© 1997, 1998 Streamline Publications

The Old Ways Ancient wisdom is at times proven to be superior to the teachings of modern science. This is especially important at a time when more people are thinking green and artificial growing methods are being questioned.

I'm as green as the next guy, but I'm begining to think selling the tractor was a mistake.

Often the result of research leads to an affirmation of the effectiveness of the old ways. Warm milk really does help you sleep better. A glass of red wine, long held to be beneficial, is gaining scientific evidence that it is the key to the French Paradox—a high-fat diet and generally low cholesterol levels in the population. Red wine apparently helps reduce dental cavities as well.
The ancient Greeks and Romans were no strangers to the benefits of wine. And now there is a strong and growing use of their technology in modern viticulture and fruit production. Cover crops.

Current Problems Rooted in Past
Orchards and vineyards are under attack. Crop damage from insects has long been a problem for agriculture. Until recent years the insect invaders were typically battled using pesticides, but increasing pressure to eliminate toxics from the environment caused growers to seek other pest control methods.
The chemical approach to crop protection became an expensive proposition. Not only were there significant equipment, material and labor costs, the farmer's liability was increased. The use of chemical pesticides, many which are now entirely banned, put workers at risk and added to the growers' liability. So too did increased government oversight of pesticide use.
The answer to the crop protection dilemma is, paradoxically, much less expensive, bordering on what may be termed benign neglect. Biological pest control reestablishes the orchard and vineyard ecosystem. When pesticides were used, they not only wiped out the crop-destroying insects, but also the bugs that were the farmer's allies.
The view that is gaining increased support is that the right predatory insects, given the opportunity, will control the bad bugs and protect the crops. This is not a new concept, there is simply increased pressure to implement it.

Nonchemical insect eradication methods are not new.

Continued on next page.

Seed Mixes: Wildflowers | Turfgrasses | Reclamation / Erosion

Other Products | New! Erosion Control Blankets

Plant Database | BMPs - Cost vs. Benefit | Inventory | Request Information
About S&S Seeds, Inc. | S&S Services | Newsletter | Contact Us | Home

Retail Sales/Small Orders

S&S Seeds, Inc. P.O. Box 1275 Carpinteria, CA 93014-1275 (805) 684-0436 (805) 684-2798 fax

© 1998-2004 by S&S Seeds. All Rights Reserved. Text, graphics, and HTML code are protected by US and International Copyright Laws, and may not be copied, reprinted, published, translated, hosted, or otherwise distributed by any means without explicit permission. Web Development: CogniText.