Orchard Overview

While for most people, the terms "ecological agriculture" and "organic agriculture" are nearly synonymous, in fact organic is not the only, nor always even the best, approach to growing healthy food while protecting the environment. Alyson's uses Integrated Crop Management ("ICM") -- an approach which has been used by progressive growers and researchers for over 25 years. ICM is a "best practices" approach that primarily relies on cultural practices and the action of beneficial organisms to manage pests, using the lowest possible dosage of the least disruptive pesticide when other methods don't work. As with organic approaches, ICM emphasizes plant health and cultural practices as the first line of defense against pests. Unlike organic however, ICM does allow the use of synthetic pesticides when they have been shown to be both safe and effective. Organic growers are limited to using pesticides that derive from natural sources - mostly plants or "elementals" - which may or may not be safe, and which are often less effective. For instance, an ICM grower May use 5 or 6 sprays to control apple scab in the Northeast, whereas an organic grower will likely use 20 to 30 sprays to control the same pest! And the most commonly used organic fungicide in apples is sulfur, which builds up in the soil, harming earthworms and other soil-dwelling organisms and causing soil acidification. Synthetic materials are specifically manufactured so that they will break down into harmless components in about 2 weeks.

Most ICM orchardists in the Northeast are good environmental stewards, and the vibrancy of the orchard ecosystem reflects that stewardship - bluebirds, kestrels, orioles, and many other species of birds abound - often nesting in the apple trees; choruses of frogs May be heard from farm ponds, and even sensitive species like trout flourish in those ponds. (In Sarma's Pond at Alyson's Orchard, there is a large, healthy population of rainbow trout; while in Lily's Pond, black bass and brown trout thrive.) Because ICM relies very much on the presence of beneficial insects to control pests, diversity of insects and other invertebrates is also very strong.

Consumers and neighbors who are concerned about human health and the environment should be aware that orchards like Alyson's are leading the way to a safe and vibrant agro-ecosystem!