Like other members of the health-conscious community, you see the value in growing your own produce. The last thing you want to do is off-set the myriad of health benefits that come with growing your own vegetables with a toxic pesticide. Recent news reports expose pesticides as having extremely negative effects. Furthermore, authors Hall and Arnette both discuss the link between pesticides and cognitive issues and prenatal motor functions.
Ongoing studies continue to reveal the harm in conventional pest control. In reality, there is no need to use these toxic chemicals; there's just a need for innovative thinking, trial, and error. Below you'll find some natural, harmless alternative methods for keeping pests out of your vegetable garden that the Simple Grow team has put together.
Roaming Chickens
A chicken can surely do a lot of stooping, and the more, the merrier. Each time one of your backyard chickens stoops to eat a bug, that means fewer pests devouring your precious produce. The more you allow them to roam, the more variety of pets they'll eat.
Worm Castings
One of the most universal products in a vegetable garden is worm castings. Although some haven’t heard of this product, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its supporters. Worm castings are essentially earthworm manure. That may sound like strange or even gross to some people, but worm castings are beneficial in many different ways. They don’t smell, which is a miracle for those gardeners who have sensitive noses. They are entirely organic and natural, since they are just the leavings of worms. Worm castings also work as a natural pesticide, essentially making them a two for one since you don’t need to use fertilizer or pesticides with them.
Essential Oils
Nature provides a powerhouse of plants that naturally contain compounds that repel insects. Simply spraying your garden and its periphery with essential oils made from these plants can be very effective. Some of the most advantageous include the following: lemongrass, thyme, peppermint, citronella, and spearmint.
Fences
You can choose to build a fence that will be a barrier between larger pest like rabbits and deer. A fence can be built out of plastic, metal or wood. Just be sure to secure your fence at least 1-foot underground to keep out burrowing pests like moles and squirrels. If you're really gung-ho about keeping animals out, consider an electric fence that will provide a mild shock to let them know you mean business.
Egg Shells
What else are chickens good for? The answer is eggs, especially the shell. Crushing up the shells and spreading them around plants makes for a dangerous treading ground for slugs and snails in particular, since the egg shells are sharp. They'll get the idea and keep away from the area.
Plants
A number of plants will naturally repel pests while adding some colorful aesthetics to your garden. Some include the following: marigolds, chrysanthemums, lavender, petunias, and basil.
Be sure to further research the natural pest control options available to you. For best results, apply more than one method. For more great gardening and plant growth information make sure tokeep up with our blog! We update frequently with all sorts of great information that we know will keep you learning and also interested in learning more.
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