Welcome to the Ecological Pest Management Course! In this module we’ll get to know our instructors, John and Nancy Hayden, hear about some of their experiences in the field of ecological pest management, learn a little about what we mean by “pests" as well as our goals for the course. You’ll also find some useful tips for navigating the course in NEO.

Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, their environment, and each other - including humans and our activities. In this module, we will define important ecological concepts as they relate to agriculture, and we will lay the foundation for ecological thinking around pest management. We’ll start to observe local ecosystems to gain a greater appreciation of ecological thinking, and investigate the current ecosystems of local farms and gardens.

Our focus in this module is to examine the current mindset regarding pest management in agricultural systems. Our “pest” focus will be primarily on insects, pathogens (including nematodes), and weeds. We’ll reevaluate the idea of "pest" using an ecosystems framework; apply ecological thinking to local agricultural systems identifying food webs, biodiversity, and pest population dynamic issues; and investigate the over-reliance on pesticides in farms and gardens in your communities.

Conventional farming relies heavily on chemicals to provide plant nutrition and to deal with weeds and pests. Yet, conventional farming does not deal with the external costs to the environment, other creatures, and human health. In this module, we’ll assess various approaches like IPM and biological control, and determine if they are a tweak of the conventional agricultural mindset or actually invoke ecological thinking. We’ll also gauge public awareness in your areas, regarding agricultural and homeowner pesticide use, and apply this knowledge to large and small systems.

If we want to increase the natural predators and parasites in our farm and garden ecosystems to keep pests in check, we need to enhance biodiversity. Putting away the pesticides will help achieve this goal. In this module, we’ll list the main reasons for the current insect apocalypse; identify several reasons for the importance of biodiversity; iInvestigate food webs in monoculture and polyculture communities in your area; survey the major invasive species and their ecosystem effects in your community; and recognize the benefits of shrinking lawns and planting biodiverse native gardens.

Ecosystems are complex dynamic systems and it can feel a bit overwhelming when trying to sort out the many different environmental and management factors that influence pest population dynamics. In this module, we’ll recognize the complexity of pest life cycles, apply ecological pest management strategies to several pest examples, and research life cycles and attributes of several common pests native to your area.

The study of insects, called entomology, contains a vast amount of information and research. Yet for all that, our current knowledge is only a small fraction of what could be known about insects. In this module, we’ll recognize the basics of entomology; identify various common insects, their life stages, and their role in the ecosystem in their areas including predators, parasitoids, and pollinators; and research several important insects from their areas in terms of ecological management strategies.

The study of plant pathogens in agriculture is another huge topic of which the known information is only a fraction of the unknown. In this module, we’ll recognize the basics of plant pathology including major pathogen groups, some identifying characteristics, and overall life cycles in each group; identify various common plant pathogens in your areas; and research one or more of these pathogens as well as ecological management strategies.

The plants we typically call weeds have been around much longer than the history of agriculture. Before agriculture, they were just wild plants. Many weeds are edible. Some have medicinal properties. Many establish themselves easily in disturbed areas. In this module, we’ll identify the basics of weed biology and vocabulary; recognize the ecology of weeds; and identify various weeds in your area and learn about their roles in the ecosystem.

So far, we’ve covered basic ecosystem concepts that are important for managing pests using ecological strategies, as well as the different types of organisms that can become pests in farms and gardens. In this module, we’ll apply ecological thinking to agriculture and garden design; identify and survey several predominant native, ornamental, and invasive plants in your community; and recognize the influence of site specific factors for determining appropriate crops and plants.

Healthy living soil with an abundance and diversity of organisms is the basis for ecological farming and ecological pest management. In this module, we’ll identify soil factors that influence natural pest resistance in crops; explain how biodiversity in soils affects plant health; interact with soils and personally observe soil organisms; and provide examples of soil organisms and their role in the soil food web.

This module will focus on a variety of proactive approaches that can be used for ecological pest management. We’ll assess examples of various preventative pest management approaches; identify the ecological benefits and possible limitations of various proactive pest management strategies; and recognize when these approaches are applicable.

Noticing what is going on in the garden or on the farm is a critical step for pest management and can help prevent bigger pest problems as the season progresses. Scouting is the term used for actively looking for pests and pest damage in your crops. In this module, we’ll identify pests and damage on different crops; develop plans for monitoring different pests; develop ideas for non-chemical interventions, the timing of these, and follow-up monitoring.

Insectary plants are grown to promote insect parasites, predators and other beneficial insects like pollinators by providing them food and shelter. There are ample opportunities on farms and in backyards to increase biodiversity by creating insectaries. In this module, we’ll recognize the importance of establishing insect biodiversity in the farm and garden; and identify key features of insectaries and habitat for beneficials, as well as how to establish and maintain them.

Consumers and their increasing desire for unblemished produce are a huge driver of waste as well as the increasing use of pesticides to ensure perfect-looking produce (not necessarily better tasting). In this module, we’ll identify the need for creating diversified markets for pest damaged products; recognize consumer barriers and positive marketing effects of incorporating ecological pest management; and identify ways to educate the public and customers related to crops in your area.

This case study of growing vegetables at Riverberry Farm in Vermont showcases many of the pest management strategies mentioned throughout this course. In addition to applying what we’ve learned to an actual farm, we’ll synthesize management practices from this case study and other information in the course, then apply it as appropriate to vegetable production in your area.

Finca Alta Gracia is an agroecological coffee farm located in the mountains of the Dominican Republic established in 1996 by Julia Alvarez and Bill Eichner. In addition to an agroecological farm, Finca Alta Gracia provides ecological and agricultural educational opportunities for the girls. In this module, we’ll apply what we’ve learned so far to the coffee farm. We’ll synthesize management practices from this case study as well as other information from the source, then apply it to a perennial farm in your area.

Honey bees are the most important pollinator for commercial and industrial agriculture, because they are easily managed and can be transported to different crops and bloom events around the world. In this module, we’ll become familiar with honey bee castes; list the 4 Ps of honey bee health; recognize the connection between their health and systemic issues in the food system; identify the 3 major honey bee pests, their lifestyles, treatment methods for treating each pest, and the mechanisms for each treatment type.

In this module, we are going to focus on perennial fruit growing at The Farm Between in northern Vermont, where grew a wide variety of fruits including black currants, honeyberries, aronia, fall raspberries, elderberries and more. We’ll apply what we’ve learned so far to the farm, then synthesize management practices from the course and apply them to fruit production in your area.