Certified Organic!
On August 29, 2009 Cypress Village was awarded Organic Certification from the USDA. This has helped to market CV produce at the local farmers market as well as Everbody's Grocery and a Revelations Restaurant.
Home grown organic crops this year included alfalfa, rye, straw, tomatoes, sweet corn, buttercup squash, pumpkins and strawberries. The CV orchard is composed of hundreds of fruit trees like apple, cherry, pear and pawpaw as well as nut trees. These organic food crops will be part of a CSA program in 2010 available to CV residents - another benefit of sustainable community living. As soon as CV received organic certification, the whole farm and development was registered as an Iowa Sensitive Site through the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. This is a registry of chemical sensitive crops and apiaries. The on-line registry will be used by pesticide applicators to identify the locations of sensitive crops. This will help to minimize the potential for damage due to chemical drift, mainly caused during the aerial application of agricultural sprays.
Once CV establishes its apiary in 2010, crop dusters must give the property a wider berth, one mile beyond property lines, between 8am and 6pm while crops are in bloom. Agrochemicals effect the quality of life for humans, plants and animals. As an Iowa Sensitive Site, CV will be further protected from these damaging impacts and have a higher quality of life.
In other news, the fruit trees planted in April have grown about a foot over the summer. Village residents and local markets can enjoy the first harvest from the nearly 500 fruit and nut trees, such as apple, peach, and cherry, in 2-3 years.
A new greenhouse will also be bult in 2010. The 30x60ft building will provide fresh local organic greens to CSA particpants through the winter. The design will utilize the energy of the sun both passively and through solar hot water.
The willow playground was completed in early spring and sprouted all summer long. The snake and the frog are taking on life as vivid green leaves fill in, creating a haven for children's make-believe.