Organic Gardening: Getting Started, Doing the Right Thing
- celfydd
- StCatherine
- Ixia
- pschn
- Ixia
- Ixia
- Ixia
This archived discussion is "read only".
For the corresponding "live" discussions, post in the active topic forum here.
» StCatherine - Orange Peels
I'm looking forward to finding out what they are for.-- posted by StCatherine
» pschn - wasps and bees
I enjoyed this article and am looking forward to more. I am now caring for the organic garden my father created thirty years ago, and I appreciate any helpful info I can find, because I'm not nearly as good at this as he was.However, as a preventive medicine professional, I feel compelled to make a comment about bees and wasps. I wouldn't dream of trying to keep them out of my garden. They're just too useful. However, when I have visitors, especially small children or people who have allergies or chemical sensitivities, I try to be careful.
You see, bee and, especially, wasp venom can cause anaphylactic shock. This reaction can be fatal and occasionally happens so quickly that the victim is dead before emergency help can arrive. Unfortunately, it is possible for a person to react this way the first time he or she is stung. It is also possible to react this way after having been stung several times, without having had a problem before.
So, welcome the benefits bees and wasps bring and enjoy your organic gardening adventure, but please protect yourself and others.
-- posted by pschn
» Ixia - Re: wasps and bees
In response to message posted by pschn:I must agree with this advise.
I ran some courses in beekeeping a few years ago as part of my employment program, as well as organic gardening.
We were very careful who came in to do the course and were always careful of visitors.
For this reason, we put the hives a fair way out of easy public contact.
I must say I was very apprehensive when I had to video a course up close and the little devils were swarming around my camera. Be careful.
Fair to the bees too eh?
-- posted by Ixia
» Ixia - Wasps, bees and fire ants
In response to message posted by Ixia:You quote:
"Wasps and bees are superheroes. Fire ants and squash vine borers are a different story,"
These are certainly a different story here in Australia.
Wasps are not welcome in gardens here. European wasps, which are dangerous, are a big problem here.
The difference is that a bee only stings once. A wasp continuously. There have been deaths here in Australia because of wasps. Most councils here have programs to get rid of them from local gardens. I agree.
Fire ants have just been discovered in Australia in a few isolated areas and there is a million dollar program set up to eridicate them to stop them spreading and to keep them out of the country. If they become established here, they will be an enormous threat.
Thank God our Quarantine restrictions are so tight here.
-- posted by Ixia
» Ixia - More on Fire Ants
In response to message posted by Ixia:More on Fire Ants:
Fire ants were first detected in Australia in February 2001 and Global Garden reported on them in the March 2001 edition. This is a follow-up to that article. The more people are aware of this menace the faster it will be eradicated so we will leave this information on our site as a public service.
Please visit this website for more information:
-- posted by Ixia
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