Alternative Pesticides

Given the scope and complexity of human interactions with the rest of the world around us, “pest” control can sometimes be a problem. Many creatures become pests when they enter our homes, though outside our homes they are vital parts of the environment. No one likes ants in the kitchen, but a world without ants is a world without productive soil. The same can be said for weeds. A weed is simply a plant that is unwanted where it is. While we may want a lush lawn, we usually don’t want grass in our flowerbeds. In one case a plant is a weed, but in another it is not.

Regardless of the complexity of our situation, we do pursue ways to manipulate our immediate surroundings, and, within certain parameters, there is nothing wrong with this. However, we need to be aware of the impact our actions can have on ourselves, our neighbors, wild life, plant life, and water systems. The following “recipes” provide a safer alternative to using more toxic synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. This allows us to achieve our goal of creating an enjoyable environment where we live without the drawbacks of the toxic effects of more conventional products.

Herbicide

1.      Boiling water will kill most unwanted plants. Pour it over the plant you want to kill, but be careful not to splash desirable plants because they will die too.

2.      As a multi-purpose fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide, use 1 oz 3% hydrogen peroxide in 1 quart of water. It can also be safely applied to trees.

3.      Vinegar. Some people say that they are able to kill off weeds with only household vinegar spray. Others say that you need to buy a higher concentration of vinegar in order for it to be effective. Check with your local garden center to see what concentration of vinegar they use. Adding lemon juice to vinegar increases the weed-killing effectiveness.

4.      Goats also act as weed control since grass is their least desirable food choice.

Insecticide

1. A great choice is Diatomaceous Earth. You can get it at many home and garden centers. It is an abrasive powder made from mineral remains of single cell aquatic plants. It kills by abrading and dehydrating crawling insects, like slugs, ants, cockroaches, earwigs, grasshoppers and fleas.
2. Mix bran (60% to 65%), molasses (15%), Epsom salt (20% to 25%), and enough water to moisten. This formula is said to be as effective as 5% arsenic bait, but is absolutely harmless to humans, cattle, swine and birds. The poison is scattered among vegetation.
3. Mix 8 ounces black strap molasses or white sugar, and 8 ounces 3% hydrogen peroxide in 1 gallon of water. Place in a spray bottle and apply where needed.
4. Many zoos keep chickens to control the insect population.
5. Mix 2 cups of water with 4 drops each of the essential oils lavender, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary and sage. Combine ingredients in spray bottle and shake well before use.
6. Basil is a natural insect repellent. Keep a pot in your kitchen. Take a few leaves along with you on a picnic and put them out on the table to keep the flies away.
7. Putting a bay leaf in a container of flour, cornmeal, or cereal will keep weevils out.
8. Sprinkle black pepper on home surfaces to prevent pest access by ants, beetles, silverfish, roaches, and moths.
9. Powdered red chili pepper, peppermint, bay leaves, cloves, citrus oil, lavender, rosemary, tobacco, peppercorns, eucalyptus, wormwood, and cedar oil can repel various types of insects. (Do not use Essential Oils around birds. It may be toxic to them.)
10. Planting, spearmint / pepper mint repels both ants and mice. Garlic repels Japanese Beetles.
11. Spiders eat fruit flies and houseflies, so it may be worth leaving some of those webs around.
12. For household ant infestations, try using baby powder with talc in it. Line your entryway, or wherever the ants are entering, and they won’t cross the line.
13. There are also many spray products that utilize orange extract as both an insect killer and repellant
14. Prevention is first for fruit flies. Don’t let fruit sit out for long periods of time. If you have space, keep what you can in the refrigerator. Eat the ripest fruit first so that it doesn’t rot and attract fruit flies.
15. For flea problems with your pet, try mixing nutritional yeast into your pet’s food. This will repel the fleas.

Fungicide

1. Mix 3 tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegar in one gallon of water. Spray during the cool part of the day. Adding 1 tablespoon of molasses per gallon will increase effectiveness.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of horticultural oil into one gallon of water (Citrus Oil and Molasses can be substituted instead of the horticultural oil). Spray lightly on infected foliage.

Mice and Rats

1.   Holes in exterior or interior walls should be repaired and storage spaces kept orderly. Garbage should be kept covered. Poisons are not recommended because children or animals may eat it by mistake. Cats are the most efficient way of catching rodents.

 

2.   Mix dry oatmeal with plaster; put it in coffee can, and cut a hole in the plastic lid large enough for a rodent to enter. After the mouse eats, and drinks some water, the plaster hardens and they die. The mouse is non-toxic to other animals if eaten— they just get a little extra calcium. Make sure that no pet can accidentally swallow the concoction.

 

3.   The simplest and most effective is the standard "snap trap." Peanut butter is recommended rather than cheese because they won’t be able to pick it up and run off with it.

4.   Buy a cat. Cats are the mouse’s natural predator.