Tuesday 24th June
As we reach the Summer Solstice, we may begin to notice pests emerging on our vegetables—requiring careful and considered management. The female aphid overwinters on nearby host plants before flying to the fresh, tender leaves of the broad bean, where she lays her eggs. These develop into colonies that produce honeydew, which quickly attracts ants. The ants seek out this sugary substance and in turn guard the aphids from predators, until the ladybirds arrive and begin to thrive on the aphids themselves. From this small interaction, we begin to see how deeply interconnected the garden organism is. We are also reminded of the value in sometimes losing a few crops—providing habitat and food so that natural cycles can unfold. A balanced garden organism can keep itself in equilibrium while giving generously to nature. This is what a biodynamic garden ultimately strives toward.
