Kel's Garden Journal

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Bumbler fancy

on July 29, 2013

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My Path to Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

As with many things in our lives, our passions arise from experience. I pulled my kids out of school for a week over pesticide use on the school grounds once. My main arguments were: 1) improper application per manufacturer's instructions (federal law) 2) not meeting the state notification guidelines (state law) Every school district has a notification system, in accordance with state law, for notifying parents of pesticide application. This falls under both a right to know and health concern for those who react to ingredients in the pesticides, including the inert ingredients like silica. I was on the list. Not only was I not notified of the application, I saw the sign when I dropped my kids off at school, but the notification did not meet the state guidelines. The school property was to have signage at entry points listing the product to be used, date of application, and who to contact with questions or concerns. There was one sign by the main office. Most students were

Vermicomposting: Eisenia fetida

I have the standard issue double tote system - vents on top, drainage to bottom tote . . . only good for about a family of 2, and definitely not vegetarians. It works for me because I have 2 additional yard compost bins. And this is what $20 worth of worms looks like - about 500. Fresh from the manure pile. The only place to get the correct type of worms. And yes, you do need to use the Eisenia fetida. A worm bin is perfect for a small space, even indoors. It is small and odorless. These guys are snacking on a few coffee grounds, part of a tea bag and eggs shells. Worms will eat all vegetable and fruit scraps, although I do not include onions when I feed my worms.

Soil Building and Mulch: sheet mulching

Look who got a gingko bilboa 'autumn gold' !!! The first big step in converting the "dead strip" or parking strip into a planted area was to select a tree. We called urban forestry for the planting approval and the rest of the fall and winter will be spent amending the soil in the area. Everywhere you look - we are making more lasagna beds! Some people call this sheet composting.

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