About Us
Naturally grown seasonally appropriate produce grown in Corvallis Oregon. Attempting to model and apply the best "beyond organic" production methods, which promote the most healthy and flavorful plants.
Key crops include Tomato, peppers, onion, and garlic.
Copper Ox the name was inspired by the Chinese new year. 2021 is the year of the OX. Additionally 2021 is a year of the Metal Ox. I was introduced to the Chinese zodiac in grade school. My entire class were rats, but I was the lone Ox. Assisting with egg collection on the farm is a young lady born in the year of the horse. You will see these themes throughout the business. Additionally, Chinese agriculture was, for a good number of centuries, sustainable example of permanent agriculture. Having an honest nature, the Ox is known for diligence, dependability, strength and determination. These reflect traditional conservative characteristics. These are characteristics we bring to the farm.
Inspired to explore in ground agriculture after learning of the disadvantages of hydroponic waste disposal. As we did not want to contaminate our communities groundwater, we underwent learning about growing peppers in ground in Oregon, and subsequently, farming more generally. Inspired by multiple books I enrolled in permaculture classes offered by Oregon State University and Geoff Lawton. Additionally to understand farming/gardening local experts Steve Solomon and Carol Deppe and their perspective on mineral nutrition and climate change. These and tasting the results of produce grown in well amended soil have propelled me to continue exploring providing more disease resistant, better tasting, and more nutritious foods. This would allow us to include our young children with gardening, as they would not be exposed to the acids, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that are so prevalent in commercial farming. These lessons were learned from JADAM organic farming. Additionally, there are increasing recalls of produce (Onions, cauliflower.) lead me to the complete sustainable method of GROW BIOINTENSIVE(TM). This method allows for sustainable regenerative near closed loop (We have to sell some produce to fund operations) vegan growing method. Essential elements:
Deep soil preparation
Composting
Close Plant Spacing
Companion Planting
Carbon-efficient Crops
Calorie-Efficient Crops
Use of Open Pollinated Seeds
A WHOLE gardening system
This near closed loop system allows for a slow persistent presence for our community. The method will not exhaust properties soil, and in fact it will grow the soil. This is regeneration. We hope that once our children complete high-school that the property will be a better than when we took ownership.
GROW BIOINTENSIVE training completed.