How to Make Organic Pesticides for Your Garden

Rebecca loves sharing what she knows about alternative medicine, health, frugal living, fun, animals, and how to live a better life!

Uh-Oh Slugs!

Pesticides

Today, pesticides allow farmers to grow HUGE quantities of produce for an ever-expanding population. But we keep finding out that all these chemicals have big repercussions on humans and the rest of the planet.

Research has shown that pesticides disrupt hormone function in people, fish, and insects. This can cause problems with reproduction and fertility. Pesticides also cause behavioral and cognitive issues, they can trigger certain cancers and they've shown up in the breast milk of lactating women. Are we really surprised about the rising cases of ADHD and Autism?

Its also been proven that pesticide use damages bees, which in turn causes fewer of them. Fewer bees=less pollination=less crops. Pesticide use also contaminates our water supply, and this is a worldwide problem!

You can't save the entire planet over night, but you can make changes in your own home and life to prevent pesticide use as much as possible, keeping yourself, your family, and your environment a whole lot healthier.

Gardens for small spaces

• Quick raised vegetable gardens for small spaces!
  It's easy to create a quick raised vegetable garden in a small space, don't think you have room? Think again! Buckets, planters, Topsy Turvys are all great options!

Prevention

Before making all of your organic pesticides, a little careful planning can cut back on the cost of even using organic pesticides.

Sometimes all you need is a good plan. By placing certain plants near each other, it will naturally repel some pests. Plant radishes next to cucumbers to scare off beetles. Plant rosemary, thyme, and mint near your cabbage. This will have cabbage worms high-tailing it out of there!

Beer! More than just a buzz!

Recipe #1

Slugs love strawberries, corn, beans, lettuce, and BEER! Throw them a party. Small containers of beer will distract the slugs from your veggies. Place them around your garden and let the slugs drink themselves into a stupor.

People suggest putting out large enough containers so that the slugs will drown. I cannot do that. Slugs, for the most part, are harmless. And I just can't bring myself to kill them. I put just enough out that they go for the beer, not my veggies. My slugs don't seem to have a brand preference so they get the cheap stuff. Milwaukee's Best, or Natural Light. I put the beer in shallow dishes, just enough to get the slugs wasted, but not so deep that they'll drown. So far, my berries and lettuce have been left untouched!

Uses for lemons!!

• Uses for Lemons!
  A simple fruit, full of uses you may have never considered! When life gives you lemons, use them in many ways, not just for making lemonade!

Recipe #2

Lemon peels!!!

Use the peels of 4 lemons (preferably organic!) and their juice. All you have to do is take the lemon peels and juice, then steep it all in one gallon of hot water for about 3 hours.

Next, strain out the peels, add to a spray bottle and apply to plants in an even mist to control the aphid population.

More uses for garlic

• Naturally cure a yeast infection at home, safely and...
  Cure a yeast infection with garlic, naturally, cheaply and privately in your own home!
• What are the health benefits of Garlic?
  Many ailments can be healed with its use. Another one of nature’s little miracles, “Eat onions in March and garlic in May, Then the rest of the year, your doctor can play”

Recipe #3

Garlic and onions taste great on Italian sandwiches, but bugs hate both! During your weekly cooking, save all your garlic and onion scraps. Throw these scraps into a gallon of hot water, you can even toss in a hot pepper for good measure. Steep this concoction for 48 hours. Once finished, strain and add to another spray bottle. Spray this mixture wherever you want to discourage grasshoppers, aphids, and any other chewing insects from munching up your veggies!

Happy gardening!

These are just a few suggestions for organic pest control you can easily do in your own garden, ditch the chemicals and try these instead. You won't be sorry you did.

More ways to care for your garden naturally

More garden ideas

• Composting, how to use a bin, or create a compost pi...
  What is composting? Why do it? How to do it? What items can you compost? Read on to find out why this simple act is so beneficial not only for your gardens but for mother nature and your wallet!
• Quick raised vegetable gardens for small spaces!
  It's easy to create a quick raised vegetable garden in a small space, don't think you have room? Think again! Buckets, planters, Topsy Turvys are all great options!

© 2013 Rebecca

Comments

Chris Mills from Traverse City, MI on October 17, 2013:

Thank you for this excellent information. My son is an or organic gardener and bee keeper. I will share this article with him. I will also share it on my facebook page for freelance writers.