.  Now it is allowed, within parameters, to use conventionally fed animal manure on organic crops.   The cost to buy and ship organic feed was a factor that might've made growing  organic raspberries a no go financially. 

Another hurdle was the time it would take to become organic and the cost of doing so.  If I were to put in the 3-4 years that I thought it might take to wait the 3 year "TR" or transition time, that's a lot of money out of pocket for no production. Or, I guess we could've tried to establish a U-pick for that time, but I know that it takes time to build a clientele and I'd hate to do that only to eventually close our gates to them.  

Anyway, because of my diligence in not using chemical fertilizer, herbicides or pesticides, OPAM has stated that their new (since I last checked) guidelines are to state that if I have not had any outside inputs (chemicals) for 3 years, I can become TR for this year, plant and become certified next year, and be in production the following year. 

Two more things: A lovely lady from Earth's General Store has offered to assist me in the admin part of organizing a work shop for sheet mulching (cardboard and straw)  the space into which I plan on planting the raspberries.  I am waiting on info to see if this is an accepted organic practice.  If it's a go-ahead, I will be able to fulfill my promise to ask for help (something this somewhat broken body needs).

AAAANNND, my phone call to a former work-mate, Glen, who runs a small fleet of yellow school buses really panned out.  Apparently, if one wished to convert a working 15 yr old yellow school bus into a WWOOFer palace, it might cost as little as $2000 to purchase said bus.  

To sum up: 

Berry school to learn about raspberry growing-check

Meet local Winery owner who asks me to produce organic raspberries for her-check

Initiate organic certification process research- check

Initiate interest in sheet mulch (permaculture) for raspberry plot-check

Bonus offer to do admin work for sheet mulch work shop- check

Connect with excellent local yellow school bus source for WWOOFer palace-check

Good day!