Integrated Pest Management: Agroecological Market Garden

Encouraging helpful predatory insects, planting sacrificial plants, optimising soil health all help strive towards a balanced system Barry Ferguson runs Ben Vista CSA (communnity supported agriculture) supplying veg boxes to families in the local area for the majority of the year. Currently under organic conversion, Barry farms to agroecological principles aiming to help bring resilience and sovereignty to our local supply chain. In this organic system it is paramount to manage pests in a way that works alongside nature, and at Ben Vista they have planted buffer strips, sacrificial plants, and food plants for beneficial predators at different stages of their life cycle. This farm walk is for farmers and growers working in horticultural production or aiming to find ways to protect their crops without needing artificial chemicals, save money, improve food quality and protect biodiversity. This farm walk will be a chance to see this work in action, as well as how Barry works to build fertility on his land. Lunch will be provided. We kindly thank Neal’s Yard Remedies for sponsoring this event.