Bailey Van Tassel

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organic pest spray
18 Nov 2021
Gardening

12 Organic Pest Control Options

This time of year (Fall into Winter) pests are just as rampant for us as they are in the Spring. They’re just different. Nonetheless, we take a completely organic approach, using all the natural methods. Organic pest control is a non-negotiable for me, as I’d rather live with some minor pest issues than introduce harmful chemicals into our lives.

So, we have options my friends, lots of options.

The first thing to keep in mind with organic pest control – and any pest approach really is prevention. We prevent by creating first and foremost, strong plants. Secondly, we create barriers.

Strong plants have good soil, which is the ultimate foundation for healthy gardens. Feed the soil before you feed the plants and find yourself not needing fertilizer or pest solutions. Healthy soil is loamy, has worms, and has a lot of nutrients from compost, worm castings, and low disturbances.

Organic pest control then means organic soil and plants, followed by some created obstacles for pests like fences, cloches, chicken wire coverings, netting, or spice blends and predatory urine sprays.

It’s wise to research pest issues in your hardiness zone and prepare yourself for them in advance.

Willow cloche covering brussels sprouts seedling

For the slugs, caterpillars, earwigs, and cabbage loopers, etc.:

There’s not as much prevention here, if you have a slug or looper already alive somewhere. Cabbage loopers though hatch from eggs on plants that those cute white butterflies leave. Cloches and sometimes mock white butterflies can deter them.

BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis): this is my go-to as soon as I notice any leaf-eating caterpillars. BT is actually a naturally occuring bacterium, so I buy this in a concentrated form and dilute with water according to the instructions. This is also recommended for earwigs!

Beer traps: simply pour some beer into a rinsed out tuna can or old garlic jar and place in the garden where slugs are eating plants. Within hours, they’ll have climbed in and can’t get out.

Copper wire: they sell “copper stop” at nurseries and it is said to be really helpful.

Clôches: these can help keep anything winged from landing on plants and laying eggs (like the cabbage moths).

Cabbage butterfly decoys: a girlfriend of mine has a free printable of these! I’ve printed them, then taped over them to make them waterproof, then secure them to a stick and place in the garden near plants that cabbage butterlies like.

For flying insects like aphids, thrips, and white flies:

Organic solutions for tiny flying pests really comes down to Neem oil for me. But there are two other approaches that I have tried and use as well.

Neem Oil: here’s the deal with Neem – be sure to get 100% Neem oil that is organic. Do not buy something that simply has Neem as an ingredient, because it becomes non-organic and often checmical-laden. This is great for mealy bugs, thrips, aphids, and whiteflies

Trap Plants: some plants attract pests, which steals them away from your veggies! Yay! Nasturtium is a trap plant for aphids, so I plant them amongst my cabbages and broccoli.

Castile soap: sometimes just a little watered down castile soap will do the trick. I always have this on hand.

For rodents and some big critters:

Fencing is the biggest prevention in this situation, or even little chicken wire DIY cages or cloches. I have a video on that HERE. But, sometimes these guys are unrelenting.

Also, if you hvae ground squirrels or gohers, consider lining any raised beds with wire so they can’t push up or under your beds.

Peppermint oil: rats don’t like peppermint. Nope. And this is especially an urban gardener’s issue. I make THESE peppermint diffusers and re-fill them seasonally – they have been a no-fail solution for me.

Predatory urine (like fox urine): this is a tactic that I like to use with squirrels, deer, and rabbits. Predatory urine. It comes pelletted, so you just shake it out, but it still smells SO strong.

Chili pepper/ Rabbit Scram: I haven’t had much luck with just chili pepper, but I do love Rabbit Scram for bunnies. Works like a charm for me.

For pill bugs (Roly Pollies)

Oranges: I had great success this season with sliced oranges in the garden catching my pill bugs. You simply slice them in half and the pill bugs go to the orange to eat, instead of your plants.

Beer traps: I’ve been told that beer traps work for pill bugs too, though I haven’t tried it yet.

TAGS:clochenatural pest controlorganic pest controlpests
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This podcast interview with @boochcraft CEO, Todd Kent, was epic! They’re truly setting the standard for sustainability and organic beverages, in the face of a lot of greenwashing. 

You MUST listen to this. 

Linked in bio and wherever you listen to podcasts🎙️. 

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This podcast interview with @boochcraft CEO, Todd Kent, was epic! They’re truly setting the standard for sustainability and organic beverages, in the face of a lot of greenwashing.

You MUST listen to this.

Linked in bio and wherever you listen to podcasts🎙️.

Big thanks to my friends over at @eartheasy for partnering on this episode. They’re another incredible company doing great things for humanity and the planet.

19 hours ago
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What’s holding you back? We have more doubt in ourselves than in any teachers. But people actually *do* change - we can create micro habits that turn into major moves. Or even take giant leaps of faith that reconfigure our lives. 

I’ve done it. I’ve made the big moves and taken the chances and acted on instinct. 

Because my hope was greater than my fear. What I wanted for my future outweighed the discomfort in being in the middle. In the cocoon. 

So, what does your butterfly moment look like, and what’s keep you from allowing the transformation? 

Snag a seat in my live training, Do It Down To Earth. It’s a masterclass in building an authentic brand that will monetize on Instagram and beyond. 

Link in bio. DM me with questions. Take the leap. I’ve got you!
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What’s holding you back? We have more doubt in ourselves than in any teachers. But people actually *do* change – we can create micro habits that turn into major moves. Or even take giant leaps of faith that reconfigure our lives.

