Glossary

Beneficial insects - any number of insect species used in agriculture to control pests.  Can include ladybugs, parasitic wasps, lacewings, nematodes and predatory mites.  See the links to beneficial insect sites on the internet for more details.

Bio-rational pesticides - a new class of pesticide derived from naturally occurring organisms.  These pesticides are very specific in their mode of action (how they kill the pests) and are therefore harmless to many beneficial insects, the pesticide applicator, farm employees and customers.  They also pose little threat to the environment.  Much research is going on in this area of pesticides as older, broad-based pesticides are being phased out by the EPA.  Some bio-rational pesticides are derived from the excretions of fungi that have been found to inhibit insect growth.  See also Insect Growth Regulators

Bt - Bacillus thuringiensis - These are bacteria that produce crystals and spores that paralyze the digestive tract of certain insect larvae.  Several strains of Bt are used in agriculture.  Bt israliensis is used in the greenhouse for fungus gnat larvae control.  Bt kurstaki is used in the field on our cole crops for cabbage looper and cabbageworm and on the tomatoes for hornworm control.  Bt products are non-toxic to mammals and do not harm the beneficial insects.  For home gardeners, Bt can be found in most hardware stores.  Look for the brand name Dipel for the cabbage worm strain. 

Cold Frame - a structure used to extend the season in the spring and in the fall.  Protects against cold and frost.  Does not utilize electricity or furnaces or fans for temperature control.  At Spring Ledge Farm, we have two cold frames for ornamental plants in the spring and two cold frames for vegetable production in the summer.  See Greenhouse. 

Coir - A the ground up hulls of the coconut.  Used in soiless mixes in place of peat moss.  

Cover crops - crops planted for the purpose of building organic matter, decreasing erosion, adding nitrogen through nitrogen fixation, smothering weeds and a host of other reasons.  At Spring Ledge, we grow oats in the fall for erosion control and weed competition.  We grow hairy vetch to add nitrogen to the soil through nitrogen fixation.  We grow winter rye for an overwintering crop to provide masses of organic matter to the soil.  Home gardeners can utilize cover crops as well to help rotate the garden and keep organic matter high.  Here are links to a sites with more information and cover crop seeds.  (Johnny's) (Territorial) (North Country Organics).

Dead-heading - "Jerry...is that you?"  Refers to taking off the spent blossoms on a plant to encourage more flowering. 

Evapotranspiration - the combined loss of water from evaporation from the soil surface plus transpiration from the plant leaves. 

Food Quality Protection Act - This act by the federal government is overseen by the EPA.  It tightens the controls on pesticides for farms and homeowners.  in simple terms, it takes into account chronic pesticide exposure, not just acute exposure.  It also lumps pesticides according to their mode of action, not necessarily their chemical class.  For instance, using the old rules for pesticide regulation, a certain pesticide was allowed because the levels of residue found on foods and in the environment met the federal limits.  Now however, that same pesticide PLUS several others with the same mode of action must all fit under that level. This results in major overhauls of the pesticides available to the market.  This is also a reason why bio-rational pesticides are being researched.  Their mode of action is so particular to a certain pest or stage of the pest life cycle, that there is less risk of overstepping the limit on residues. 

Good Bugs - see beneficial insects. A general term used to describe beneficial insects as well as beneficial fungi, bacteria and viruses.  Used loosely. 

Greenhouse - a structure built to create favorable conditions for plant growth even though there is a blizzard raging outside.  At Spring Ledge, our greenhouses are used for ornamental plants in the spring through poinsettia season.  We also use three greenhouses to raise tomatoes for harvest.  The greenhouses here have two layers of 4 year plastic inflated by air for insulation.  They are equipped with furnaces and with electric fans and ventilation.  See cold frames.

Hybrid - 

Insect Growth Regulators (IGR's) - these are very specific pesticides that mimic insect hormones and disrupt certain stages of insect growth.  They present very little risk to non-target insects.  They are synthetic compounds and are available to control aphids, whiteflies and fungus gnats. 

IPM - Integrated Pest Management.  Click here for more than you ever wanted to know. 

Ivy Geraniums - (Pelargonium peltatum) These are the hanging basket types, or balcon types.  They are a different species of Pelargonium.  Most of the varieties Spring Ledge grows are propagated by cuttings.  All of the ivy geraniums we grow are patented varieties. 

Mode of Action - the way a pesticide kills its target pest.  Modus operandi. 

Mono-culture - the growing of all one type of plant in a given area.  For example, your lawn is pretty much a mono-culture, unless it has all sorts of weeds and clover intermixed.  Our geranium house at Spring Ledge is a mono-culture.  Many of your vegetable gardens are not mono-cultures. 

Mycostop - A biological fungicide.  It is called a ray fungus, but is actually some sort of bacteria.  Its a bit confusing at this point.  Regardless, we use this biological fungicide in the same way as Plantshield - as a preventive drench for root rots and as a preventive spray for foliar diseases.  It works by colonizing the plant surfaces, be they roots or leaves, before the pathogenic fungi can take hold.  It comes in a powder form, and smells like you just stepped into your grandmother's musty attic.  

Organic pesticide - not an oxymoron, because many organic farmers use pesticides.  A pesticide is any compound that kills pests.  So Rotenone is considered an organic pesticide even though it does a fantastic job of killing pests and has questionable safety.  Rotenone is derived from the roots of various South American legumes.  It is a nerve poison that paralyzes insects.  Other organic pesticides include copper compounds that can be tough on other organisms and the environment.  Pyrethrins are pesticides derived from the pyrethrum daisies.  They are a nerve poison that is effective on a wide range of insects.  Pyrethrins are moderately toxic to mammals and highly toxic to fish.  It is illegal to apply them around ponds or waterways.  So even though it says "organic", it can still pack a nasty punch.