OHU researcher studies effects of urban gardens

13 years ago

I didn't see any reference to organic/chemical practices in community gardens as a factor in variety/number of predatory insects. Interesting study .. provided they are studying the right things to come to a sustainable/sensible conclusion.

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...snip....Should these lots covered with chicory weed and clover become community gardens? Would they be better used for stormwater runoff? Or would they better serve residents if they were natural habitats or parks within the decaying city?

....snip....She's looking for the hunters and the hunted, pollinators and pests

....snip....But she's trying to determine whether the conversion from lots to gardens reduces the number of beneficial insects.

....snip....Last year in Akron, they found fewer predators in lots that had been converted into gardens. That's unfortunate, because predator bugs eat the pests that damage gardens.

Here is a link that might be useful: People out Insects in

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Comments (6)

john_in_sc
13 years ago
True -- all true...

Think... Most people who have infestations of bugs that eat their crops think of it as a nuisance....

The same people view any sign of Predatory insects as a DANGER to their LIFE....

People seek out and KILL ants and spiders and wasps and bees and yellow jackets and scorpions.... All they gotta do is find 1 and they go on the warpath... These same people think of cockroaches as Icky and caterpillars as friendly and japanese beetles as a bit of a curiosity.. but certainly not life threatening...

So.. When City land is just fallow -- people tend to stay out and ignore it.... Predatory insects and infesting/eating insects stay in some semblance of balance.... When people garden it -- they see one Wasp.. They go on the WAR PATH trying to kill them all.... and CAUSE a giant infestation of chewing/sucking insects....

Thanks

John
hoodat
13 years ago
Sad but true. I've seen people go ballistic over carpenter bees, mason bees and digger wasps, none of which will sting except under very dire circumstances. I look on all of them as friends, although I tread softly around yellow jackets. It sometimes amazes me how little people really know about what is going on in their own garden. All you have to do is see a yellow jacket chomping down on a bean beetle or a digger wasp dragging a catterpillar into it's burrow as lunch for the kiddies to realize how much good they are doing you.
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Dear Gwenne, Here are 2 sources that might give you some leads... 1)Growing Gardens--"Creating gardens with volunteers for fresh food, learning, exercise & friendship where the need is greatest", a community partnership that starts lots of private community gardens,especially among low-income & organized groups(schools,nursing homes,apartment complexes,neighborhoods,etc.). Program coordinator---Hannah Burton(phgp@teleport.com),mail-2003 NE 42nd Ave#3, Portland,Or 97213,503-284-8420-phone,503-284-5355-fax. They have recently gone into winter "hibernation", so keep trying... 2)The Portland, Oregon School District has had a specialized high school curriculum program for ~25 yrs that combined vocational & academic horticultural tracks into 4 yr actual experience. They also had jr high level intro courses that funneled interested students into the high school. I think the current name of this program is "Green Thumb". They have been subject to lots of research studies & might be able to help you with your questions... Best wishes & good luck!!
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borderbarb
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey, wouldn't this make a perfect subject for a youngster's picture book? My kids were crazy for bugs of any kind ... not just to catch, but to learn about. We had a book with pictures of all kinds of insects and my boys were jazzed when they could identify a bug from the pictures and then learn if it was 'good' or 'bad'. Any of you 'lurkers' out there who are good artists? When you make a $gazillion dollars from the book, remember me. LOL
alabamanicole
13 years ago
Community gardens will never be good for insect populations as long as the general attitude is "just put Sevin on it."
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
13 years ago
Our large Denver Urban Gardens organization just completed a multi-year study on the human psychosocial and health effects of our urban gardens.

Dan
hoodat
13 years ago
Alabamanicloe that was my thought also. She's probably comparing to the average garden and as we all know the average gardener wants to let Monsanto solve all their problems. Only a few of us are organic, but we're gaining ground.

OHU researcher studies effects of urban gardens

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john_in_sc

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OHU researcher studies effects of urban gardens

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