Healthy Hands Are the Gardener's Best Tools

Here are the major reasons why one should consider getting a pair of trusty gardening gloves:

Gloves protect your hands from blisters, thorns and cuts while doing rough work like digging or pruning in the garden. Investing in one or more pairs of quality gloves is a good decision if you intend to garden on any scale.

A couple of my favorite pairs.

Here are some tips on how to choose the pair that will suit you best:  

1. Look for quality leather gloves with a cloth back; this will let the gloves breathe and keep your hands dry, cool and comfortable.

2. If mud bothers you, select rubber gloves with cotton lining.

3. When spraying pesticides or chemicals (which hopefully you're NOT doing!) choose gloves that are made from neoprene. Gloves made from latex or any type of plastic may not offer the best protection.

4. When pruning roses, use gloves that reach up to the arms.

5. If you usually operate large garden machinery, buy gloves in brown instead of red as the latter may dye your hands.

6. Light cotton or even fingerless gloves may be useful for transplanting seedlings. They will allow more dexterity and so help to prevent the tiny roots from being crushed.

7. And of course, make sure that the gloves you buy actually fit your hands. If you have small hands, try the children's gardening section. there's nothing worse than trying to garden is gloves that are too big.

Your gloves must be comfortable as well as give protection to best serve your gardening needs.

Gardening Gloves:
   

Video - Late Summer Garden Tour

Here is a neat little video from a late summer garden. He is very knowledgeable, and gives some neat ideas for planting things together, or over-planting, including a cool and pretty suggestion for planting over my tulip bed during the summer - one thing I've always been looking for something to cover.

Enjoy!

Strolling Through A Late Summer Garden
Walk with Brent through his garden and take a look at how colorful a late summer/early fall garden can really be! He points out a number of different blooming bulbs, perennials and what he calls companion plants to his beautifully landscaped property...

Low Water Summer Gardens

If you live in a desert community or in an area that often experiences seasons of drought or extremely dry times during the year then it is quite likely that you would be best served by considering a summer garden that requires a little less water than the average summer garden by avoiding the lush greens and big 'drinking' plants that many people prefer to keep in their gardens in favor of plants that consumer water more economically and employing water saving methods to maximize the benefit of water that is used in your garden.

Image via WikipediaThere are several things you can do in order to insure that your garden is water friendly and doesn't over tax water systems that are often overburdened in attempts to keep them lush and green. One of the first, and most responsible things you can do is scale back your idea of what a summer garden should be. You do not need a huge garden filled with lush greenery in order to make a good impression. In fact, a responsible garden that conserves the natural resources and highlights the natural plant life is often a garden that is much more deserving of accolades than one that uses too many of the limited natural resources that are available.

The second thing you should do is think local rather than global when finding suitable plants for your low water summer garden. Dessert plants and flowers are accustomed to the dessert climate and can survive with low amounts of water and flourish. If you must have some of the more lush greenery or a few more exotic plants in your garden consider using them sparingly and supplementing your garden with local plants and flowers.

Image via WikipediaThird, you should use things that aren't plants in order to fill in gaping holes in the landscaping. For this you could use rocks, stones, nice lawn ornaments and a wide array of other things to fill in the holes that you feel are left behind by the absence of greenery and create borders and boundaries for your low water summer garden.

Finally, if you must have a lawn, keep it green by using low water grass mixes. This is a great way in almost any climate to combat drier than normal summer seasons and keep lawns lush and green without investing a great deal of time and effort watering it. The savings in water costs alone are often quickly cover the cost of the investment in the new grass for your lawn and will help the focus remain on your bright and beautiful lawn to the point that many homeowners do not lament the absence of a huge summer garden.

Living in an area that doesn't have the natural resources necessary to create a beautiful and lush summer garden should not eliminate the possibility of having any sort of garden at all. By making wise decisions in regards to the type and volume of plants to include in your summer garden you can take matters into your own hands and insure the ability to maintain a low water sustainable garden that will be the envy of the neighborhood. Combine these efforts with water conservation methods inside your home for amazing results and a beautiful summer garden no matter how dry the area in which you live may be.

A Few Good Low-Water Gardening Resources:
    

Extending the Life of Your Summer Garden

Well, my potato plants are dying down, and I'm seeing some yellow leaves in my garden. Although I don't want to admit it, I know in the back of my mind that unfortunately summer is already drawing to a close.... But this doesn't have to be quite the end of your summer garden!

