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The movement toward sustainable agriculture is gaining momentum. Traditional and organic farmers are carving out a middle ground that is appealing in many ways to both. Let nature do her thing; move away from chemicals; use beneficial organisms whenever possible. Farmers and others are not waiting for pronouncements from university extension services, but are conducting their own experiments to see what will work for them.

I understand that we are supposed to get them before they get us, but have you ever tasted a grub?

Bill Bartels, a Ventura County farmer, not only uses cover crops to control erosion and provide habitat for beneficial insects in his orange orchards, but amends his soil using tons of city-collected green waste. Not far away, a Chinese hardwood tree—the Paulownia—with its 3-foot wide leaves shades and cools row crops growing beneath the trees. The nitrogen-rich leaves, when dead, are used as mulch to enrich the soil for the crops.

Appreciating Nature's Way
While there has always been at least some interest in complementary crop farming through seasonal crop rotation to prevent soil depletion and natural methods for controlling damaging diseases and insects, only recently has interest boomed. Part of the enthusiasm comes from a renewed appreciation of nature's magic. Further impetus is government inspired as citizen pressure over the use of chemical fumigants, pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers has mounted. The good news is that in farming, a bottom-line conscious industry, sustainable agriculture could actually save on expenses. Reduced reliance on chemicals and adoption of methods that are much less labor and equipment intensive makes this movement much more attractive.
Prior to the 1950's, when the chemical revolution in farming began, agriculture relied on nonchemical methods because there was no choice. This chemical culture was resisted by some "reactionaries" whose ideas are embraced as visionary by today's sustainable farming advocates.

Self Defense for Turf
The benefits of natural controls extend beyond agriculture to commercial and residential applications. An example is grass that bites back. In mid summer lawn moths lay eggs in turf. When the eggs hatch, the grubs that emerge are surrounded by a ready source of nutrition, an endless salad bar. How to control these and other pests is then the issue. Short or long term chemical treatments are an option, but there is a better way—plant the right grass. Albright's Fast Track Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Blend and VISTA DWARF BRAND Turf-Type Tall Fescue Blend are high endophyte grasses that resist a wide variety of diseases and pests. A naturally occurring endophyte residing in the grass is a strong, nonchemical, natural defense against lawn moth grubs and similar pests. One more chemical treatment no longer needed—great news in this era of increased liability and stiff pest control chemical application licensing requirements.
Sustainable agriculture and natural methods for pest and disease control are catching on, and we couldn't be happier.

What we give away is worth more than what we sell. At S&S Seeds all our products come with an extra ingredient at no extra cost— 30 years experience. TURFGRASS • WILDFLOWERS EROSION CONTROL SEEDS & MATERIALS CLOVERS AND LEGUMES PASTURE BLENDS NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS 1-(805) 684-0436 S&S Seeds

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