Alternative to Pesticide - Article 1

Outside Insect Killer
2 or 3 chili peppers (hotter the better), ½ onion, 1 clove garlic and ½ mild green pepper. Blend ingredients in 2 cups water. Steep this mix for 1 or 2 days. Strain the mix through a cheesecloth and spray on your unwanted insects.

General Bug Killer ("bug juice")
Collect ½ cup of problem insect. Place in blender with 2 cups of lukewarm water; liquefy; strain and dilute ¼ cup of the solution with 2 cups water. Pour into a spray bottle and head for the garden.

Diamataceous Earth
Product sold at informed garden centres or mail order.

Gardening Tips
You can plant garlic, radishes or onions around your crops. (Used as a bug repellent)

Insect Repellent for Indoor/Outdoor Plants & Trees
Use any non-detergent soap (biodegradable-most dish soaps and "pure" soaps that are available at health food stores). Soap dissolves better with 1 tsp. alcohol to each litre of water. Spray liberally on underside of leaves, as well.

Killing the SLUGS
There is a special device that will trap slugs or simply put out a saucer of beer, which has been embedded to the soil level in your garden, keep it overnight, and collect the guys who are enticed into this trap. They might have drowned or simply eliminate any survivors when you check the trap the next morning.

Weed Killer
Nothing beats hand-pulling weeds. However, a mixture of vinegar and apple cider can be sprayed on the weeds to kill them. If this mixture is boiling hot it will be more effective.

Fungi Killer, "GARLIC SPRAY"
3 cloves of garlic, 1 medium onion, 1 tsp. very hot pepper sauce, combined with 1 litre of water in blender. Steep for 10 minutes; strain through cheesecloth or stocking. This may be further diluted with water – 1 part to 4 parts water.

Repellent for RABBITS
Spread a band of scented talcum powder around the garden's border to keep them out. Put more down after it rains.

Flea collars and sprays
Use herbal collars or ointment with citronella. Put brewer's yeast in pet's food. Ask your veterinarian about tablets for flea control.

GRUB Killer
There are destructive nematodes and there are beneficial nematodes. The "good" guys are available by mail order or check out your local, well-stocked, garden centre. They are selective and eliminate many of the insects that are damaging – not just the grubs. They also do not destroy the beneficial micro- organisms, bacteria and fungi that are arbitrarily eliminated by any chemical compound found in most pesticide products, such as, MERIT.

General Lawn Care Tips
1) Mow lawn tall (2 ½ " to 3") regularly, with a lawn mower that has sharp blades. Finely mulched lawn clippings left on top of the lawn make great, nutritious mulch that keeps in moisture, reducing the amount of water you pour into your lawn. There is a special mulching blade that can be retrofitted too most existing lawnmowers. You can save money. You will not need as much commercial fertilizer that commonly has strong chemicals and artificial ingredients.
2) Identify the specific pest or source of the problem. You will find there are more natural, home remedies that are specific to the garden problems than many of the commercial pesticide products that kill a broad spectrum of BOTH the "Good" and "Bad" types. They tend to kill indiscriminately and over time produce a sterile, non-productive soil in which none of your plants will survive.
3) Like any product, commercial pesticide or natural, home remedy – the liquid or granular products must be reapplied after watering by you or a rainfall.

PROTECT YOURSELF
Buy local; buy in season. Local food is fresher and food in season is less likely to be preserved with irradiation or chemicals. Check out local sources of organic produce and food products. For further information on organic food suppliers contact the Gentle Rain 519-271-0388, or other, local suppliers of organic food products.