Whether our gardens are meant to produce colorful blooms and fragrant flowers that delight the senses or plenty of vegetables that will keep our families fed throughout the long cold winter months, there is much to be said and enjoyed about keeping a summer garden growing and thriving. In fact, many of us look for ways to prolong the lives of our summer gardens in order to get that little bit of extra life from the flowers, plants, and vegetables that we plant in them. Keep reading to discover a few ways that you can prolong the life of your summer garden for a few more days, weeks, or even perhaps an extra month of color or vegetable production.

Image via WikipediaOne thing you can do to prolong the life of your garden is by planting in a raised bed. This is basically planting your summer garden in a specifically designed garden box that rests above ground. These boxes will heat up quicker and cool down more slowly allowing a little extra growing time. For small flower or vegetable gardens these are often ideal allowing flowers to continue flowering and vegetables to continue producing after the initial seasonal frosts that often signal the end of growing seasons for those plants planted below ground.

If raised beds aren't going to work for you, it is possible to begin the plants in the warmth of the interior of your home or a smaller scale raised bed and then transport them once they have matured a bit and the frost season is over with. This gives your garden a bit of a head start though it will do little to prolong the life of your garden once the first frost hits. For that, raised beds are truly the most effective method for small vegetable gardens. Those with large crops often find alternate heating methods and acceptable expense to prolong the lives of their gardens or to ward off against frosts that occur either early in the fall or after the initial spring planting.

You could also invest in garden row covers to protect your plants and extend their life a little beyond the average growing season or at the very least protect your plants through the first frost or so. These covers keep the plants nice and toasty warm in fact, it is important that you monitor them closely when covered to avoid overheating and do not use the covers when not necessary as this can affect the growth of the plants and the yields negatively as much as it can impact them in a positive manner.

Image via WikipediaYou should understand that there is no requirement that says you must prolong the life of your garden. Many people get what they want from their garden whether it be the enjoyment of beauty from the bright and colorful flowers or enough vegetables to last through the leaner winter months when vegetables come at either a premium price or lack in flavor to some degree. Once you've gotten what you want or expect from your garden there really is no reason to prolong its life. There is especially no reason to take extraordinary steps to do so.

That being said there are many families that feel an extra month of color will help get them through the long and drab winter months that seem to be absent of bright and vividly colored flowers and that an extra week or two to harvest their vegetables will provide an extra month of two of food. These are very valid reasons for making the effort to extend the life of a summer garden. My hope is that the information above will help you do just that. Good luck with your summer garden and hopefully you will be able to enjoy your garden well into the fall or at the very least beyond the year's first frost.

Video - Can Organic Farming Feed Us?

Here is a totally awesome video that is so inspirational and hopeful! The first farm featured is also using the CSA model (which many farmers are discovering is quite a successful way to go), and also sell through farmer's markets. They DON'T sell to grocery stores at all, but they are very successful and support a huge number of people with their produce - they just sell direct to consumers who want their foods. This is a great example, as Eve says, of how you can "vote with your dollars" and choose locally grown foods which are not only better for you, but grown more sustainably to benefit the planet as a whole.

There is also a good scientific explanation for why organic foods are healthier, in case you were wondering. (And I loved the suggestion Betty gave for lawns - I have often had that same thought myself!) :-)

This is a bit longer than most of the videos we post, but it is WELL worth setting aside 30 minutes to watch. And if you like this, please share our link with others via Facebook or another method using the buttons below!

Organic Farming: Can It Feed Us (Part 1)
VVH-TV News Special Organic Farming: Can It Feed Us? Part 1 Karl Grossman Chief Investigative Reporter examines Organic Farming on Eastern Long Island. What is organic farming? Organic farming can be defined as an approach to agriculture where the ai...

 Other Resources to Learn More About Organic Farming and Food Choices:

• Organic Poultry Farms Have Lower Levels of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (nlm.nih.gov)
• Family Pursues Dream of Owning a Micro Organic Farm by Asking Everyone for a Dollar to Teach Others about Going Green (prweb.com)
• Organic Health Benefits Confirmed By Study Of Drug Resistance In Chicken Farms (huffingtonpost.com)
• New agricultural entrepreneurs deserve your support (usatoday.com)
• Eating Local: 4 First Steps to Become a Locavore (fooducate.com)

From Amazon:
    

10 Benefits of Composting

Besides a free and nutrient rich fertilizer for your soil and plants there are many other benefits to starting a compost in your yard - some of which you may never have thought of.  A few of the benefits of composting are listed below.

