Sustainable farming

Students learning about organic farming will develop an improved understanding of sustainability through being able to observe, at first hand, several examples of sustainable practice.

One activity for students is the use of sweep nets to collect and identify invertebrates from both field edges and the crop itself. This is a fun, active and experiential way to learn how organic farmers control pests and diseases in a natural and sustainable way.

Instead of using pesticides that may involve high levels of energy in their manufacture and be environmentally damaging, organic farmers plant grass margins and 'beetle banks' to provide a good habitat for predatory insects. These insects then travel into the field to feed on aphids and other crop pests that damage the crop.

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