The Grounded Orchardist

Another big difference between the two orchards I have tended is that we sprayed commercial synthetic chemicals on the farm. In this formal organic orchard we have not sprayed any. In fact, I wanted to see if it is possible while I’m on a much smaller orchard to not even spray organic sprays.

Organic sprays still kill indiscriminately. They don’t see a ladybird larvae or Earwig and repell backwards so as to not kill them. They don’t see a Ermine moth caterpillar or Woolly aphid and think I’ll only go for those species.

I’m a big nature fan and always have been. My books of choice were often encyclopedias and animal fact books. I have really enjoyed working this orchard and seeing what lives within it. I’ve learnt so much in this last year. It’s not that my other orchard wouldn’t have had these things (it was a very well established orchard with different habitats all around it) but we killed or repelled them before they could take hold. I never saw a webbed caterpillar nest until this orchard and yes, that’s a good thing but I also never saw some of the spiders I’ve seen and other beneficial insects.

Now I get both sides of the chemical argument. It helps to have tended both ways to have a full picture. I’m not into having an argument about either way but, if possible it’s definitely better not to spray or use anything. On the flipside we would not have made money if we were organic on the farm. The labour costs would have been sky high for starters and the organic chemicals were even more expensive and needed more sweeps than the synthetic chemicals. (the ones we trialled anyway!)

This is the second year the orchard I’m currently managing has had nothing sprayed in it. I have a plan….which will change according to variables such as weather, season, labour etc. I’m using an Integrated pest management (IPM) approach which will be a tweaked and helped along a bit by me and my colleagues. We scattered chicken manure pellets in spring for our feed. Last year this was enough for the whole year. I will keep an eye on the leaves, they will tell me when they need more and unless there’s a blanket need to, I will spot treat accordingly.

So, should you spray or stop spraying your trees?…bottom line is its up to you and all the variables such as money, labour, time, orchard size, weather. In an ideal world we wouldn’t be spraying anything but on a large scale, it’s an massive task.

I’ve just come back from a trip to Cornwall to visit family. You should see the front of my car which indiscriminately ploughed through lots of bugs. Now, aside from the fact it was a family visit, I didn’t have to go to Cornwall for a break. I also have to travel to work each day on the M40. Again, my car is covered in bugs. So whilst I’m looking after the wildlife at home and work, I’m not doing such a good job on the journeys to get there. I can’t live at work…or Cornwall. Ironically when I lived on the farm and didn’t travel to get there I could have done a better job if we were organic. So this all needs weighing up.

I’m happy that I’m doing my bit for biodiversity in the orchard. I’m learning alot and yes sometimes I think about how easy it was when I sprayed Glyphosate and in a couple of hours, nettle heads would be nodding down. However, I didn’t like applying chemicals and I hope I do not have to use these chemicals again, organic or otherwise!