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Gypsy Moth Spraying Resource Page

THANKS FOR THE UPDATE - Steve Sprinkel - April 9, 2009 - BUT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT LATELY? Because of the current GYPSY MOTH situation in Meiners Oaks, I was recently asked to help educate the public about the benefits of using a naturally occurring bacillus called BT, a relatively harmless-to-humans agricultural pesticide, which is also used by organic farmers like me in order to control worms related to the gypsy moth like cabbage loopers and beet army worms. A group of us, including Jim Churchill, Roger Essick and BD Dautch publicly announced our support. BD put it best when he said that we should be glad that the authorities have adopted a least-toxic-first method to control the pest. We hope it works.

Gypsy Moths: Facts and Fictions - Leigh Melander - April 8, 2009 - This is a 2007 picture of near where I grew up, from this Wikipedia article. (It’s a good article, pretty complete, and please take a look at it if you don’t know a lot about these moths.) To California eyes, the brown ridges in this picture may not seem like a big deal, but they should all be as green and lush as the valleys. This is major defoliation, and many of these trees are dead or dying.

The war on Gypsy Moths #2 - Mike Didj - March 27, 2009 - Videographer Chris Jones serves up another gypsy moth spray video: Residents in Meiners Oaks Ca are concerned about the health effects of Dipel, a formulation of Btk to control the Gypsy Moth. Part of the Ojai Valley has been quarantined by the California Department of Agriculture due to moth infestation. The California Department of Agriculture has contracted a pesticide company to spray some neighborhhods in Meiners Oaks for the next couple of weeks.

Do we really need more pesticide spraying in the Ojai Valley? - Mike Didj - March 19, 2009 - Videographer Chris Jones reveals some of the inconsistencies surrounding the controversial use of pesticides in the war against the gypsy moth. This vid is just a taste, more to come...

Nonviolent Training & Organic Potluck - evan austin - March 6, 2009 - The California Department of Food and Agriculture will begin the spraying of Dipel, a Btk formulation, March 9 in Meiners Oaks, in an attempt to eradicate the gypsy moths in the area. Many residents are very concerned about the possible negative environmental and health impacts. Pesticide Free Ojai Valley is planning a peaceful protest against the spraying on Monday March 9th.

Gypsy Moth Quarantine Alert - Tyler Suchman - November 2, 2008 - from Dulanie Ellis, Chairperson of the OVGC Food & Agriculture Committee, via Suza: Meiners Oaks is quarantined because of findings of Gypsy Moths. The findings are on Rice Road, the quarantine area extends as far east as Rancho Matilija and west to the Ojai Valley Country Club. THIS IS A SERIOUS THREAT. There are no natural predators for the Gypsy Moth and they can potentially destroy our oak forests. They have absolutely devastated the forests of Pennsylvania and other Eastern States.

F o r a g e r 27FEB2008 - Steve Sprinkel - March 1, 2008 - IF you happen to drive by one of our farms and you observe someone spraying crops at the end of the day be not overly concerned. Its only kelp. Maybe a little Neem. A dose of bacillus Thuringiensis, perhaps, or some sort of approved soap. We even make our own potions when the moon is just so, out of weeds and flax and molasses. Even organic farmers are allowed to spray , but its what’s in the tank that matters.

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