Nature's Green Remedy

As we slide along getting ready to make the transition from Spring to Summer, another warmer weather issue soon re-appears and springs to life trying to steal some of the fun from the season …. Pesky Insects!

Most of us will experience many encounters with those little pesky insects popping out of borrows in the yard or the dark and protected cracks and crevices around our homes.

Everything from ants parading across the counters or picnic tables to different types of beetles invading our gardens, flying insects (flies, stinging varieties, moths, mosquitoes) buzzing about and roaches just being completely gross!  They are definitely more than a little irritating …

They’ll soon be attempting to join in and ruin many a summer party or picnic unless you bring out the heavy artillery ….

So rather than reaching for the Raid or other popular, chemically-laden, off-the-shelf variety pesticide, here are a few home-brewed natural remedies that are definitely more in tune as you are living your green lifestyle …

General Purpose Insect Spray Mixture:

Here is a great all purpose spice natural remedy mixture that is a very effective insect spray you can by combining and mixing:

• 1 to 2 Tablespoons Plant-based soap;
• 1 Tablespoon (or a clove or two) Garlic;
• 1 small onion
• 1 Tablespoon of cayenne or hot chili pepper (chopped or powder); &
• 1 quart very warm water.

Mix ingredients together and allow brew for several days.

Filter fluid through cloth or coffee filter into spray bottle and you are ready to go (or should I say the pests will be ready to go!).  And don’t just throw the spice mash away; mix it into the topsoil around some of your various planting!

Here is a video from “The Produce Garden” You Tube video site (full of helpful tips for anyone trying to live a simpler life close to nature) with a slight variation of the above natural remedy receipt:

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A couple of suggestions for those pesky little, hard exoskeleton black or red ants:

Natural Remedy Ant Repellant – place a line of dried peppermint leaves (or dilute peppermint spirits*), 50/50 mix of vinegar/water; chili powder, black pepper or cream of tartar in front of their entry point(s) to keep ants from re-entering area.

*Note – peppermint spirits (an essential oil) can be harmful to cats!

Natural Remedy Ant Exterminator – Mix equal parts of fine-grained sugar (or sometimes grease) with Borax** then place in area when ants enter or congregate.  The ants are attracted by the sugar and carry the mix back to the next where the poisonous Borax** does its deadly deed.

**Note – Borax is poisonous and potentially lethal to people and pets (as little as a few tablespoons can be very dangerous to deadly) so only use in isolated areas where people (especially children) and pets can not access!

I have also tried pouring a pot of boiling water down the opening to ant hills with some success (mixing it with a plant-based cleaning product like Shaklee H2 helps!)

Using Cedar as a Natural Remedy for Moth Control

Moths are another pest that are both irritating when  buzzing around lights in the evening but are more of an issue when they get into closets and make their homes in various articles of clothing.  The simplest way address moths in the clothes are to add cedar blocks or chips (in cloth bags) in amongst the various garments as a natural remedy.

Rhubarb Leaves and Beetles

Another useful tip when dealing with beetles is to make a pesticide brew by steeping several chopped rhubarb leaves in a few quarts of boiling water followed by straining into spray bottle.  Another note of caution is warranted here since rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid which is poisonous to humans and animals.

Diatomaceous Earth and Hard Exoskeleton Critters

One last tip to consider when dealing with hard-bodied pests (ants, roaches, beetles), get some food-grade diatomaceous earth (a soft, chalk-like) sedimentary rock material) and sprinkle the powder around the pest’s pathways. The silica in the powder abrades through the hard exoskeleton penetrating the body cavity and desiccating (drying-out) the pest!

I admit, not the some of these prettiest of natural remedies but often effective ones …