There is a lot of talk about sustainability these days.
So what does it mean, practically, for a small farm?

By definition, to be sustainable is to be able to last, to keep farming.
In order to do so, an awareness of the environmental, social, and economic consequences of our actions is required.

Honeybees are crucial to the pollination of most food crops. Without bees, flowers do not turn into fruits. Bees are severely threatened by environmental pollutants, diseases, and pests, so Jeff planted a wildflower patch and seeded the orchard floor in clover to give them something to eat year round. The orchard proudly hosts its own hive of wild honeybees, that find shelter in the decayed trunk of an old oak tree. We would love to taste the honey, but we don't want to bother the bees.

Since taking charge of the orchard in 2002, Jeff has worked hard to increase its population of beneficial insects: - Ladybugs and their larvae keep aphids in check. Soldier beetles eat a varied diet of many harmful bugs. Sightings of praying mantises, lacewings, beneficial wasps, and other good guys are now so common that we have observed another good sign of a healthy ecosystem: increased population of frogs, lizards, and birds. No sprays that harm beneficial insects are used, even if they are organically approved.

Environmental sustainability

• Nourish the soil so it can feed the trees and plants.
• Don't contaminate the aquifers.
• Use water wisely and sparingly.
• Work with nature rather than against it, by enlisting the help of beneficial insects and animals, and companion plants whenever possible.
• Learn everything you can about what you grow and how to care for it.
• Use sprays only when absolutely needed to protect the crop, even when they are organic.
• Take only what you need, and use all you take.

Social sustainability

• Nurture relationships with neighbors, community, suppliers, and customers.
• Don't treat people like tissues. Support locally owned businesses, share your knowledge, be an educator.
• Reliably and consistently deliver the best product and service possible, and stand by it.

Economic sustainability

• Develop a diversity of markets and products.
• Always give the customers value for their purchase, while earning enough to keep the farm financially viable.

I manage the orchard using Integrated Pest Management techniques (IPM)
for more information on IPM methods, please visit
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/crops-agriculture.htm