It's a Coup!

Sadly, when we walked through the winter squash field this morning, it was clear that the squash beetle army had invaded. It appears they have won.

Colchester is committed to pesticide-free farming practices. This means that aside from picking the bugs off by hand or covering the crops with row cover, there is not a lot that we can do about an infestation.

As I looked at our squash field, I thought about what it might have been like before the CSA model of agriculture. What if I was a farmer simply trying to provide for my family and I went out into the field only to discover that the bugs had taken another crop. Would that be enough incentive for me to begin to use pesticides. Is there a compromise?

According to http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/ipm.htm there is.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.

The IPM approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.

When I go to plant my own vegetable garden this fall, I will have to think strongly about my beliefs and whether or not I think that I can make responsible decisions about when and if I want to use pesticides.