Published by City Farmer, Canada's Office of Urban Agriculture

City Farmer's Pesticide Reduction Resources

Photo Caption: Vancouver Coastal Health officer holding her badge and educational material promoting 'Reducing Pesticides' as part of the City's "Grow Natural" program.

"As of January 1, 2006, the use of outdoor pesticides on lawns and in gardens will be regulated by section 5.17 of the Health By-Law No. 6580. Application of pesticides, including insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, will be restricted. Certain conditions will need to be met before pesticides will be permitted provided they are listed in Schedule A to the by-law."

You can read about the new by-law on the Grow Natural web site:
Pesticide Use Restriction By-law for 2006

and read the by-law here:
PDF of HEALTH BY-LAW NO. 6580
This PDF is 39 pages long. See section 5.17 (pages 28, 29) and Schedule A (pages 37, 38)

The Good, the Bad and the Bugly

"Keating says many people are afraid of ground beetles because they're quite large, but she explains they serve a very important function in biological control by eating the eggs of snails, slugs, cutworms and grubs. She blames science fiction movies about giant bugs for promoting people's fear of them. 'You have to realize they're not 10 feet tall and they're not coming to get us.'" Posted April 27, 2006

Parks board says: bugs not drugs

"The ladybugs were at the City Farmer garden with other environmentally friendly methods to illustrate a new city bylaw banning the application of pesticides. Dessureault said pests and weeds can be prevented without using harmful chemicals. She said the parks board, city and Vancouver Coastal Health are encouraging residents to 'get their yards off drugs.'" April 9, 2006

City Farmer's Bugshops - The "5Ps" : Slideshow

"Pollinators, Predators, Processors, Pests, Parasitoids. Photos © by Maria Keating" Posted October 4, 2005

Insect Life at 2150 Maple Street

"At City Farmer, we show visitors both beneficial and pest bugs as part of our "natural yard care" tour of the garden. By introducing people to the fascinating life of a wide variety of insects, we believe people will come to appreciate rather than fear them. Less than 1 percent of garden insects actually damage plants." Posted May 15, 2005

A Bug Lady's Observations at Vancouver's Compost Demonstration Garden

"Today I saw mothflies in the composter. They are neither moths nor flies, but are members of the the same order as aphids. In the compost they are not considered pests, but their numbers can skyrocket. When that happens the best thing to do when opening the lid is to keep your mouth closed. To reduce the numbers, cover the top layer of the compost with baking soda and a newspaper." Updated September 28, 2005

City Farmer's Step-By-Step Photo Guide to Natural Lawn Care

"No pesticides. No wasted water. No air pollution. No trucking grass clippings to the landfill." " Posted April 20, 2005

Organic Landscapers/Gardeners in Greater Vancouver

These landscapers use natural gardening techniques and will abide by the pesticide reduction bylaw. Posted April 20, 2005

Important Books

Pollinator Conservation Handbook
"The Pollinator Conservation Handbook is a publication by the Xerces Society and the Bee Works. It is the first comprehensive book on the conservation of native bees, butterflies, and other native pollinator insects and is an indispensable resource for gardeners, farmers, and managers of parks, recreational areas, and wild lands. The Handbook guides the reader through the steps needed to create and enhance habitat for insect pollinators and contains information on selecting and planting forage flowers, providing nesting and egg-laying sites for bees, butterflies, and other insects, and caring for your pollinator habitat over time."

Butterfly Gardening: Creating Summer Magic in Your Garden
"Butterfly Gardening includes close-up color photographs of butterflies and the plants that attract them, and writing by eminent authors on the subjects of butterflies, gardening, and conservation. Sample garden designs; a master plant list; and chapters on moths in the garden at night, butterfly watching, butterfly photography, and native plant conservation make this a unique and informative reference."

BC Biological Suppliers

Ladybugs, nematodes, mites and other biologicals can be purchased at many retails stores. If you can't find what you are looking for, contact these wholesalers and they will help you.

The Bug Lady
www.thebuglady.ca
PO Box 731
Errington, BC V0R 1V0
Email: info@thebuglady.ca
Phone: 250-951-1973

Applied Bio-Nomics Ltd.
www.appliedbionomics.com
Local distributor
Westgro Sales Inc.
Delta, B.C.
(604) 940-0290
Attn Biological Dept

Bug Factory
www.thebugfactory.ca
Angela Hale
1636 East Island Highway
Nanoose Bay BC V9P 9A5
Canada
PH 250 468 7912
Email ahale@thebugfactory.ca

Terralink Horticulture Inc.
www.terralink-horticulture.com
Contact Sherri or Michelle
464 Riverside Road South
Abbotsford BC V2S 7M1
Canada
PH 604 864 9044

Organic Fertilizers for your Lawn and Garden

Once again, your local retailer should have natural fertilizers to help you feed your plants. If they don't, these suppliers will direct you to appropriate products.

Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia has an excellent list of approved products and manufacturers.
Brand Name Product List for Crop Production
Certified Organic Associations of British Columbia

Quality Wholesale Limited
Quality Wholesale Limited
8417 Main Street
Vancouver BC
Phone: 604.321.5858

Gaia Green Products Ltd.
Gaia Green Products Ltd.
9130 Granby Road
Grand Forks, British Columbia
Canada V0H 1H1
Phone:
250-442-3745
Toll-Free: 1-800-545-3745 (Canada Only)
Email: info@gaiagreen.ca

Greenstar Plant Products
Greenstar Plant Products
9850 - 201st Street
Langley, B.C. V1M 4M3 Canada
E-Mail: info@getgreenstar.com
Phone: 604.882.7699
Toll Free: 888.747.4769

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