Our research involves examining the effects of alley cropping on insect biodiversity, crop yields, and small farm economic. We have investigated arthropod dynamics in a black walnut-alfalfa practice and a heartnut-canola-wheat practice compared to conventionally grown crops. We gathered data on the influence of trees on natural enemy effectiveness against alfalfa weevil in alley cropped alfalfa, the influence of tree-row spacing on arthropod populations, the influence of alley cropping on crop yield, and the overall economics of the system. We found that alfalfa weevil mortality was significantly higher in alley cropped alfalfa compared to monocropped alfalfa, and that arthropod diversity was greater in alley cropped crops compared to conventionally grown crops. Alfalfa yield from wider alleyways was not significantly different from monocropped alfalfa. Alley cropping winter crops such as canola and wheat provide less competition with trees for water, nutrients and light while providing many of the same benefits found in the alfalfa-walnut system.