When you visit Ron in Schalkwijk, you will see a lot of cows and horses in the neighbouring farm but not on Ron’s property.  However, when you enter the greenhouse and take a little time to study the plants and flowers you will notice a wide variety of fascinating insects. The reason for this is that since organic agriculture prohibits the use of agro chemicals, growers like Ron have to rely on nature to combat harmful insects and fight diseases.  This is necessary is because today’s consumer rightly expects a high quality product without insects or fungi. “Natural crop protection” is a fancy name for letting nature take care of itself.  Basically what happens is that natural predators are introduced into the greenhouse to feed on the harmful insects that can negatively affect the plant and the fruit.  Ladybirds, parasitic wasps and “fast action” mite predators cannot go long without food and therefore they actively hunt other “harmful” insects. 

Another insect that is also often found in Ron’s greenhouse but has a completely different job is the bumble bee. These hard workers pollinate the flowers of the tomato plants in an extremely effective manner.  Just as their cousins, the honeybees (who are used for the aubergine plants), bumblebees, are able to pollinate the flower at exactly the right time. Compared to their “cousins” bumblebees cope much better with low temperatures and lower light levels and generally work more quickly.