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Subject: Garden recycling
From: orangerose@aol.com (Orangerose)
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Date: Wed, 14 Apr 99 17:07:20
Message-ID: <MOD$990413.6912@rec.gardens.ecosystems>



I saw this post on sci.agriculture.beekeeping, and thought it would be
appropriate to this forum--maybe even more than to a beekeeping ng! ;-) So,
with the poster's permission:

< From: helmick@webtv.net (donna helmick)
Date: 4/10/99 7:24 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <25161-370F6D3E-23@newsd-163.iap.bryant.webtv.net>

When I started gardening a few year's ago I read somewhere that if
you left things to nature, nature would take care of itself or something
to that effect. I've found that to be true to the most part. When you
have garden pests such as aphids, beneficial insects will appear because
the bad guys are lunch. Lady bugs, Praying Mantis and various toads
have appeared from nowhere. (I'm having second thoughts about the
desirability of Praying Mantis since I've seen them sitting on the sides
of my hives waiting for lunch!)
When I'm pulling weeds in my herb bed, I'm often visited by a few
very large, noisy bees. I just assumed they were bumble bees though
they usually are mostly black. They are never threatening and I leave
them and their holes in my garden alone. I find their sound rather
soothing. We work very well together.
Something I did notice in the few years without honeybees is that
the number of wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets seemed to increase, or
is that my imagination?
In closing, I do have a suggestion for ridding your flower beds and
gardens of at least a few of the very worst enemies IMO, slugs (here in
WV, slugs are up to about 3" long, but I've heard tales of the ones in
WA that give me nightmares), Japanese beatles, and flies without a lot
of toxic junk. It takes work but the results are well worth it. I use
a coffee can with a hole about the size of a quarter cut into the top of
the plastic lid. Originally I was just trying to get rid of slugs that
were ruining my plants, but it's worked wonders in practically ridding
my yard of flies. I put salt water in the can and early each day I hand
pick grubs (from under wood slabs I've spaced throughout my garden) and
beatles from my roses, etc. and drop through the hole. They can't get
out and the smell after siting in the hot sun for a few days is
breathtaking to say the least (you will want to keep it downwind!)
Flies, on the other hand, think the smell is wonderful!!. You can buy
fly traps that work on the same "smell" principle, but this is free.
Now if I could get my neighbors to quit using insecticides........>>

And some further comments from the same poster:

<<...for me
the best thing about using coffee cans is that you can't see what's
happening in there. If you have a large area or separate garder plots,
it's easy to add extra traps (a quick coat of paint makes them a little
less obvious if you leave them on site which I do.) The cans will begin
to rust over a period of time because of the salt inside, but are easily
replaced. I also wear a latex glove while collecting slugs & bugs
because of the obvious "yuk" factor!>>

~sigh~
I guess I have to start buying my coffee in cans, now...

:-)
Kelly