For the past three weeks we have talked about pesticides, climate change, and farming. I recently read an article about robots weeding acres of land in Kansas. So, anything is possible. Now we are moving onto our own gardens. The charity Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN) work on the principle of prevention, rather than cure. Here are some of their suggestions for gardening without pesticides:
Always maintain a healthy, active soil with plenty of nutrients, using compost and manures.
Crop rotation helps to prevent diseases from building up in the soil so vary where you plant your vegetables year after year.
Growing flowers with vegetables attracts beneficial wildlife, such as caterpillar-eating birds and aphid-eating insects, such as lacewings.
More in a fortnight’s time.
Our actions make a difference
Jackie Orbell
Barrow Benefice ECO Church
RISBY ECO CHURCH ENVIRONMENT OFFICER