Image via Wikipedia
1. You can reduce or eliminate weeds in your garden by using compost as it prevents weed seeds from sprouting and prospering.  This is a natural alternative to toxic herbicides and weed killers, which can be very dangerous to both you and your pets.
2. Mature compost material has been used to stop or prevent erosion in certain areas. The binding capability in the compost can keep the soil in place and prevent loss of valuable topsoil.
3. Reducing the amount of organic material that goes to a dump unnecessarily – in turn this reduces the amount of methane gas a dump creates during decomposition.
4. In wetlands areas that are in trouble, compost has been used to revitalize the soil and surrounding plant life.
5. Healthier plants. Keeping your plants well fed with compost material keeps them strong and healthy, and can prevent your plants from contracting diseases that kill or spread to the rest of the crop or garden.
6. Can create a stable and healthier pH balance in your soil.
7. If your soil is overly dry (sandy), adding compost to the soil and thoroughly mixing can help the sandy dirt retain more water, keeping it moist for your plants.
8. If your soil is hard and clay-like, you can make the dirt easier to work with and less dense by adding mature compost.
9. Provides important nutrients and micronutrients to the soil and plants.
10. Increases the temperature of the soil creating a conducive environment for plant growth and health.

These are just a few of the important benefits that can be derived from using compost.  It helps the environment, your garden, your plants and the planet - and it's so easy! The small amount of time that it takes to set-up and maintain a compost bin or pile is well worth the time and effort.

A Few Composting Resources:
   

Interesting Article from An Unconventional Harvest

Check out this truly excellent article that I found. It's a great story, and also offers hope for a sustainable future. This is from a series of articles (which hopefully will become a book - I'll let you know if and when it comes out!) by Nathan Winters, and it is definitely worth a read (as is the rest of the series). I will share more of his articles at a later date.

Check this one out, and see how organic farming truly CAN be sustainable, even on a large scale.

Image via WikipediaThe Unconventional Harvest: A Large No-Till Organic Farm
Emily Stiegelmeier, with her family, owns and operates Blue Blanket Organics, an organic farm where they grow spring and winter wheat, flax, rye, barley, and buckwheat.
Publish Date: 07/21/2011 3:00
http://cookingupastory.com/the-unconventional-harvest-a-large-no-till-organic-farm

Why Organic Food Is Better For You

If you are like many other individuals, there is a good chance that you have heard that organic foods are healthier to eat.  This may have caught your attention.  If you are uncertain about making the switch to organic foods, you may be looking for reasons why you should.  One of the most common questions asked is why organic foods are better?  For a number of answers to that question, please continue reading on.

Image via WikipediaWhen it comes to organic foods, it is important to know that not just anyone can make organic foods.  There are strict standards.  Foods and organic food companies that are certified by the Quality Assurance International group (QAI) must undergo rigorous tests and meet very high standards.  When this is done, all foods should be stamped with a Certified Organic by QAI sticker or label, or USDA Certified Organic label.  This certification helps to give many comfort in knowing that the foods that they eat are truly healthy.

Another one of the many reasons why organic food is better for you is because it usually tastes better.  This means that you and other eaters are more likely to eat more organic foods, as well as stick with organic foods or start a fully organic diet.  These steps can help to improve your health.  This is mostly due in part because vegetables and fruits are grown without the assistance of pesticides and other potentially harmful chemicals.  Clean soil, which is required when growing organic foods, is likely to produce better results, which should mean better tasting food.

It has also been said that organic foods can help to lower the risk of cancer.  Although some pesticides that farmers use are considered safe by many, there are still a number of risks, including a risk of cancer.  This is alarming, but it is also something that many individuals are not aware of.  Although the EPA does consider many chemicals, including weed killers and insect killers to be dangerous, they are still used on many of the foods, namely fruits and vegetables, that are sold today.  This is not something that you have to worry about when buying organic foods.  That is why many claim that organic foods can reduce your chances of cancer.

