April 2024 - 14

GROWER PROFILE
WEED BATTLE
BY DOUG OHLEMEIER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
L
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S WORDEN FARM MANAGES CHALLENGES
The Wordens market their
and stewardship and
mentoring other growers is an
important part of operations
at Worden Farm.
Owners Chris and Eva Worden,
who started the business in 2003,
grow more than 50 vegetables,
herbs and flowers organically. Crops
include sweet corn, cucumbers,
eggplant, green beans, peppers,
squash, tomatoes, beets and carrots
in Punta Gorda, Florida. Leafy
greens include arugula, broccoli
rabe, chard, dandelion greens,
escarole and spinach.
organic crops through farmers
markets, a farm box program and
a members-only farm stand. The
membership program provides
seasonal start-up funds or " seed
money " to support operations.
The Wordens' consulting services
help new farmers raise and market
organic vegetable crops through
information and guidance.
Weed challenge
Many growers are hesitant to farm
organically because of concerns
about weed management, Eva
Worden said. In Florida's warm
climate, where hard freezes are
rare, controlling weeds can be
challenging. The Wordens share
their agronomic knowledge and
practices, developed through trial
and error, while continuing to
experiment and improve.
The Wordens developed a weed
management system that uses a
combination of mechanical cultivation,
mulch, crop rotation and cover crops.
" The goal is to establish a good
crop stand in each bed, with a high
plant population, fully utilizing the
available crop area, " Eva Worden
said. " We aim for top-quality crops
with no or few weeds. "
The Wordens employ mechanical cultivation, mulch,
crop rotation and cover crops to manage weeds.
Photo courtesy of Worden Farm.
14 | APRIL 2024

April 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2024

Editor's Letter
The Pest Whisperer?
Managing wildlife on the farm
Weed battle
Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
Southeast honors
Why every operation needs two succession plans
Biopesticides and beneficial insects
Ag Labor Review
Farm Market & Agriculture
Classifieds
Advertiser Index
April 2024 - 1
April 2024 - 2
April 2024 - 3
April 2024 - Editor's Letter
April 2024 - 5
April 2024 - The Pest Whisperer?
April 2024 - 7
April 2024 - 8
April 2024 - 9
April 2024 - Managing wildlife on the farm
April 2024 - 11
April 2024 - 12
April 2024 - 13
April 2024 - Weed battle
April 2024 - 15
April 2024 - 16
April 2024 - 17
April 2024 - Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association
April 2024 - 19
April 2024 - Southeast honors
April 2024 - 21
April 2024 - Why every operation needs two succession plans
April 2024 - 23
April 2024 - Biopesticides and beneficial insects
April 2024 - 25
April 2024 - 26
April 2024 - 27
April 2024 - 28
April 2024 - 29
April 2024 - Ag Labor Review
April 2024 - 31
April 2024 - Farm Market & Agriculture
April 2024 - 33
April 2024 - Classifieds
April 2024 - Advertiser Index
April 2024 - 36
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