Pests of the West: Sustainable Solutions to Pests in Northern Colorado

Gaia Grows: Sustainable Living, Gardening and Farming

Kathleen Miller
Gaia’s Farm & Gardens

Gardens, farms and ranches in Northern Colorado are threatened by three enemies: disease, insects, and animals.  In the past the solutions have be very unsustainable and the go to defense against most of these pests has been massive doses of man-made poisons.  Now a days there are many sustainable solutions that can give you an many non-chemical and sustainable methods from which to choose.

Some sustainable pest control methods can be as simple as picking pest off plants by hand or creating preventive measures to keep pests from breeding.  The best solutions enlist the help of Gaia (Mother Nature) herself to fight pests by encouraging natural predators or growing pest repellent plants near you crops.  Fences prevent the larger animals such as deer, while traps and barriers defend against a variety of insects and small animals. As a last resort there are organic sprays and dusts that are naturally occurring insecticides derived from plants.

Sustainable pest control is the recognition that a farm, garden or ranch is part of an ecological whole and the entire system must be in balance in order for it to be healthy.  Sustainable pest control strives not to eliminate pests completely, since in doing so will eliminate the food supply of many beneficial organisms. With sustainable pest control the goal is to keep the number of pest low enough so that they do not do serious damage to your crops, while maintaining the predator population that feeds on the pests.  Sustainable pest control takes more time and labor than non-sustainable ways, and you must be prepared to lose some of your crops to pests. An increasing number of farmers, gardeners and ranchers are finding out it is a price worth paying for Gaia (Mother Earth).

One of the easiest ways to combat pests is to protect and encourage such natural allies as birds, toads, spiders, nonpoisonous snakes, and insects.  In many cases this simply involves no more than tolerating the predator such as a snake or spider instead of killing it or destroying its habitat. With a little more effort you can provide suitable habitats for insect destroyers; for example an inverted flower pot for toads or a special birdhouse for certain species of birds. Another sustainable solution is to fill your garden, farm or ranch with beneficial insects.  Ladybugs and praying mantis eggs are sold by many garden centers.

Companion planting takes advantage of the food preferences of various pests by luring them away from other crops and repelling them from crops.  Nasturtiums lure aphids away from nearby vegetables, while Japanese beetles are attracted to white geraniums, white or pastel zinnias, and marigolds.  Marigolds also deter rabbits from eating your crops. Radishes lure root maggots away from cabbage crops, eggplant draw flea beetles away from potato plantings, and dill attracts tomato hornworms.  Proper fencing and netting will protect crops from most of the larger animals, including deer, rabbits, raccoons, dogs and birds.

Raccoons can be a pain because of their ability to climb, but extra-high chicken wire or an electric fence line across the top will discourage them. Fencing, barriers, and traps prevent pests from reaching crops. Many traps can be made at home from scrap materials. Blood meal is also a great sustainable way to protect your crops from rabbits and deer.   Try and avoid the use of harmful chemicals and become more contentious and creative using sustainable solutions for your farms, gardens and ranches.