I’ve done it. I’ve made the big moves and taken the chances and acted on instinct.

Because my hope was greater than my fear. What I wanted for my future outweighed the discomfort in being in the middle. In the cocoon.

So, what does your butterfly moment look like, and what’s keep you from allowing the transformation?

Snag a seat in my live training, Do It Down To Earth. It’s a masterclass in building an authentic brand that will monetize on Instagram and beyond.

Link in bio. DM me with questions. Take the leap. I’ve got you!

1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/4
👋🏼HERE is what I did:
I picked a niche that I was passionate about and could talk about everyday. It was something I had an abundance of information and experience on. 

I showed up authentically, and purposefully to inspire and educate. To relate to others. To be social. I had a plan based on years in the marketing and brand-building hotel business. 

At 3,500 followers my first brand deal came in. They specifically wanted to work with a mother and organic gardener. Jackpot! After that, I made a media kit and then starting pitching brands. They kept saying yes. 

I invested in a retreat to learn how to take my brand to the next level, and then was invited to be a coach at the next retreat. And then another and another, all teaching women to build an online brand. 

It 8x’d my income the first year. And then life happened: a global pandemic, a move, a late term pregnancy loss, sick kids, etc. BUT GUESS WHAT? 

It didn’t really matter. I could dial my business up or down. 

So I started incorporating other business components:
🌸A membership/subscription 
🌸Merch collaborations 
🌸Modeling for brands 
🌸My own digital Products 
🌸Workshops 
🌸online seminars/masterclasses. 

What I did was build a BRAND. Not just an income stream. 

A brand is flexible and resilient and can be multifaceted. A brand tells a story. A brand is built to last. 

This year, thanks to my brand, my biggest dream since childhood is coming true. 🤫 I haven’t shared it yet, so you’ll have to be patient to find out! 

This all happened off a brand I built authentically for four years. 

So, if this is your dream too, I got you. 

I wanted to quit my 9-5, and did. 
I wanted to be home with my kids, and did. 
I wanted to contribute to our income (ahem, Orange County, CA is the most expensive, and I did. 
I wanted to stay ME, and I have. 

So once a year I pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING so that you can do this too. 
I have a starter download for you right now to get going and then my starts in October!!! 

Comment PATH and I’ll send you a 6 Tips for Starting TODAY! 

Send this post any of your friends starting a business or ready to monetize their efforts here on IG.
•
Follow

👋🏼HERE is what I did:
I picked a niche that I was passionate about and could talk about everyday. It was something I had an abundance of information and experience on.

I showed up authentically, and purposefully to inspire and educate. To relate to others. To be social. I had a plan based on years in the marketing and brand-building hotel business.

At 3,500 followers my first brand deal came in. They specifically wanted to work with a mother and organic gardener. Jackpot! After that, I made a media kit and then starting pitching brands. They kept saying yes.

I invested in a retreat to learn how to take my brand to the next level, and then was invited to be a coach at the next retreat. And then another and another, all teaching women to build an online brand.

It 8x’d my income the first year. And then life happened: a global pandemic, a move, a late term pregnancy loss, sick kids, etc. BUT GUESS WHAT?

It didn’t really matter. I could dial my business up or down.

So I started incorporating other business components:
🌸A membership/subscription
🌸Merch collaborations
🌸Modeling for brands
🌸My own digital Products
🌸Workshops
🌸online seminars/masterclasses.

What I did was build a BRAND. Not just an income stream.

A brand is flexible and resilient and can be multifaceted. A brand tells a story. A brand is built to last.

This year, thanks to my brand, my biggest dream since childhood is coming true. 🤫 I haven’t shared it yet, so you’ll have to be patient to find out!

This all happened off a brand I built authentically for four years.

So, if this is your dream too, I got you.

I wanted to quit my 9-5, and did.
I wanted to be home with my kids, and did.
I wanted to contribute to our income (ahem, Orange County, CA is the most expensive, and I did.
I wanted to stay ME, and I have.

So once a year I pull back the curtain and share EVERYTHING so that you can do this too.
I have a starter download for you right now to get going and then my class starts in October!!!

Comment PATH and I’ll send you a 6 Tips for Starting TODAY!

Send this post any of your friends starting a business or ready to monetize their efforts here on IG.

2 days ago
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When mom goes down, she has to actually stay up. So here’s something that is so good for clearing and breaking up funk in your chest. 

A tulsi and thyme steam. 

Just heat water and herbs in a pot to a good simmer (boiling could get too hot), then release the steam while you place your fave over it, and under a towel (to keep it in). Breath it in as long as feels good. Usually a couple of minutes while the steam lasts for me. 

Watch it smooth your body and calm your soul. 

Tulsi: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and has antioxidants. Also smells heavenly. 

Thyme: has natural expectorant properties that are also soothing. 

Also: be smart & don’t burn yourself or your children with hot steam. 

#herbalism #growyourown #crunchymama #naturalwellness
•
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When mom goes down, she has to actually stay up. So here’s something that is so good for clearing and breaking up funk in your chest.

A tulsi and thyme steam.

Just heat water and herbs in a pot to a good simmer (boiling could get too hot), then release the steam while you place your fave over it, and under a towel (to keep it in). Breath it in as long as feels good. Usually a couple of minutes while the steam lasts for me.

Watch it smooth your body and calm your soul.

Tulsi: anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and has antioxidants. Also smells heavenly.

Thyme: has natural expectorant properties that are also soothing.

Also: be smart & don’t burn yourself or your children with hot steam.

#herbalism #growyourown #crunchymama #naturalwellness

4 days ago
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