So many chemical insecticides and herbicides are used now throughout the world that we are seeing, as a result, much disease, many tumors in people and animals and even the death of pollinating bees that can eventually leave us without any food.
Fortunately, many of us are open to alternatives! Here are some available alternatives to buy:
Corn gluten based herbicides and fatty acid sprays
Yellow sticky traps for flying insects.
Boric Acid formulas, Diatomaceous Earth and silica gel for roaches
d-limonene spray for crawling insects
Neem oil for ant repellent (even in the kitchen; since Neem oil is safely used as toothpaste!)
Citronella candles and oil in sprays to repel mosquitoes (also Gerinol from geraniums)
Pyrethrin sprays (from chrysanthemums)
beneficial, predatory insects like lady bugs, mantises, fly predator wasps, etc.
BT Dunks in standing water to prevent mosquitoes
The Journal of Pesticide Reform reported that Glyphosphate (a well known herbicide) has caused testicular tumors in male and thyroid cancer in female rodents. Increases in kidney, pancreatic and liver tumors have also been seen in experimental studies. Home pesticide use resulted in a risk 4 times higher for childhood Leukemia; brain cancer is associated with use of pesticides to control termites, shampoos with lindane, flea collars and liquid on pets, diazinon and carbaryl in the garden. Permethrin (a synthetic Pyrethrin) has been believed to be carcinogenic after limited trials.
Dog flea/tick powder - equal parts Rosemary/Thyme/Sage powders (ground herbs)
Cat flea/tick powder - equal parts Sage/Lavender powdered herbs (rosemary and thyme have phenol which can be bad for cats!)
Insect repellent spray for Horses - to a one quart spray bottle add 20 drops essential oil of Citronella, 20 drops oil of Rosemary, 20 drops Eucalyptus oil, 40 drops Cedarwood oil, 20 drops Patchouli oil, 20 drops Clove oil and half cider vinegar, half water to fill. Shake often.
Insect repellent spray for people - to an 8 ounce bottle add 10 drops citronella oil, 10 drops cedarwood oil, 5 drops clove oil, 5 drops patchouli oil and 5 drops eucalyptus oil then fill with water and shake often.
A few years ago I was a vendor at a health fair and I was giving away one ounce containers of our dog and cat flea repellent powders from a big basket with the recipes on it. I got a phone call that night from a man asking me if he could use the dog flea powder on chicken. I said that I had never used it on chickens, but it was non-toxic, just organic herbs... he said "not chickens - CHICKEN - to cook it, the stuff smells so good." I told him, after a moment to compose myself, that it certainly was safe to cook with.
That is a testimonial to safe, alternative methods to repel pests.