Image via WikipediaAlthough there are a number of benefits to eating organic foods, especially where health and wellness is concerned, many individuals are concerned with the cost.  Yes, organic food does often cost more money, but many still consider it to be well worth the cost.  Some ask themselves if it is even possible to put a price tag on health.  Even with the high costs of organic food, it is still possible to save money.  You can do this by using organic food coupons, searching for organic food sales, and stocking up when you do find those sales.  Many stores outline their weekly sales in store sale fliers or online.  Organic food coupons can be found online or in weekend newspaper inserts. You can also purchase organic foods at a farmer's market, or through a CSA, and often save quite a bit of money this way.

Since there are a number of benefits to eating organically, you may be serious about doing so.  If you are, you will find that you have a number of different options, in terms of organic food purchase points.  Organic food, including fresh food, is sold online and locally.  Your local options tend to include the organic food section at your supermarket or a specialty organic food stores, OR - the best option of all - direct from the farmers via a farmer's market or CSA program.

Video - What to Expect When You Join a CSA

Here is a great little video which describes what to expect when you join a CSA program for the first time. A few different members of various CSAs share what they liked best, as well as some tips for choosing a good CSA for you. The CSA model has really taken off in the US in the past few years, so in many areas, you may have multiple options to choose from. This video will give you some good ideas on what to look for, as well as what to expect and prepare for when you start this exciting adventure!

Check it out, and feel free to post your comments or questions below - we have been members of several different CSAs in the central Ohio area, over the past 4 years, and would be happy to answer questions or share our experiences as needed.

Community Supported Agriculture: What to expect when you join a farm
Becoming a member of a community supported farm can be a challenge as well as a joy. Gary Brever of Ploughshare Farm, Kate Stout of North Creek Community Farm, and Margaret Marshall of Featherstone Farm explain the risks and rewards of membership and...



A Few Good Resources to Learn More About Community Supported Agriculture:
 

Are You In Control of Your Food Supply?

A recent comment on Facebook got me to thinking, and inspired me to write this post....  A friend had posted some comments after watching the documentary, Food, Inc. (If you haven't watched this one, it is a must-see if you are at all concerned about the food you eat and staying healthy.) I shared with her some info on CSAs and findingImage via Wikipedia clean, healthy, locally grown food - which as you know is a topic near and dear to my heart! She was grateful and excited, and hopefully will get involved and her family will reap the healthy benefits!

However, another friend of hers commented on Food, Inc., and said something about how she would prefer not to know what's in her food since she has no control over it.

This comment was actually shocking to me....  Is this really what people think?  Have we gotten SO far from producing our own food, that we actually think what we put into our bodies is entirely out of our control? This is so disturbing to me. No wonder disease and obesity are skyrocketing in our country. No wonder our children are projected to have a shorter lifespan than we do - if this is how we are approaching our food!!

YOU DO HAVE OPTIONS!!!

This blog is actually an effort to spread the word about some of those options, and educate people on the fact that not only are options out there, but they are often easy to find and implement.

Although these are mentioned here often, here is a quick summary of some of the options available for you to control your food sources, and what you are feeding yourself and your family:

Option 1: Buy locally grown food. 
This could actually be broken down into a couple of different methods. Farmer's markets are probably the most well-known way to get access to lots of fresh, locally grown foods. Organic farmers feature their wares at many of these, so you can get the best of the best - Local AND Organic. You also have the opportunity to speak with the people growing your food, and ask them what kinds of treatments are used, and how things are grown, including the raising of animals. Are their cows grass-fed? Is their poultry raised on pasture? Are hormones or antibiotics used?

Image via WikipediaIf you don't have time to go to the market every week, don't like taking the time to fight the crowds, or wish to develop a closer relationship with a particular farm/food source, you might look into a CSA. CSA (community supported agriculture) farming is becoming increasingly popular throughout the US (and Europe). CSA programs give you the opportunity to purchase a share of a farm's produce up front at the beginning of the season. This benefits the farmers by giving them a built-in market so they know how much to grow, as well as funds right when they need them most. You, in turn, get to know a particular farm and its growing habits quite well, and you get a share of the farm's produce on a weekly (or other regularly scheduled) basis. Most CSAs offer farm visits and tours, so you can even see your food growing (or "meet your meat!"). Most also have newsletters and regular updates on the growing of your food, many offer recipes and preparation tips for unusual items, and many now offer organic options.

Last but not least, many large grocery store chains now even carry some local produce, at least during the summer months. (Try health-oriented stores like Whole Foods, for a larger selection.) Although you won't have access to the local farmers to ask questions, at least you can often find foods that are organic and grown close to home. Often they have the name of the farm listed, so if you wish, take the time to look them up and give them a call to inquire more about their growing practices.

