PEST MANAGEMENT, HELPFUL RESOURCES

PEST MANAGEMENT, HELPFUL RESOURCES

WEBSITE: DIY ORGANIC GARDEN

Here are some resources you might find helpful:

Gaining Ground: Making a Successful Transition to Organic Farming

(Canadian Organic Growers, 2005)

Covers the essential topics of organic farming, from soil building and planting to weed and pest management, certification, and marketing strategies.   Also includes a one-year membership with the Canadian Organic Growers network.

The New Organic Grower

By Eliot Coleman

(Chelsea Green Publishing, 1989)

The new generation market gardener's bible.   Although some details have been improved upon by others, this sets the standard for meticulous, well-planned small-scale organic vegetable production

Successful Small-Scale Farming: An Organic Approach

By Karl Schwenke

(Storey Publishing, 1991)

A good introduction to the pitfalls and potential of making a living from the land. 

Cover crops and crop rotations

Guide to the Expert Farmers' DACUM Chart for ManagingCrop Rotation Systems

(Northeast Organic Network, 2002)

The NEON project gathered 12 experienced organic vegetable farmers, put them in a room and produced this stunning chart outlining real-life, practical 4- and 5-year crop rotation sequences with multiple variations. A real head-scratcher, in the best possible way.   (free download, . PDF format)This is a good one to look at.

Organic Weed Management
By Steve Gilman

(NOFA Organic Principles and Practices Series, 2000)

Short and sweet. A useful summary targeted at diversified vegetable growers in the Northeast. 

"Principles of Sustainable Weed Management for Croplands"

By PrestonSullivan

(NCAT/ATTRA, 2003)

A bulletin discussing the basics of weed ecology, cropping system design to minimize weed pressure and alternative weed management methods such as flameweeding and weeder geese.

Insect, Disease & Weed I.D. Guide

Edited by Jill Jesiolowski Cebenko and Deborah Martin

(Rodale Press, 2001)

A handy all-in-one pest and beneficial species identification book, with excellent full-color drawings, life-cycle notes and prevention and control recommendations.

ATTRA's Pest Management Resources Page

Includes many valuable short publications on specific disease management issues, including "Organic Control of White Mold on Soybeans," "Notes on Compost Teas," "Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide," "Downy Mildew Control in Cucurbits," and "Organic Alternatives for Late Blight Control on Potatoes." A longer, more general ATTRA publication is their resource on Biointensive Integrated Pest Management. 

 

Biological Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in NorthAmerica
(Cornell University, 2007)

A comprehensive guide to biocontrol and IPM, offering individual pages on over 100 natural enemies of insect, disease and weed pests. (free online resource)

Manage Insects on Your Farm: A Guide to EcologicalStrategies

By Miguel A. Altieri and Clara I. Nicholls with Marlene A. Fritz

(Sustainable Agriculture Network, 2005)

Contains a number of strategies for controlling pest insect populations through the management of beneficial predator populations, and stresses increasing above- and below-ground diversity, enhancing plants' natural defenses, and managing soil as means to this end