Kaima’s sustainable growing policies

What is organic farming?

Organic farming is a holistic growing system that avoids or largely excludes the use of fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones. Organic farming, instead, relies on crop rotation, off-farm organic waste, select crop-protection methods, biodiversity, and recycling.

Is Kaima an accredited organic farm?

While Kaima adheres to all organic growing practices referenced above, we do not have an official tav teken certifying us as an organic farm. We discussed the topic at length and concluded that the costs involved in certification and ongoing inspection were unreasonable.

What other standards does Kaima adhere to?

We believe in maintaining a trusted relationship with our growing community of satisfied CSA partners. When you order from Kaima you can expect a top-quality product grown by our unique multi-generational farming team and delivered to your home within hours of harvest. By the way, everyone is welcome to visit the farm, meet our farmers, and see firsthand how to grow our vegetables in simple, straightforward conditions.

Where do Kaima Beit Zayit's vegetables come from?

Our open fields. Vegetables grown in fields, all located on Moshav Beit Zayit, are naturally cultivated. We only use fertilizers approved for organic farming and nitrogen-rich plants to enrich the soil, rotate crops, and rest the earth (shmita). (While we lose a significant amount of produce to pest damage, we prefer not to harm the natural environment.)

Our onsite greenhouse: Depending on the season, Kaima’s greenhouse (300 m2) allows us to raise peppers, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers—all crops that are difficult to cultivate in the open. In the winter, we grow mainly greens.

Other local CSA farms. Depending on the season and quality of our harvest, we sometimes source veggies from other area CSA farms that follow our standards. This ensures our customers receive a well-balanced basket.