Option 2: Grow your own!
We won't spend that much time on this one, as this is what most of this blog is about, so browse our archives for lots of articles and tips on growing your own sustainable and organic garden, or even raising your own poultry for eggs and fresh meat. It's really not that difficult. And don't feel like you have to grow Image via Wikipediaabsolutely everything and support your entire family on  your own garden's produce. If you can, and you wish to, this is an awesome way to go!  However, even if you can only provide a part of your family's food, at least you know where SOME of what you're eating comes from, and every little bit counts. Start with a small corner of the yard, get the kids involved, or if you're in an apartment or condo, try some container gardening. Just about everyone can grow at least a few items, no matter where you live, and contribute in at least some small amount to your table.

Option 3: Do both.
Don't feel like you have to limit yourself to one or the other of the above options. It is perfectly okay to combine them! If you have just a small bit of garden space, grow what you can, and join a CSA for the rest. Or grow a larger garden, and pick up a few things at the farmer's market when needed. But whatever you do, please don't believe that you have no control over your food supply!  This is simply not true (at least in the US), and it is a dangerous road for us to travel these days - and certainly a harmful thing to teach our children!

What you eat is actually one thing that you have a LOT of control over. Most people either just don't make it a priority to seek out better foods (hopefully this isn't you), or they don't know where to start. I hope this blog gives you some ideas to help empower you to take back your food supply, and start contributing to your own family's well-being in an involved way. Yes, you CAN!  :-)

Some educational sources to help you learn more:
http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html
http://www.newholisticliving.com/csa.html

   

Natural Insecticide Recipes

As promised, here are links to some natural insecticide recipes you can make yourself, at home, to control pests in your garden without using harmful chemicals. The first one offers two good recipes, and you may also wish to watch the video - the guy is a little goofy, but if you watch the whole thing (it's only about 6 minutes), it really does give you some interesting food for thought....

BEST RAW ORGANIC : ) | The BEST Natural Pesticide Spray For Your ...
First, an enjoyable video with Mike Adams regarding the “toxic” canola and soybean oil in pesticides. Then, scroll down to see one of the BEST NATURAL PESTICIDE SPRAY recipes that you can cheaply and easily make for ...
Publish Date: 06/29/2011 15:16
http://bestraworganic.com/the-best-natural-pesticide-spray-for-your-garden/

Homemade Pesticide Recipes
This is the safest natural pesticide for any home gardener and is effective on a variety of bugs and insects. Mix 3 tablespoons of liquid detergent into a gallon of water. Use in a sprayer bottle for houseplants. ...
Publish Date: 06/24/2011 21:27
http://www.flamencosessions.com/homemade-pesticide-recipes/

Natural Pesticides: Recipes & Tips : TipNut.com
Natural Pesticides: Recipes. Rhubarb Leaf Pesticide Spray. 1 cup rhubarb leaves 6.5 cups water 1/4 cup liquid dish detergent or soap flakes. Cover rhubarb leaves with water and bring to a boil. ...
Publish Date: 06/30/2009 11:50
http://tipnut.com/natural-pesticides/

Organic Pest Control Recipes - Natural Healthy Solutions
Organic pest control recipes and products don't contain chemical pesticides or man-made chemicals. They rely on natural ingredients that do not persist in nature the way chemical pesticides do. In fact, organic products ...
Publish Date: 07/28/2011 22:00
http://natureshealthysolutions.com/organic-pest-control-recipes/

 

Related Articles:

• Homemade Organic Pesticides That Work (lewrockwell.com)

Making Your Own Natural Insecticides

Have you decided to go all natural?  All-natural diet, all-natural pet food, all-natural medicines, natural insect control, and all-natural gardening have become the wave of the present and future.  Many people think something is new just because it hasn't been in the spotlight.  But natural alternatives have been around for years.  They just didn't receive much press because in our whirlwind daily lives, we have often chosen convenience over safety.  Nowadays, though, we are finding that that convenience can be damaging to our environment.

Image by BlueRidgeKitties via FlickrConvenience has hurt our rivers and roadsides because of packaging being tossed away carelessly.  Convenience has hurt our family time because of lost time preparing food, eating at the family dinner table, and gardening together.  Convenience has hurt our ozone layer.  This doesn't mean convenience is bad; it is what you make it.  If you allow anything to take over your life it can turn into a negative.

