[Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
Robin Follette
list at seasonseatingsfarm.com
Sat Jun 13 09:30:41 EDT 2009
>>>Since your possibilities are limited (if you don't have room for a little
>>>buckwheat, then you wouldn't have room for vetch either), it looks like
>>>you are limited to using Entrust or some other organic pesticide, if
>>>there is such a thing.
I'm not limited to pesticides. They're a last resort. I said, " When there
are more larva than the chickens and ducks can control..." Technically,
yes, the birds are a pesticide since they're killing pests. A small flock
of ducks can do a lot of damage to the number of pests very quickly. I
watched two ducklings learn about grasshoppers yesterday. It took a few
tries but it wasn't long before they learned how to catch them. They're
fawn and white runners, not yet a foot tall and still fluffy.
>>>Using those pesticides is best done in rotation, if possible.
I'm well aware of this.
>>>I am sorry to hear that have no extra space to grow any cover crops along
>>>with your edibles.
Covers are part of the crop rotation.
>>>I am concerned that if you don't take even a little bit of space for some
>>>beneficial insect attractor (just part of a row, preferably in the middle
>>>or along an edge(s) of your spud patch) that you will experience some
>>>level of resistance by the potato beetle to the pesticides you use. I
>>>understand that there is already some resistance to spinosad by the CPB.
I didn't say I don't use space for beneficial attractors. I said "There
isn't any extra place to plant buckwheat." Each section is divided by a
buffer of plants that attract beneficials. Some of those buffers are also
in place for erosion control because water drains through small section of
the field. I live in a water shed so I'm extremely careful of erosion,
pollution, etc. Before you assume I don't know how to manage this I'll add
that my husband is CoB of our county's Soil & Water Conservation and serves
as VP of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts. We're well versed
in this too.
>>>I am not familiar with Eliot's field layout plans, but will take look at
>>>some time. I believe that incorporating companion plants into a crop
>>>plan, such as buckwheat, nasturtium, marigold et al. is an essential part
>>>of a longterm sustainable garden or farm.
I didn't say I don't companion plant.
>>>Do as you please,
Gee thanks! <grin> I'm not new at this. I do know what I'm doing.
>>>but I truly believe that pesticides should be a last resort...only in
>>>case of emergency.
So do I. I gave a recommendation for an organic pesticide that works on
CPB, that's all. I don't know why we got into this conversation.
I've learned a lot in 20something years I've been producing food. The
20something years doesn't include the time I spent in the garden as a child.
Back then I had no appreciation for it and disappeared every chance I got.
Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine
"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances
Moore Lappe
Kurt Forman
Clearview Farm
Palmyra, NY 14522
--- list at seasonseatingsfarm.com wrote:
From: "Robin Follette" <list at seasonseatingsfarm.com>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming at lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:40:30 -0400
>>>Spraying is okay, but unless you rotate the agents you use, you will
>>>quickly see CO potato beetle resistance (so I am told). If you were to
>>>back up the calendar, you could plant hairy vetch early the fall before
>>>and plow down all of it, as a nitrogen providing cover crop, except for a
>>>border around your crop, that should deter the beetle from moving into
>>>the spuds.
If I were to be able to stop the snow a month earlier, thaw the ground and
control spring rain I could probably also back up the calendar.
>>>Unless you grow alot of taters, you can pick them off and pinch them dead
>>>or put them in a can of kerosene or Diesel fuel or maybe gasoline.
We grow more than can be managed by hand picking.
>>>Also, rotating your crop to a distant location the next year will help.
I always rotate. They're here this year, a half mile away next year.
>>> Lastly, work with my Cornell veg specialist has indicated that planting
>>> buckwheat next to the spuds attracts beneficial predators of the beetle.
>>> I much prefer mechanical and\or cultural controls to pesticides that
>>> result in resistance, which CO spud bug seems to have a knack for.
There isn't any extra place to plant buckwheat. Think Eliot Coleman's farm
and layout - that's what I do. To control CPB I have to either not grow
potatoes and eggplant or use pesticides responsibly. When there are more
larva than the chickens and ducks can control I lock the birds up and use an
organic pesticide.
Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine
"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances
Moore Lappe
Kurt Forman
Clearview Farm
Palmyra, NY 14522
--- list at seasonseatingsfarm.com wrote:
From: "Robin Follette" <list at seasonseatingsfarm.com>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming at lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:30:43 -0400
Spinosad. There's info here:
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/monterey-garden-insect.html
Robin, in rainy Maine where temps are below average this year.
Robin Follette
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine
"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances
Moore Lappe
----- Original Message -----
From: michelle rome
To: Market Farming
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 6:20 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
Still have potatoes growing in SC middle of June. The beetles have finally
made it to my potatoes. I am looking for organic remedies. I have gone more
to compost fertilizing my limited crops this year. (The corn I have put some
nitrogen to it). So I am organic like. I am looking for cheap & simple pest
remedies.
Michelle Hromyak
Romy Farms E&W SC
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Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine
"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances
Moore Lappe
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Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine
"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances
Moore Lappe
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