In all this talk about the vineyards, I keep forgetting to feature our “Insectarium”. These are plantings of bee and bird friendly native plants designed to draw natural pest eradicators according to Biodynamic principles. Here is a bank of Yarrow, with some Hummingbird Sage off in the distance, on the lower slope of the upper vineyard. So far, these guys seem to be doing their job. Ain’t no bad bugs on our vines.
I recently visited a farm in the Midlands of South Africa where everything is organic and natural. Yarrow was used extensivelt as well as nasturtiums and comfrey. It was wonderful to see a large area like that being farmed organically. He also had “pig tractors” which was fascinating to see the results therof. And of course the pigs were wonderful and happy !
Bravo to those good bugs. We have only bad bugs in these parts. Are some of your blogs from the Eastern Bloc?
What insects bother grapes? I only know of the skeletonizer. I would like to know what to look for.
I was at a dinner party last night and the discussion was about eating home grown honey and the importance of Bees for the environment. The hostess then went on to explain that there is now a shortage of bees and they were actually recruitting bee keepers in Ohio. I had no idea we had a shortage of bees and felt kind of guilty that my gut instinct is to swat the little guys and if they die so BEE it. Sorry for the pun. But, really, who would think there would be a Bee shortage.
Actually, we’re in the midst of an epic bee die-off from “colony collapse disorder” which still hasn’t been figured out. This is putting crops like Almonds — which are 100% bee pollinated — in jeopardy.
Everyone should cut back or eliminate pesticides and plant bee friendly plants to help them recover.