o “Fifty million kilograms of herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are used in
Canada each year. Seventy percent of that is used on crops which livestock and human ingest.” o Pesticides can directly harm the person using them o Runoff into water systems can effect the quality of life in marine ecosystems o Pesticide can hurt wildlife populations o Bioaccumulation occurs when the concentrations of chemicals increase in living organisms as these chemicals are passed through the food chain. o Pesticides can cause ‘pests’ to become resistant making them into what is known as ‘super bugs’ and ‘super weeds’.
o Alternative methods of pest management do not incorporate the use of chemical or other environmentally products. harmful o Natural fertilizers, nutrients, substances to promote plant survival. o Biological control is also an alternative to chemical pesticides.
Many insect repellents are most commonly applied either directly to human or animal skin or applied in enclosed areas where these products can be inhaled and cause health risks. Here are some simple alternatives:
 Ant Infestation?
Don’t use the toxic chemicals that are going to affect your health, try this instead:
* Red chili powder at the point of entry
* 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp Borax and 2 tbsp water to make a syrup, Place in a dish beside infestation.
 Fleas On Your Pets?
Many flea care products can affect your animals health as poisonous chemicals are directly applied and can soak through their skin. Why not try these:
* Feed animals garlic, tablets of vitamin B or brewers yeast. Consult a veterinarian regarding dosages.
 Mosquito Repellent
DEET is a poison found in most mosquito repellents and when applied to the skin in high dosages will it chemically burn your skin. So why put it on your body at all, try these simple alternatives:
* Burn citronella candles or try the essential oil mixed with almond oil and yarrow if available.
* Cactus Juice is an all natural insect repellent, You can check this product out at
.
* Consult a physician, A good vitamin B concentration in the body can help keep insects from biting.
University of Nefraska- Lincoln- pesticide education resources o Honeybee Centre, 7480 176 th St.
Surrey , BC
Georgia Strait Alliance www.georgiastrait .org
WWF Canada- reducing your risk
Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
Metro: Natural Gardening
Sierra Club of Canada- pesticide facts
Environment Canada- non-pesticidal control of insects www.ec.gc.ca/envhome.html
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o A pesticide is anything that has the capacity to control or kill any pest including insects, mice, and other animals, weeds, fungi, and microorganisms. o Classifications of pesticides:
* Insecticide - kills insects
*Herbicides - kills plants
*Fungicides - kills fungi
*Rodenticides - kills rodents
*Disinfectants and Sanitizers - kills bacteria and viruses
A pesticide has one active ingredient, which is a chemical that may work to poison the nerves, interfere with growth hormones, and work as a suppresser.

Many household products are not
usually thought of as pesticides.
Sanitizers, detergents, and many other chemically based products are considered pesticides which
run straight into our water systems, affecting water quality and aquatic life.
Look for alternatives to the products they sell at supermarkets?
 All Purpose Cleaner
Most all purpose cleaners contain ammonia, which is a harmful toxic chemical. Here’s an alternative:
*Mix ½cup pure soap with 12cups of hot water. For grease try mixing ¼cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice or just using
1/4cup of baking soda in 4cups of hot water. For really tough grease, try mixing equal parts of salt and vinegar.
 Dishwashing Detergents
Many dish washing detergents are high in phosphates. Phosphates are deadly chemicals to aquatic life, try using:
*Hand wash dishes with soap flakes,
For grease, add a little vinegar.
 Glass Cleaner
Ammonia usually requires a label which reads
‘poison’, but not for glass cleaners that also contains ammonia and can be easily inhaled. Here is a simple alternative that will leave your windows sparkly:
* ¼cup of vinegar or 1tbsp of lemon juice added to 4cups of warm water. Spray on the window and wipe with newspaper.
(The newspaper can still be recycled.)
 Bacterial disinfectants
Many disinfectants contain toxic fumes and waste which end up down the drain. The simplest alternative for disinfecting is sunlight, or try:
* ½cup borax with 19cups of hot water
*For mildew try soaking with vinegar and scrubbing the spot with an old toothbrush.
 Drain Cleaners
This is considered one of the most toxic household pesticides because it goes directly into the sewage systems. There are some simple alternatives:
* Sink drainage covers
* Use a plunger or mix ½cup baking soda,
½cup salt and 2tbsp cream of tartar.
Immediately rinse with hot water.
*For grease try baking soda and white vinegar, cover overflow vent until fizzing stops and flush with water.
Each year in British Columbia thousands of litres of poison are poured and sprayed around gardens and homes( Georgia Strait Alliance ).Gardens are sources of food energy, so applying these dangerous poisons can be harmful to anyone or anything that comes into contact with it. Prevention is the best alternative to a pesticide free garden and lawn.
Here are some simple suggestions:
 Choose Native Plants
Native Plants are adapted to the regional climate, soil type and are a better choice for creating habitat for native species.
 Garden In Raised Beds
This allows for denser planting, greater root development and good drainage. It is an effective way to detour garden pests.
 Crop Rotation
Crop rotation is an effective way to avoid reoccurring diseases. Crops should be rotated on a three year cycle and rotated according to family group. This is because within the same family group plants are susceptible to the same diseases.
For example potatoes and tomatoes, their diseases are easily transmittable.
 Feed Your Soil
The most effective natural fertilizer is compost in different stages of decomposition. Remember that having a good mixture of clay, silt, sand, air and water is very important.
 Keep An Eye On Your Garden
If weeds arise hand pick them before the seeds form. Hoeing your garden weekly (2.5 cm to avoid bringing up dormant weeds). Mulching your garden with organic material is another effective way to avoid weeds.
* If disease arises, such as powdery mildew, try spray your plants with this recipe the following spring. Use tsp baking soda and a few drops of dish liquid, then add 4cups of water and place in a spray can.
* If a fungal disease arises, try a compost tea: Brew compost, drain and spray the concentrates on the plant.
* Resistant strains of plants are available at nurseries.
 Who Really Is The Pest?
Remember that lady bugs, butterflies, dragonflies, spiders, bees and yellow jackets are some of your best friends in the garden.
They can help with a lot of insect and aphid infestations.
Aphid Problems?
*Try a garlic spray. Soak
3 ounces minced garlic in 2tsps oil for
24 hrs. Drain, then add 2 1/3cups water and 1tsp liquid dish soap and mix. Spray, then water plants.
*Lady Bugs eat aphids
*Try aromatic methods of repelling insects. Spray plants with a mixture of water and a couple drops of strong essential oils such as rosemary, pine, or citronella.
Bee Swarms?
*Although bees are very beneficial to your garden, in large swarms they may seem intimidating. It is illegal to kill
Bees. The most effective treatment is to call a local beekeeper (Honeybee
Centre Surrey 537-BEES(2337) they are also connected with a network of beekeepers around the province).
Mucous Trails?
* Try hand picking slugs from under rocks, and garden boarders. The best time for slug hunting is at dusk.
*Lining your garden with copper barriers that are curved over at the top will prevent slugs from coming into the garden.
* Slugs hate crawling over sharp objects. Try lining your plants with crushed raiser clam shells.
* Offering a slug a beer in a dish sunk into the ground could do the trick. You can also try a home made slug beer add 2tbsp baking yeast to 19cups warm water, let it sit for 10 minutes then stir in 2/3 cup sugar. Slugs don’t like diluted beer.
 Companion Planting
Vegetables and flowers have different odors and root secretions that are believed to affect the activity of insects and the growth of nearby plants.
Try some of the following combinations.
* Plant marigolds ( chrysanthemun ) throughout the garden to protect tomatoes, beans, and other plants from a variety of insects.
* Savory is said to protect beans from infestations.
* Plant aromatic plants such as chives, dill, nasturtiums, thyme, basil, celery, mint, garlic, and onions to keep insect infestations out of the garden.
* Horseradish and beans planted throughout potato patches help keep potatoes free of predators.
Remember that pesticides only relieve symptoms…they are not a cure-all. Insects will never be eradicated for they are part of the web of life. Why not tolerate minor flaws and blemishes on fruit and vegetation? Think of your yard and garden as a small portion of nature in which pests have their place. Often, nature provides its own pest control in the form of birds or other preying insects that feed on the species we consider a nuisance. But if you do want to give nature a helping hand, next time consider the alternatives before reaching for a spray can.