Balance of Nature
Bats in the barn! Hundreds of swallows darting about catching flying insects. A bobcat stalking a gopher intent on devouring vegetables. Two hawks circling in the sky. All of these are part of the balance of nature that exists at Classic Organic.

While walking through the fields, I noticed the bright orange color of ladybugs contrasted against the rich green foliage of parsley leaves. I laid my head on the ground to see under the canopy of parsley leaves. Suddenly I was in a miniature forest. The parsley stems were mighty tree trunks. The parsley leaves the forest canopy. Ants were bustling about; ladybugs were eating aphids; a spider was spinning a web.

Nature has its own balance. If I disturb it as little as possible, it will stay in balance and prevent excessive insect and disease damage. Bats eat huge amounts of nocturnal flying insects such as moths. Moths lay eggs which hatch into loopers, caterpillars and worms which eat our vegetables. If I kill the bats and spray chemical insecticides, I upset the balance. Insecticides would also kill the ladybugs and other beneficial insects. Beneficial insects eat the bugs that eat our plants. With these beneficial insects gone, the aphids, mites and worms would devastate our vegetables. I would have to spray chemicals again and again. I would then become addicted to chemicals.

Instead of killing insects, I take the opposite approach. I encourage beneficial insects to permanently live in our fields. I grow flowering plants that provide food and shelter for the beneficials including assassin bugs, ladybugs, lacewings and minute pirate bugs. Now when I see a few aphids or a worm eating the vegetables, I recognize that as food for ladybugs and lacewings. It's the balance of nature for which I strive.

Most of the time it is best to let nature take its own course. Now and then you may find a hole in our lettuce leaves, but you won't find any chemical residues.
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