I started by myself and as we got bigger we hired on extra help. We always hire a friend or family member to oversee and watch things when we go on holiday :)
Detection? We are legal farmers- which the permits are a tad pricey. We do not use any chemicals. All organic soils as well! Pest control we use plants planted near by to deter as well as nematodes in the soil (for nats and such) and one grasshopper per plant. The grasshopper eats all pests and protects the plant.