Thoughts and opinions on the life and culture we have and need.
It’s mid-October and we are enjoying a long stretch of sun and daytime highs of near 20 celcius - a late “Indian Summer.” I spent part of last Saturday cleaning-out a couple garden beds to prepare for winter plantings. As the long-effort of my summer gardens came to a close I couldn’t help but reflect... Continue Reading →
I am happy that I still get regular “hits” on the vermiculture post I created earlier this year. I hope it means that people are searching for ways to help the environment. Because of this frequent attention, I thought it was prudent to provide an update, especially as things have changed! I re-read my vermiculture... Continue Reading →
All this wet weather we’ve had has provided an opportunity for aphids to get a foothold in many local gardens - mine included. I have found black aphids on a sunflower and cabbage aphids on - well - my cabbages. As there is often a mid-summer push of aphids, I thought it was time to... Continue Reading →
There is a revolution taking place in people’s gardens. The demand for Organic products; mistrust of chemical companies; the longing for a simpler time; near complete chemical resistance in some pests; and an adjusted sense of what constitutes garden productivity have all played a role in the major increase in demand for biological controls... Continue Reading →
How to use good bugs,
Stratiolaelaps scimitus (sometimes called Hypoaspis miles) is a commonly used predatory mite for biological pest control. It is a tiny clear to orange/pink mite that is very quick. Traditionally, stratiolaelaps are used to control fungus gnats in greenhouse applications, however, there are many, many more uses. Stratiolaelaps also: eats eggs of other soil borne insects... Continue Reading →
This is the easiest and surest way to start saving the world. I wouldn’t start here if I didn’t KNOW we all can do it and find immediate success. So, get ready to raise worms! What it is: Vermiculture is the use of worms to break-down organic waste into worm-castings, which is an extremely useful soil... Continue Reading →
