Honig Vineyard & Winery – Natural Pest Management System

COMPANY SUMMARY:

Honig Vineyard & Winery consistently creates high quality wines that offer unparalleled value. We accomplish this through constant innovation using a creative and fun approach to business. We are committed to our winery family and our community by operating in a socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable manner.

STARTING DATE: JUN 2000   | ENDING DATE: ongoing

SUSTAINABLE TARGET

To reduce pests, rodents and unwanted insects naturally using no pesticides.

REASON WHY/ MOTIVATION

In a world of diminishing resources, Honig makes it standard practice to give back more than we take. We pride ourselves on using sustainable viticulture practices, minimizing farming’s effect on the environment and maximizing the earth’s ability to renew itself.

Bluebirds and bats help to reduce the mosquito population while the owls control the rodent population. the disadvantages to widespread pesticide use are significant. They include domestic animal contaminations and deaths, pesticide resistance, Honeybee and pollination decline, losses to adjacent crops, fishery and bird losses, and contamination of groundwater. Here at Honig we want to do things is a natural and sustainable way that protects the environment, not destroy it.

DESCRIPTION and STRATEGIES

To attract owls, birds, bats and hawks, we provide 150 nesting boxes for local birds as well as 12 owl boxes. The hawks and owls feed on rodents like rabbits and gophers, which can be detrimental to the vineyards. Being voracious insect consumers, the bluebirds and bats help to reduce the mosquito population naturally.

ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR

By using these techniques, there is no need for us to use pesticides to control the insect and rodent population

LESSONS LEARNED

Bird and owl boxes need to be serviced and maintained regularly for them to be a viable place for the birds to live

NEXT STEPS

Continue to provide a safe place for the birds and owls to nest.

POTENTIAL FOR REPLICATION

We encourage all other businesses that have not thought of the potential benefits to providing bird and owl boxes, instead of using harmful pesticides, to seriously consider the benefits and the detrimental side effects that pesticides have on the ecosystem and environment.