Gardening Methods:

Integrated Pest Management

Nature helping nature     

We at Shepherds' Meadow Farm rely on the tireless symbiotic work of many insects, microbes and natural symbiotic relationships in a process known as Integrated Pest Management. Integrated Pest Management or "IPM" is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests and their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are only used after thorough monitoring indicates they are needed and treatments are then made with the goal of removing only the target organism. We use zero chemical pesticides, rather we apply enzymatic or biological methods such as essential oils, predator mites, ladybugs and nematodes. All of our pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to beneficial and nontarget organisms, and most importantly the environment.