Permaculture IPM: Intensive Gardens & Pest Prevention

This article explains how permaculture principles integrate with IPM to create balanced, pesticide-free intensive gardens. It defines IPM as an ecosystem-based strategy focused on long-term pest prevention by restoring environmental balance. The guide encourages regular garden observation and journaling to detect pest issues early and track control measures. It details physical control methods such as traps, baits, and barriers, including examples like slug beer traps and sticky boards for thrips. Companion planting, providing water sources, and creating habitats for natural predators like lizards and birds are recommended to enhance biological control. The article stresses that multiple control tactics may be necessary to reduce pest populations effectively, emphasizing ecosystem stewardship and biodiversity to maintain garden health.