Although this week was quite a short one, it was still a productive one. From hearing the presentations of year 2 students regarding companions to working on our new management jobs, we have continued to enhance our understanding of the big picture of what Sustainable Agriculture is truly about. For instance, by promoting companions on our farm we are helping to create a more balanced ecosystem and so by mimicking nature we are working towards sustainability.
One particular type of companion I have seen during our area searches and farm walks are indicator species, mainly birds. I have observed about 4-5 white birds, which might have been seagulls, lining up in a single file line around the marshes. On our most recent farm walk, a seagull briefly flew past our farm. But more fascinatingly, this Wednesday morning, one Great Egret was waiting for me as I opened the gate to our farm. It was strolling peacefully around the area near our A-beds, but more than likely doing so in search for prey. These observations have made me realize even more greatly the importance of these indicator species since they serve as evidence for the quality of our environment. Their abundant presence over these past few days indicate that our farm is clean and thriving. Because the voles have been scavenging around our crops shown by the holes in the spinach leaves, their population is being kept in check by species such as the Great Egret. On a more general level, seagulls and great egrets generally thrive in marsh habitats near our farm area and their appearance also indicates that we have been successfully mimicking nature.
- Andrea Silvera
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