Natural insecticides take a little more effort to use if you make them yourself.  They take a little more time because they can require multiple uses and degrade quicker.  But the rewards you reap from preparing your own natural insecticides can be great. You can join people in discussions on the internet about organic gardening and natural insecticides.  You can increase awareness of the benefits so that others are prompted to engage in the use of natural insecticides.  You can help promote a healthier world, a healthier family life, ways to make the most out of your garden and landscaping.  You can even save money by making your own natural insecticides.

There are rules to follow, of course, like mixing properly.  If you mix the wrong ingredients you could either cause more harm or even be wasting your time if the items use cancel out each other's effectiveness.  You should understand how to use what you make, how much is safe, what plants or insects will be affected in a negative way so as not to harm the good ones, how to avoid foaming, how to store and for how long.

Image by tonrulkens via FlickrPrevention is always best.  But because it isn't always possible, taking safe alternatives to treatment is the next best thing.  People have become disgusted with rising prices, so they decide they can do better if they just make their own products.  This can be a good thing or a bad thing.  If you don't research and educate yourself, you could be doing more harm than good.  Some mistakenly assume that natural means safe, and they neglect to learn about the effects and proper uses of natural insecticides.

Cooking is a way to kill harmful bacteria in some instances.  But the heat from cooking can destroy the active ingredients of some of your homemade insecticides.  Also, the water you use can destroy the effectiveness.  If you have hard well water, there may be certain minerals that cause a problem. Chlorine may also pose an issue. So, if you decide to make your own, know how to prepare them properly.

Be sure to check back on Saturday for some natural insecticide recipes you can make yourself. (Or visit http://www.newholisticliving.com/sustainablegardening.html for more information about gardening organically and sustainably.)

Why Use Natural Insecticides?

Some say that a natural insecticide cannot, by its nature, be as effective as a synthetic one.  Chemical insecticides are used often by large farms, in order to quickly control insects in a large section of plants.  So, why should you choose to use a natural insecticide?

Image via WikipediaFirst, there is an abundance of plants that can be used for their insecticidal properties.  Over 1500 are presently being used for control of pests.  This provides a variety of methods to get rid of unwanted insects.  There are many factors that will determine which kind of natural insecticide you will use.  Some are more inexpensive.  Some are more easily obtained than others.  Some are safer to humans and pets.  If you decide to use a natural insecticide, you will have many choices. 

Most types of natural insecticide are biodegradable.  This means that when the substance has served its purpose, it doesn't stick around to cause damage to the environment.  It is washed away with the rain.  It degrades and becomes a part of the soil with no harmful residue.  A natural insecticide is often used when there is concern about a synthetic insecticide that is sold commercially.  A synthetic insecticide can contain poisons and toxins that are not found in a natural insecticide.  These can be harmful to living things other than the insects they were intended for, so it is not a good choice for sustainable gardening. 

Synthetic chemical insecticides often contain ingredients that kill beneficial insects.  These insects may be bees that pollinate fruits and vegetables.  They may be ladybugs or butterflies, which are also helpful to have in a garden.  A natural insecticide will usually leave beneficial insects safe.  One downside of using a natural insecticide is cost.  Many that are sold in garden centers are more expensive than their synthetic counterparts.  If you can, you may be willing to pay the extra cost.  Yet, if you can't afford a natural insecticide that is sold in a store, you have the option of making your own. 

Image via WikipediaThe use of synthetic chemical insecticides has long been associated with a variety of chronic health conditions.  The advantage of using a natural insecticide is that these conditions rarely occur with their use.  When you use a natural insecticide, you can be sure that your produce will be safe to eat.  All you need to do is to make sure that you follow instructions.  Find out how long to wait after application of the natural insecticide to harvest. 

Another advantage of natural insecticides is that they don't use fossil fuels.  Many of the chemical varieties do.  Also, if you use a natural insecticide that is locally available, you will save on transportation costs.  There are countless recipes for people to use to make natural insecticide on their own.  You can look on the internet, or in your local library or bookstore for the recipes.  These allow you to make inexpensive yet effective natural insecticides for your own use.  (We even post "recipes" for these here on our blog from time to time.)

If you're looking for a reason to use a natural insecticide, you will find several.  Safety of plants and animals, environmental protection, and ease of use are only a few.  A natural insecticide is truly a viable alternative to chemicals. 

Some Examples of Natural Insecticides: