Video - Why Organic Pest Control Is the Wrong Solution

Here is a very brief but well-conceived video on why controlling pests using natural insecticides is the wrong focus. Phil Nauta, also known as "The Smiling Gardener" explains why focusing on killing bugs - even by natural means - is short-sighted and misses the root cause of the problem altogether.

Check it out, and to learn more about Phil's methods and philosophy, just click the link below the video.

Organic Pest Control - Why It's The Wrong Solution
Today I'm talking about organic pest control. The natural pest control industry for gardens is doing pretty well. That's a good thing, we don't want to be using these toxic products anymore. But there are a few issues still with this.

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How Natural Is Natural Insecticide? A Philosphical Debate

There have been many advances in the field of natural insecticides.  Some would say that some of the advancements are not for the better.  This is because the natural insecticide is not exactly in the state that nature gave it to us in.  So, just how natural is natural insecticide? 

Nature (Photo credit: joaoloureiro)

Sustainable gardeners who grapple with this issue are those who seek to do their part in keeping the natural world in balance.  They believe that the earth is an ecological system in which every living entity has a part to play.  They have a strict idea of what natural insecticide is. 

They don't have faith in a system where the balance is upset by one species.  They believe that man's emphasis on technological progress is damaging to the planet by its very nature.  These people are extremely uncomfortable with biotechnology and its creation of "natural insecticide" to kill off a pest species in the garden. 

Then, there are those who don't agree that there is balance or harmony in nature.  They see the world as a constantly changing system where new developments are always coming along.  Advancements in natural insecticide are only one of them.

The people who see the world as ever-changing, the naturalists, are more likely to recognize the destructiveness of nature.  They recognize that hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes, are devastating occurrences.  Famine and disease can also be caused by nature. 

For this reason, naturalists see the world as something to be explored and understood. They believe that a human being has intelligence in order to do a part in advancing the health of the planet.  Part of this is in further development of natural insecticides and other such "improvements". 

These naturalists believe that biotechnology can produce products just as natural as any other natural insecticide.  They don't see the difference in using biotechnology for agriculture and using laboratory science to make pharmaceuticals, for instance.  They see biotechnology for natural insecticide as a good thing. 

European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis Photo by Keith Weller. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Naturalists are more likely to see the similarities between biotechnology and the cross-breeding of plants and animals that has been done for centuries.  We have always used this method, if not this particular technique. 

A similar issue is bioengineered crops such as Bt corn.  Bacillus thurengiensis is a natural insecticide that has been used for many years.  Now, it is being put into the genetic structure of corn.  This makes the corn resistant to insects. While those with a more sustainable view see this as messing with the natural order of things, and potentially harmful to our health, the naturalists believe that Bt corn is a normal advancement. 

What do you think? Are we just using our God-given intelligence to make the world a better place through eliminating harmful pests, or are we overstepping by presuming that "bad" bugs don't have a place in the environment?

Feel free to share your view in the comments below!

5 Natural Home-Made Pesticide Recipes

There’s no doubt, a few bugs can ruin a great garden.  Yet if you don’t like the idea of consuming poisons with your fruits and vegetables, you’re probably a bit wary of spraying your garden with chemical pesticides.  The good news is there are several natural steps you can take to eliminate garden pests, including making your own pesticides for your organic garden.  Here are five natural pesticides you can safely make at home.

Spray bottle - you'll need one for most recipes. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1.  Tobacco Spray

To combat caterpillars, aphids, and several types of worms, mix a gallon of water and a cup of tobacco.  Allow the mixture to set for a day, until it resembles weak tea.  Spray on your garden vegetables.  However, avoid your peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any other member of the solanaceous family, as the tobacco spray can kill them.

2.  Garlic Pepper Spray

To combat slugs and a number of other insects, mix together one minced garlic bulb, one minced onion, one quart of water, a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of dish soap.  Spray veggies to protect against bugs. 

3.  Liquid Dish Soap Spray

This pesticide works quite well on mites for both indoor and outdoor plants. Use natural, biodegradable soaps or something like Murphy’s Oil soap.  Mix one cup of soap with one gallon of water.  Pour into a spray bottle and mist the leaves of plants.  Take care not to overuse because it can slow the growth of fruits and vegetables.  However, it is ideal for indoor household plants. 

4.  Horseradish Spray

Cayenne Pepper. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

To kill aphids, blister beetles, Colorado beetles and whiteflies, a spicy horseradish spray will get the job done.  Add two cups of diced cayenne peppers, a one-inch piece of chopped horseradish, and two cups of geranium leaves to three quarts of boiling water.  Remove from burner and let steep for one hour.  Strain and add cooled mixture to spray bottles.  Spray garden plants to get rid of bugs.

5.  Yarrow Tea Spray

Great for aphids and other pests, yarrow works quite well as a deterrent when applied every week or so to your garden vegetables.  Steep one cup of chopped yarrow in a quart of water for about a day.  You can steep it in the sun in a glass container.  Strain the mixture, add a cup of coffee and a ¼ teaspoon of liquid dish detergent to help the material adhere to leaves.  Pour into spray bottle and chase those pests away.

There’s no reason to let your garden go to the bugs in lieu of using chemical pesticides.  Chances are you have the makings for a great bug spray in your home right now.  Try one of these home-made pesticides and get rid of bugs naturally and safely.

Got your own recipes that work for you? Feel free to share below!

The Importance of Natural Pesticides In Your Garden

If you're reading this blog, it's probably no surprise to you that chemical pesticides are an environmental and health hazard.  Large scale commercial farmers use chemicals to kill bugs that harm their crops.  While it’s understandable to want to protect crops and maximize production, it shouldn’t be at the expense of your health or our water supply.  The good news is there are sustainable practices to keep slugs and bugs and other unwanted pests off your garden fruits and vegetables. 

Make Your Own Natural Pesticides

* To combat caterpillars, aphids, and several types of worms, mix together a gallon of water and a cup of tobacco.  Allow the mixture to set for a day, until it resembles weak tea.  Spray on your garden vegetables.  However, steer clear of your peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, or any other member of the solanaceous family, as the tobacco spray can kill them.

Various land slugs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* To combat slugs and a number of other insects, mix together one minced garlic bulb, one minced onion, one quart of water, a tablespoon of cayenne pepper and a tablespoon of dish soap.  Spray veggies to protect against bugs. (For more recipes, check back Thursday.) 

Other garden pest deterrents include:

* Mechanical devices for soft-bodied pests.  Slugs and snails can destroy a garden faster than you can say slime.  However, there are a number of measures to get rid of them.  A pan of beer, copper wire, salt, egg shells, hair, and sharp rocks or shingles all deter or destroy slugs and snails without the use of chemicals.

* Carnivorous bugs.  Ladybugs are wonderful for your garden.  They eat aphids, scales, and mites.

* Finally, many plants work quite well to repel bugs from your garden.  Some examples include:
 - Marigolds repel nematodes, Mexican bean beetles, squash bug, thrips, tomato hornworms, and whitefly
 - Geraniums repel cabbage worms and leaf hoppers
 - Mint repels ants and aphids, and the cucumber beetle. 

What about chemical pesticides?

Environmental contamination with pesticides (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Chemical pesticides (and there are well over 9,000 different acceptable pesticides approved by the FDA) have a number of health implications. 

* Pesticides can be carcinogenic
* Pesticides can cause infertility
* Pesticides can cause neurological complications
* Pesticides can cause birth defects

And a whole lot more. Scientists are only beginning to understand the level of contamination and how pesticides are affecting our health, the health of our children and our planet.  

Reduce or eliminate the damage pesticides can cause by buying organic whenever possible and by using natural pesticides when you grow your own fruits and vegetables.  No one likes a bug-infested garden; however, it takes just a few simple steps to send these bugs running for the high hills.

For 5 safe and natural home-made pesticide recipes you can make yourself to protect your garden, be sure to check back Thursday!