Dietetic Internship
Summer 2015
Week 3 - Culinary Camp
Integrative Pest Management: Orchard Design
June 19, 2015
Erin Lindhorst, Abigail Lowe, Dustin Solomon, Verona Somarriba
The SLU garden orchard was designated as a stone fruit orchard in which Cherry,
Apple, Plum, Peaches, Apricots, and tree nuts including hazel nut trees were planted.
The garden program has focused on establishing an organic and sustainable approach to
gardening. Natural and chemical-free solutions are always being explored in order to
minimize chemical exposure to produce, and to attract pollinating insects, which benefit
the garden.
Two aspects of organic gardening are promoting Integrated Pest Management
and permaculture. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and
environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of
common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the
life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in
combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the
most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the
environment. The IPM approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural
settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. IPM takes advantage of all
appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of
pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as
IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as
opposed to synthetic chemicals.1
IPM Plan:
Our plan is to attract birds to eat the cucumber beetle and the Japanese beetle. For that
we are planning to plant perennials which feed the birds, and creating bird feeders, and
adding birdbaths.
Birds that eat beetles:
Sparrows
Robins
Mocking birds
Blue Jays
Cardinals
Woodpeckers
Swallows
Dietetic Internship
Summer 2015
Recommended Plants to Attract Desired Birds (Audubon Article)
Within rows: Flowering perennials, Marigolds, Lavender,
Border Garden: honeysuckle, birdbaths
Other methods to attract birds:
1. Have the kids make their bird feeders (see rainy day activities)
2. Suggestions:
 putting additional bird baths in the orchard
 bird baths on pedestals
 determine the placement of baths
 use sprinkling systems so that it automatically fills bath
 implement barley balls/barley pallets to discourage mosquito
reproduction
 goldfish
3. Feed that attracts these birds
4. Audubon: swallow houses (suggestion) for the Jeanes Idlers (autistic kids)
References:
1. EPA. http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/factsheets/ipm.htm
2. St. Louis Audobon Society. Bring Conservative Home, Site Visit Report. NonNative Invasive Plants, Naturescaping. August 2, 2013.