Caring for the Land.
Caring for the Future.
Blenkinsop Creek Restoration
In 2001, Galey Farms partnered with the District of Saanich and the Swan Lake/Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary to restore a 600 metre section of the Upper Blenkinsop Creek, adjacent to Lochside Regional Trail. With the design services of Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting Ltd., the project won the 2002 FCM-CH2M Hill Environmental Award – the top ecological award in Canada!
Reinstating the natural habitat of the creek was a win-win situation. As the area transformed back to its natural state, native wildlife and insects returned in abundance to the west side of the farm.
This has in turn been a huge boon to Galey Farms Integrated Pest Management Program, resulting in greatly reduced pesticide use as bird and insect populations increase.
What is Integrated Pest Management?
According to the thebuglady.ca Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the combined approach of using physical, cultural, biological and chemical controls to combat pest problems. IPM focus is on the system as a whole, and works towards long term solutions instead of the quick fix. IPM is site specific; it varies by ecosystem, plant and planting system. An insect’s ability to adapt changes with each location it inhabits. This makes for a dynamic system.
The purpose of IPM is to minimize risk to human inhabitants and the environment in which we all live. If we can refrain from using pesticides the majority of the time, when we must employ chemical controls, the results will be more effective and with less non target species being impacted.