by K.T. Alaimo & Annamaria Geresdi
The vision of Biodynamic farming is to heal the planet through agriculture. It encompasses the true meaning of growing food naturally and sustainably.
Harvest Bee Farms shares this vision and exists as one of the region’s only farms focusing on the use of Biodynamic principles. This approach works in harmony with nature, without relying on synthetic chemicals or GMOs, resulting in farm-fresh, nutritionally balanced, and extremely tasty produce for the Naples community.
Harvest Bee Farms is the brain child of Chuck Ritter, a local business owner and healthy food advocate, and K.T. Alaimo, a young, aspiring farmer and environmental enthusiast. Their Certified Naturally Grown micro farm, located in Golden Gate, grows over 50 varieties of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible flowers. The farm is also a licensed apiary and is currently in the process of expanding its bee operation. “The bee was chosen for the name and logo of the farm because of its extreme importance to the growing of sustainable and, for all intents and purposes, real food,” K.T. explains. “We desperately need to save these most precious of organisms as conventional farming methods continue to destroy their populations in favor of corporate greed,” he adds. Hence, their passion and commitment for keeping bees safe.
What really sets Harvest Bee Farms apart from other organic farms is its commitment to minimizing inputs, (fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides) of any kind, including even organic ones. Alaimo grew tired of the lax rules given to products labeled as organic, yet whose methods to create them were “questionable at best and totally inorganic at worst.”
“The end result of this approach is what we hope will be an experience of consuming food in its purest form, whereby what you taste is 100% of the food itself, nourished by the soil and the soil alone,” K.T. says. This is no easy task, he admits, but after his experience as co-owner of Wild Heritage Farm, formerly a UDSA certified organic operation, he began the switch to using Biodynamic methods, acknowledging how confusing and distorted the actual organic label had become. He believes that “what passes for organic these days can hardly be called organic and people definitely deserve better: they deserve real food grown in an honest manner.”
While many local farmers abide by the true meaning of ‘organic’, K.T. and Chuck both agreed that a different, a more focused label was needed to separate themselves from others. Thus, they began the long, arduous task towards obtaining their Biodynamic certification from Demeter Association, Inc. by committing to primarily, and if possible only, using their own on-farm made compost and worm teas.
The Demeter Biodynamic® Farm Standard reflects the Biodynamic principle of the farm as a living organism: self-contained, self-sustaining, following the cycles of nature. In practice, Biodynamic farming meets the ‘organic’ standard, including the prohibition of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. But it goes much further. Biodynamic farming puts emphasis on the generation of farm inputs out of the living dynamics of the farm itself, instead of being imported from the outside.
Part of the Biodynamic certification also includes planting according to lunar cycles, as well as planting within and around natural landscapes rather than removing the native plants. “These practices are intended to bring integrity back to the way we grow and eat food; and at the same time, to understand that there is scientific reasoning for when and why to engage in certain farm activities according to the laws of nature,” K.T. explains. The concept of Biodynamic farming seems actually quite simple: healthy farms mean healthy food, and healthy food means healthy people and a healthy planet! But achieving and maintaining the certification is a constant, strenuous work – one that can only be carried out with love, devotion, and integrity.
According to Alaimo, the CNG (Certified Naturally Grown) certification entails many of the same focused and strict principles that Demeter’s Biodynamic Farm Standard includes, which is why the farm started off with the CNG certification first. Both agencies, however, are much more adamant about maintaining the integrity of growing food compared to the USDA’s certification, in his opinion, as well as unequivocally more rigorous in their inspection process.
Harvest Bee Farms is proud to be one of the few Florida farms that are Certified Naturally Grown and the only farm south of Tampa to carry this distinction. K.T. explains that “unlike the USDA organic certification, this label guarantees that your food will be free of any synthetic chemicals and sprays, including those allowed by the USDA that should have no business touching the food we eat.”
The work at Harvest Bee Farms began in 2014, with a three-year plan to prepare the land and the soil to get it to a point where food could be grown sustainably and sold to the community. While the land may not quite be where they feel it needs to be to reach its maximum production, thanks to the hard work of Chuck and K.T., as well as a handful of enthusiastic volunteers, the farm has been sharing its bounty around town for several years now.
Harvest Bee Farms does not sell directly from the land. However, they sell their goods seasonally at the Pine Ridge Road Farmers Market on Sundays from 9am to 2pm. They also offer a 21-week CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program that brings ‘shares’ of their produce to the market each week for member pick-up. The CSA shares include various veggies, salad greens, edible flowers, herbs, and fruits every Sunday. Members also receive farm fresh eggs periodically throughout the season and many other goodies and surprises. Soon, they hope to add honey and teas, along with fresh-cut flowers.
Harvest Bee Farms is deeply rooted in the community and is committed to educating people about their farming methods through farm gatherings and events, tours, and volunteer services. They have also partnered with private chefs and local restaurants, including Organically Twisted and Juicelation to provide farm-fresh, healthy ingredients for their culinary creations.
Alaimo believes that “the connection between farmer and land is without a doubt a Destiny Unbound, involving a sincere dedication and love for the land without bounds, and a commitment to growing wholesome food with all its ups and downs,” as well as a testimony of his appreciation for good music. According to him, “Labor really does pay off when you love what you do and do what you love.” If you taste Harvest Bee Farms’ fresh produce, you will absolutely agree. The reward is in every bite!