BUGS

[Gabby]

OK. I'm not shy. I'll be the first to post here. I don't know the first thing about gardening in the far north, but down here we get LOTS of BUGS in the garden. What kinds of garden pests do you folks have, and what do you do about them? I don't like using chemicals.

You're probably wondering why in the world I'd care about that this time of year. Well, we're in the deep south, and planting time is getting close. (Are you northern gardeners jealous yet? ;D)

This is off the subject a bit, but just wondering when folks in other parts plant their seeds in the garden? Do you have to start things inside first so they mature before winter sets in again? I heard that in some places you're doing good to get 90 days out of a garden what with late spring and early fall frosts. THat would be a bigger pest than the bugs

Happy Gardening,

Gabby

[Jenny]

I, for one, am terribly jealous, Gabby. How I wish for a longer, more reliable growing season. Up here, I've seen it snow every month of the year. Of course, when it snows in July, its only for a few minutes during the middle of a storm. Every now and again we entertain the idea of moving down south. Gardening and raising animals would be so much nicer. But Alaska's our home. We have thought seriously of buying some land in the northern interior, maybe someplace away from Fairbanks. Beautiful summers!

Re: BUGS. Gabby, I have to tell ya, you ain't seen nothing till you've seen the bugs in Alaska ! ! ! . They're HUGE. I know you're talking about garden pests, but in the next day or so I'll post my "recipe" for mosquito repellent. I don't think I'm supposed to call it "repellent" without getting it blessed by the EPA, but since I'm not selling it, I can call it whatever I like. It repels mosquitoes, so that's what it is. Anyway, look under "God's Cures".

There are lots of natural things we do to help protect our garden goodies from the bugs. I love flowers, so I plant patches of marigolds all around and throughout the garden. At least one little patch in every row. Sometimes more. They're so bright and beautiful, and I've read they keep flies and other pests away. Supposed to keep mosquitoes away, too, but they don't seem to help with that up here.

Instead of planting onions all in one place, we plant them in patches scattered throughout the garden. Same with the garlic. Garlic is really helpful. Since we use so much of it anyway, and it doesn't take up much room, we plant it everywhere. Don't know if that's the "officially correct" thing to do, but we do it and it definitely helps. One year we skipped the garlic. Our young plants got attacked worse, and our root crops suffered a little.

One last thing that I think is a biggie for us. We scatter antler dust all over the garden. We till it in everywhere, then sprinkle it on top of the rows of root crops like spuds, rutabagas, turnips, etc. Wood ashes do the same thing, as far as bugs go. During the spring when there's still several feet of snow on the ground, we sprinkle wood ashes all over the garden areas. That makes the snow melt MUCH faster, and kills flies and the maggots. Since we cook and heat with wood, we always have plenty of wood ashes. When we were in the bush before, we made caribou and moose antler jewelry ----- wholesale to museums, art galleries and gift shops. Chuck cut and sanded the antlers, and I did the porcupine quill and bead work. Our shop tools were run off a generator. Antler dust is terribly abrasive and hard on the lungs, even wearing masks. We hooked a shop vac to the tools to collect the dust. We had buckets of the stuff, but didn't know what to do with it. Just saved it, figuring we'd think of something. We found that when flies came in contact with the dust, they died. Works like wood ashes on bugs, plus it adds nutrients to the soil.

That's about all I can think of off the bat. When we do those things, we don't have as many problems. Here's one thing I would NOT do. Some friends, who don't raise their own animals, heard that bat scat made good fertilizer. They bought lots, but almost lost their garden to pests. They said the flies were horrible. We've always used composted chicken, goat, and rabbit fertilizer and never had bug like they had.

I should have replied to this in the morning rather than so late at night. Now I'll probably have nightmares about giant bugs

Jenny
Alaska HOMESTEADING Journal
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[Jenny]

Forgot to mention why the antler dust and ashes kill the flies. It's abrasive, like Diatomaceous Earth. It works into their bodies (sort of pierces them), and they die.

BTW, antler dust and wood ashes are also great for keeping down the fly population in your outhouse.

[sundew]

Never thought of antlers!!! I am going to go and find some and just start making me some dust!!! In Washington here, slugs are my problem and I won't put the poison out. Diatom earth hurts/kills the birds I was told, so it would not be a good idea to put on top of soil. Can't think the same would be with antlers, probably be nutritious for the birds.

I so do remember the flying things in the bush!! I kept citronella spray with me, always had it attached to my belt. Some thought I was nuts yet they were the ones getting red welts. It is hard to describe to ones which have never been in Alaska, all the flying birds dinner.

I thank you very much-just think ya'll just got this forum going and I learned something new already with most likey lots more I will learn.

[Jenny]

Sundew, you just gave me an idea! We've got what seems like TONS of antler scraps we've collected over the years we've made antler jewelry. We usually eventually come up with something to make from most of them, but now we have sooooo much antler junk just taking up space and attracting curious bears. Maybe we'll hook the shop vac up to the sander, then MAKE DUST ;D We could market it to gardeners ! ! ! What do ya think of that ? Bet we'd make more than we made off the jewelry. You could be our first customer ! ;D

[sundew]

I'll buy some, email when your ready-as administer you have access to my email address.
Market slug deterient, fly-a-way, wonder what other garden critters it will deter?hmmmmmm
Perhaps you can learn if the dust has certain nutrients to be marketed as boost to soil. Off the top of head-what about market for those who, keep a little compost bucket in their house-a cute container to go beside their little "containers" Ya can't assume people will realize all the applications/benefits.Many people I've encountered with such containers always have fruit flies in house-will the dust keep them from hatching? Heck, perhaps different particle size will work, as some wouldn't use if like wood ashes it goes all over the place.
Your a youngster with lots of imagination and probably have lots of marketing skills-
Just an idea-find someone that goes to Farmer's market to perhaps sell the dust for you. Along with online, your mag, Have it packaged pretty for people to give as gifts?

What have you found in the veggies you mix dust in soil . Any differences in size, taste, what pests have not come?

sundew

[Freeholdfarm]

Jenny, before you make dust out of those antlers, do some research on medieval uses of bone and antler. They used to make a LOT of things out of both, but mostly antler, and there are now many thousands of people "playing dress-up" (they call it something like experimental archaeology, LOL!!) in organizations like the Society for Creative Anachronisms (SCA). These folks like to buy things that are authentic for their time period. So you might be able to put your supply to a better use than making dust out of it!

Kathleen

[Jenny]

Hadn't thought of that market for the useable antler. We were selling jewelry to museums, art galleries and high end gift shops. I'll have to check into the things you mentioned, Kathleen.

For the antler dust, I was mostly thinking of a way to market what we collect anyway when we make the jewelry ( which we may not do when we go back to the homestead). Also, we end up with sooooooo many odds and ends, and broken, dried up, too brittle pieces to use. Those pieces could be sanded down. Don't know if there would be a market or not. I would think it would be very similar to bone meal in it's value to the soil. I'd have to do some checking though.

I mentioned the idea to one of my sisters. She LOVED the idea and said she'd probably buy something like that for her houseplants, especially if it came in a nice little can or something. Chuck doesn't like the idea, though. Hmmmmm. We'll have to talk about that

Jenny
Alaska HOMESTEADING Journal

[Gabby]

Jenny, just imagine . . . . . When someone asks you what you do for a living, you could tell 'em, "I'm a DUST COLLECTOR". ;D And all this time I thought you had to be an inanimate object to be called that ;D

Gabby