Spring is in the air-but has the mild weather created a pest paradise?

While lots of folks are celebrating the record mild winter and early arrival of Spring in NJ, many are speculating on the impact of the 4th warmest winter in recorded history. NJ Bee keepers are reporting losses in honey bee populations because of the mild winter. In normal winter weather, bees are dormant. This year however, hives remained active throughout the winter months and quickly devoured their food stores. Many hives were lost to starvation. Will new colonies be established in time to pollinate the early blooms? That remains to be seen.

And it's true that the mild temps and lack of frost have many farmers and gardeners taking advantage of an early start to crop production, but farmers are also concerned that Springs early arrival could herald a new challenge to their crop production-pest control.  There's much speculation as to how Mother Nature will deal with the early arrival and anticipated overpopulation of insects.
In the Northeast, the cold weather months and ground frost generally act as a control to insect populations. The 2012 season brought little to none of both-great for folks struggling with rising fuel costs, but a concern as food producers take the plow to the fields and families take to the great outdoors.

 ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
Mosquito and stink bug infestations have already been reported to state officials. Good news for pest control operations, not such good news for the larger population.  Insect populations are usually kept in check because of their susceptibility to winter's cold. Mosquito populations are reported high than average across the country as well.

Tics on the other hand aren't impacted by winter weather and due to the mild temps, are active earlier than usual. Tics and mosquitoes carry disease. New Jersey's tic population present higher than average as agents for Lyme disease which, left untreated, can have crippling effects on humans, livestock and pets.

PEST POPULATION CONTROL and precautions:
Officials are encouraging residents to start their exterior Spring clean up now. By simply emptying standing water from containers, play sets, tire swings etc. and doing this regularly, mosquito breeding habitats around the home will be well... uninhabitable! This easy task can be turned into a fun summertime activity for kids by enlisting them in regular mosquito patrol. There are great educational resources that help kids learn about the life cycle of mosquitoes and creative resources that make "mosquito patrol" a fun lesson in record keeping.

Learning to identify tic species and which are most likely to carry Lyme's disease may not be on your bucket list of things to do-but knowledge is power-and a huge psychological relief to the natural panic most people feel when they find a tic on their body or their child. Let's be honest here, nobody appreciates a blood sucking parasite feasting on their flesh. The mere thought sends a shiver down the spines of even seasoned naturalists and folks who connect with the outdoors every day. But being able to identify the potential for transmission of a disease that lingers long after the chills are gone will take away undo anxiety. So do your homework and teach your kids to check themselves thoroughly when they come in from play. (BTW-the same careful inspection applies to pets who are also susceptible to Lyme's). Vaccines are available through your local vet. These can protect your pet from coming down with Lyme and other diseases BUT keep in mind that some vaccines require a course of treatment to become effective and at the least, most require a period of time for the body to build immunity. PLAN AHEAD to offer the best protection for your pets.

 There are a variety of topical flea and tic preventatives available for pets. Over the counter preventatives have very specific weight and dosing recommendations. Read them carefully before applying. (It's human nature to think if a little is good-a lot will be great- but remember that these over the counter treatments are MEDICATIONS and can have damaging effects to your pets health if not administered properly) the best course for planning prevention is to coordinate with your vet and practice good record keeping.

Alternative Gardening : Cultivating container harvest Update from Shepherd's Cove Farm Frankford, NJ

Container gardening is probably one of the easiest ways to grow flowers and veggies (after the threat of frost has passed that is). A few key factors will impact patio gardening success. The soil used in container gardens needs to be lighter than your garden soil. Pre mixed container soil is readily available at most nurseries or garden centers. You'll find everything from potting soil to pre fertilized/time released potting soils and organic potting soil. Ask a professional what's the best match for your garden vision.

Your container needs adequate drainage. Adding additional holes to the container is easy with a few simple tools. We're learning that lots of edibles do well in containers and that veggies can even be mixed in with flowering annuals to bring a touch of color to your container garden. Here are some of the container pots we have started at Shepherd's Cove. With plans to also add container herbs, garlic and other edibles, we'll be able to spice up our meals with fresh herbs-without the challenges of traditional gardening and in a fraction of the space!

Red Basil, traditional basil, peppers, lettuce, beans and cabbage- all in containers placed throughout the gardens and on the deck. Cucumbers, garlic and thyme will be added to the selection.

Alternative Gardening MULCH update from Shepherd's Cove Farm Frankford, NJ

What would a SHEPHERD'S COVE project be if we didn't find some way to incorporate a by-product of our main focus-sheep.
The most obvious garden benefit of our sheep production comes in the form of garden compost (but we'll spare you a photo).

Sheep manure is an excellent source of nitrogen, potash and phosphorus -three essentials to healthy plants.

*Potassium is an essential element for plant growth. Potash helps plants use water and resist drought. It promotes healthy green lawn grass and is important to food crops. Potash enhances the size of fruits and vegetables. Some think of Potassium as a plant strengthener.

*Phosphorus is vital to the growth and health of plants. It assists in converting the sun's energy and other chemicals, such as nitrogen, into usable food for plants. A phosphorus deficiency will lead to stunted, sickly looking plants that produce a lower quality fruit or flower. But phosphorus needs to be mixed with water for the plant to utilize and absorb it. Some think of Phosphorus as a plant strengthener.

*Nitrogen promotes good leaf growth-which in turn is essential for photosynthesis (how the plants make their food). Nitrogen is found in the air but must be absorbed by plants from the soil. Think of Nitrogen as your plant growth stimulator.

All three of these essential soil amendments important to garden success and are found in sheep manure-(plentiful on our farm). So adding them to the garden mix has been one way of improving our soil while utilizing one of many by-products of sheep production.

A second sheep by-product we've incorporated into this year's alternative gardening experiment is sheep wool mulch.

Sheep's wool absorbs approximately 30 % of it's weight in moisture and helps keep ground temperature consistent. We've examined studies which looked at sheep's wool as both a mulch and for it's potential benefits as a weed barrier. We found the results to date could help meet our objectives so we're giving it a try.

In this totally unscientific study, we've planted one row of green beans and one row of beets-sown directly in compost treated soil.

Thick wool roving (wool that has been washed and combed into a smooth long strand) has been placed around the outer edges of the garden rows.

Wool roving has also been spread around the seed holes. Oat Straw covers the wool roving to keep it in place and discourage garden visitors from stealing it away as nesting material.

We hope to see a reduction in the need to water as frequently, faster germination time, lower weed rates and maybe even an impact on the garden slug population.

We'll keep you posted on the process and project as things develop.