As a teacher, I enjoy taking advantage of learning opportunities, even if I am reviewing a subject. (I taught my fourth Oregon Food Bank Seed to Supper class this spring.) It helps me to cement the information better. I consider myself a life-long learner. This year is a good example.
On Thursday, July 13 and Friday, July 14, 2017, I participated in a Farming with Beneficial Insects for Pest Control course facilitated by the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District, which was taught by staff from The Xerces Society. (Earlier this year, I attended two similar classes.) The first day was held at the Clean Water Services facility in Hillsboro, and divided into five modules, each focusing on different aspects: conservation biological control, designing and restoring habitat for beneficial insects, common beneficial insect groups, farm practices for beneficial insects and assessing baseline farm conditions for beneficial insects. The PowerPoint lectures were informative. Nick Andrews presented a brief overview of the new Oregon State University Organic Extension program. Participants received:
- A packet with detailed information about farmscaping, hedgerows, insectary and pollinator plants from the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District
- A Pocket Guide of Common Natural Enemies of Crop and Garden Pests in the Pacific Northwest M. Ambrosino (2007) Oregon State University Extension Service
- Farming with Native Beneficial Insect: Ecological Pest Control Solutions D. Burns, Ed. (2014). Storey Publishing, North Adams
- Habitat Planning for Beneficial Insects: Guidelines for Conservation Biological Control M. Shepherd Ed. (2016) The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland
- Thumb drive from Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District with documents from presentations
- Bug collection kit, including a lighted microscope and net
The USDA Risk Management Education Partnership Program funded the class, so the items were provided to participants free of charge. We spent the final day in the field at Tualatin River Farm, viewing habitat establishment, specifically insectary and perennial plantings, and identifying insects.
Late this winter, I had attended Agricultural Biodiversity on Western Farms: Conservation Practices Working for Farmers and Integrating Beneficial Habitat on the Farm. All classes have presented a broad overview of farmscaping, a whole-farm, ecological approach to increase and manage biodiversity with the goal of increasing the presence of beneficial organisms. Many pest populations can be managed by enhancing the efficacy and local abundance of the existing community of natural enemies through modification of the environment, a concept that has been termed “conservation biological control.” The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education website has resources which you can download or order.
The Xerces Society also has useful downloadable brochures on its website.
Often Soil and Water Conservation Districts will offer classes. Check your local district for a list. To find your district, check the Oregon Department of Agriculture website.
From my experience, it is important to face a new learning opportunity in the form you are accustomed to: visual, auditory, reading/writing, or kinesthetic. This will best help you to cement the information. For me, occasionally it has been to repeat classes.