The first workshop held by the Delaware Organic Food and Farming Association pulled in a large crowd of organic farmers, farmers who want to convert to organic, people ready to get started and the curious. Dozens filled the room at the University of Delaware’s Carvel Research Center at the Route 9 campus in Georgetown Nov. 20.

Speakers from the state’s universities, organic farming groups and organic inspectors explained the resources at hand to support established and starting organic growers, including cost-share from the government.

But, organic methods are not for those who don’t care for manual labor, said UD Cooperative Extension Agent Gordon Johnson.

Still, Johnson said there is ample opportunity to market meat, produce, eggs and organic grain, many of which sell at a premium. Carolyn Donald, owner of The Farm in Georgetown, testified to that. She said her business struggles to keep store shelves stocked. The bad economy hasn’t slowed sales of her popular organic eggs and pasture-raised chickens, which retail for more than $40, she said.

Mike Wasylkowski, Delaware State University Cooperative Extension agent, said organic produce sells for sometimes surprising amounts of money.

Each organic farm is unique and organic farmers often have to experiment to learn which methods will work best for them, said Johnson. Still, start-up green farmers would do well to read up on methods and talk with established growers for advice, he said.

Nothing should leave the farm, said Gordon. Composting is a key component of organic farming and materials should be recycled through compost so soils can be continually enriched, he said.

Organic farming is a tightly regulated world, and certifiers and inspectors keep a close eye on farmers. Inspector Carmen Pape said farmers must keep detailed records.

She said inspectors want to know how hot compost piles get and when they are turned, as well as where seeds and seedlings originated.

Farmer Bruce Pape said keeping detailed records is key. “If you’re not journaling, you’re wasting your time,” he said. He said for certification, record keeping is often a requirement. He told the crowd not to be intimidated by long, detailed forms for certification. Instead, use the certifiers for help.

Carmen Pape said certification agencies will want a detailed history of the farm – including the last date a prohibited substance was applied and when fields were last fallowed. She said they will also want animal identification and breeding records as well as a plan for crop rotation – beyond mixing soybeans and corn.

Gordon said produce farmers must rotate their plantings with diverse crops to discourage pests and suppress weeds. And, they should use bugs to their advantage and encourage beneficial insects to hang around their farms to keep the bad bugs at bay, he said.

Donald encouraged those who want to raise crops or animals to sell to do detailed market research – design a good label and advertise and market produce where similarly minded people shop.

Johnson also encouraged people to take advantage of their cooperative extension agencies and the Department of Agriculture.