Rabbits and deer and moles! Oh, my!

Managing pests in the garden is nothing new.  As long as humans have been growing their own food they've been battling the critters who take delight in the fruits of their labors.  Always working one step ahead is the mantra, especially for those choosing to grow food the chemical-free way.

When GEFA grower Jim Stanley was just a young boy, he learned how to deal with pests in the garden.  Although baby rabbits may not appear to deserve placement under the “pests” category, the truth is that they can wipe out an entire crop overnight.  When Jim caught these in his parents’ garden back in the 1950’s, he chose to deal with the rabbits humanely by relocating them to a treeless field nearby.  Today, that treeless field is the site of Woodfield Mall in Chicago. 

Changing times require changing ideas about managing pests.  Abundant pesticide use 50 years ago led to populations of insects that were resistant to insecticides and, in addition, led to the proliferation of secondary pests.  Studies and books released in the 1950’s and 60’s showed that a holistic approach to pest management needed to become the new standard and Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, was introduced.  IPM is an approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical means in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.

Some examples of IPM might be

• introducing beneficial bugs to the garden (i.e. good bugs eating bad bugs)
• growing varieties that are best suited for local conditions with proven resistance to pests and disease
• removing infected plants from the garden
• hand weeding
• using netting or light fabric covers to repel pests

The work of bringing chemical-free produce to local consumers requires creativity and employs the collective knowledge gained from years of experience in growing foods the sustainable way.  It’s a passion for good, healthful food that empowers growers to always be one step ahead.

Check out these new additions to the Good Earth Food Alliance website:

• A map showing where the GEFA growers and producers live
• An article about a college in Iowa that is moving towards more sustainable eating
• Drop site choices integrated into CSA share choices