"Organic" Pesticides

The thing I noticed pretty quickly about gardening organically was the plant destroying pests: bugs, weeds and critters. I knew about beneficial insects, the ones that eat the plant destroyers, and how they could be purchased online, mail order, or sometimes from local nurseries. I also knew that hot peppers could be used in some fashion as well. And my organic farmer husband has long used a soap and water mixture to discourage infestations of insects. But an article in the weekend real estate guide from the Sunday, June 11th Denver Post went into glorious detail about organic pesticides, why they work and a recipe to make it. Also included were some tips for reducing the likelihood of infestations.
First, the recipe: 3 garlic bulbs, 12 hot chili peppers, 2 TBSP vegetable oil, 5 squirts liquid dish soap and 7 cups of water. Blend these together using an electric blender and then strain through muslin cloth, storing in a spray bottle. I made a batch, and have initially found it pretty effective. I also noticed that it smells bad, but dissipates quickly. I think the garlic also helps makes it fairly sticky on the plants and cuts off the air supply to most pests.
Next, to attract beneficial insects, we should keep our gardens dry and healthy. Wet plants are more susceptible to infestations and fungus. Keep your garden mulched (you can use organic compost...easy to do with a tumbling composter from BestComposters.com!)so as to prevent weed growth and retain moisture for the plant roots, then trim leaves so that they don't lay on the ground. Certain plants will attract beneficial insects, like carrots, celery, parsley, caraway, Queen Ann's Lace, tansy, yarrow, daisies, blackeyed susans, asters marigolds and goldenrod.
I haven't tried the last steps to protecting my garden yet in any quantity. I do have the first three vegies, but I'm interested in adding some of the flowers around them to see what impact they'll have. I surely wish I could get our Homeowner's Association to ok chickens. I'm told they are a powerful ally in the war against slugs (not to mention the delicious fresh eggs that they give), and I really need an ally for that war!
Happy Composting!

Chickens in Urban Gardens

When I was young we used to get fresh eggs and bushels of apples right off the trees from a small farm in Ontario, Canada.  I remember they always tasted so fabulous, and now that I'm grown, and I know how long produce can sit on shelves in storage areas or on trucks or railcars, I know exactly why the food straight from the farmer's doorstep tasted so much better.  It made complete sense to me, then, when I read an article about a movement that's been formed here in Denver, Colorado to make getting and keeping a permit for livestock a whole lot easier. The article, called "Fowl lovers unite to streamline Denver chicken laws" by Joel Warner was in The Denver Post on Monday, Mar. 16 2009. 

Right now it seems to be a somewhat expensive and time consuming process to get and keep a permit.  But personally, I'm all for people being more responsible for their own consumption, so anything that makes that process easier is okay by me.   I mean, look at the benefits:

1. You know what you're eating, what's gone into it and what hasn't
2. It's fresher
3. Growing your own reduces transportation and storage costs and expenses
4. It tastes better when you've worked for it
5. A sense of accomplishment
6. It should be less expensive

I guess some people worry about odor that can arise with the keeping of livestock, but by using a product called BiOWiSH-Odor™ , there's no need to worry about that potential problem!  BiOWiSH-Odor™ reacts bio-chemically with odor-causing molecules, catalyzing their transformation into smell-free non-toxic end products, which are consumed in nature.  It does not mask the odor, but rather, it rapidly accelerates decomposition.  BiOWiSH-Odor™ has been tested by independent laboratories and confirmed to be non-toxic, non-irritating, non-flammable, non-pathogenic and non-hazardous!  Some of the benefits to using BiOWiSH-Odor™ are:
· It's fast acting
· It's cost effective
· It's operative at low dosage rates
· It works in a wide range of operative conditions
· It has a long residual effective period
· It's all natural anti-microbial action – sanitizes as it works
· 100% organic
· and it's harmless to humans and the environment

Maybe I need to share the above with the Denver Community Planning and Development spokesman Julius Zsako. He expects a city council discussion "sometime in the near future". 
I think the City Council needs to know about BiOWiSH-Odor™ so they can be relieved of worries on the point of odor issues.  Just sayin'.  By the way, the article in The Denver Post also expected the proposed changes to-

"go through without much of a feathered fight. After all, the city council

 voted last November to allow residents to keep beehives in their backyards

and officials seem to be similarly convivial to this proposal.

"I'm for anything that makes the process easier, as long as it's effective,"

says Denver Animal Care and Control's Kelley."

I'd be curious to know just how many people in Denver would really be interested and inclined to have chickens in their urban gardens. I wonder if anybody has studied that? I know I'd like to have some chickens in my garden. They don’t have to take up much room, and oh, for fresh eggs once again!