Many farmers and orchardists are finding that chemical sprays are generally not a sustainable solution. They may work for a while, but then target species may develop some resistance and there may be undesirable side effects such as animal and human health problems. Poisons are seldom species specific so have an adverse effect on the environment. The sustainable approach involves observational skills, longer term planning and lateral thinking. Generally the pest or weed is there because conditions favour it – for example still, warm humid conditions for a fungus, or damp, anaerobic soil conditions for weeds such as buttercups and docks. You may not remove every weed or disease organism but you can bring them back to manageable numbers by, for example, aerating the soil, correcting a mineral deficiency or changing stock grazing management.

Peter has helped many farmers with common challenges such as thistles, gorse and ragort.  He also assists with possum, rabbit, bird and insect control. He can discuss these issues with you and recommend strategies. He can also advise on using the biodynamic preparations to help make conditions less favourable for the weed or pest.

There are workable alternatives to chemical sprays.  Contact us to discuss your needs.

Peppering is a term used to describe a pest control method that inhibits or disturbs breeding capacity. It is usually achieved by burning the ripe seed of a plant, the fertile adult insect or the skin of a small animal. This is considered a method of last resort – only to be used when you have first tried to overcome the pest or weed problem by other organic methods such as by changing environmental conditions to make them less favourable to the pest and have not achieved the desired result

The method was first indicated by Dr. Rudolf Steiner when responding to a request for help from a group of European Farmers in 1924. Farmers were greatly troubled by field mice at that time. Further investigation was carried out by Lilly and Eugene Kolisko and published in their book 'Agriculture of Tomorrow' in 1938 ISBN 0 90642 00 9 page 241.