Substitute Natural for Chemical Biocides: Part 2

The solution for us as individuals is to avoid using commercial chemical biocides and to try alternative ways to get rid of pests:

• Use your own organic pesticides. Derived from plants, they don’t persist in the environment as long as do chemical pesticides. Thus, cockroaches can be controlled by keeping your kitchen as clean as possible and sprinkling borax around baseboards, appliances, and ducts. Get rid of aphids by spraying plants with a mixture of pure soap dissolved in hot water. If you have a pet that is bothered by fleas and ticks, make the following rinse: add 2 tablespoons rosemary to 2 cups boiling water. Let it steep for 20 minutes, strain it, and allow it to cool. Spray or sponge the mixture on your pet and allow it to air dry.

• Purchase environmentally friendly alternatives. A number of companies market natural pest control products, including insect repellents, insect traps, and flea and tick powders and sprays. Check your local health food or ecology store. Citrus rind oil concentrate is available at some pet stores. It can be used as a flea dip for dogs and cats.

• Buy organically grown fruits, vegetables, and grains. These have grown without the use of chemical biocides. You will not only be supporting farmers who are committed to protecting the environment, you will also be ingesting fewer chemical residues yourself.