herbs in your bed for insect control. The age and number
of plants used per 100 square feet determine the herb’s
e.ectiveness. A young plant does not have an aroma or
root exudate strong enough to discourage harmful insects
or to attract bene)cial ones. Similarly, too few herbs will
not control a pest or attract a needed predator. But too
many herbs may retard vegetable growth and yield.
Composite (owers, such as pot marigolds (calendulas)
and sun(owers, are excellent attractants for predatory
insects because their large supplies of pollen serve as
predator food sources. A few (2 to 4) plants per 100-
square-foot bed will probably suMce. We have not done
many experiments with them yet, since accurate testing
can take 2 to 3 years for 1 herb grown with 1 food plant
to control 1 insect. You may wish to try some of these
biodynamic observations, though. It’s a lot of fun to try
to see for yourself!
Probably the most important form of insect control
with plants is just diverse cropping. The GROW
BIOINTENSIVE method we use utilizes diverse cropping,
and we have only experienced 5% to 10% crop loss due
to pests. Biodynamic gardeners and farmers also use
diverse cropping and have suggested planting 10% more
area to make up for crop losses. In contrast, the
monocropped acreage of today’s commercial agriculture
provides an ideal uniform habitat for widespread attack
by pests that favor a single crop. Pesticides have been
used to counteract the problem inherent in
monocropping. Yet the Environmental Protection Agency
brent
(Brent)
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