Many farmers worldwide rely on using pesticides and fungicides to protect their crops, which can be harmful and unsustainable. Professor Peter G Kevan, Dr Les Shipp and Professor Vernon G Thomas are exploring the potential of using pollinators as biovectors as a viable alternative.

Key words:  bee vectoring; pollination; grey mould; blight on strawberries and raspberries; fungus that causes mummy berry can obliterate blueberry crops; and greenhouse tomatoes and sweet peppers can be affected by tarnished plant bug (TPB), western flower thrips, whiteflies and green peach aphids.

Robyn McCallum presents at the 2015 Acorn Conference. 

View the accompanying slideshow presentation here:  http://fr.slideshare.net/acornorganic/habitat-mangement-for-native-pollinators

Presented by Will Bonsall at the 2015 ACORN Conference PEI

Notes from consulations with organic greenhouse vegetable producers (Rainbow Harvest Acres, Walker Produce Farm, Ferme Pouce Vert, Jemseg River Farm, Codiac Organic Ltd., Strawberry Hill Farm, Nature’s Route, and Diddley Squash Farm) throughout New Brunswick in 2016, with detailed information on best practices for producing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in greenhouses. Special focus on heating, pollination, pruning. varietial choices and disease issues.

At the 2017 ACORN Conference, Jerry Draheim covered beekeeping basics including bee life-cycle, equipment, and common pests and diseases. 

How to cultivate and process sunflowers and other oilseeds

2015 ACORN Conference & Trade Show, PEI - Speaker Will Bonsall discusses the distances that plants require to decrease cross pollination, and gives tips on how these vegetables can be grown successfully for seed saving. Harvesting the best and most desirable seed and the subsequent storage.