Author: Andrea Lewis (Page 1 of 2)

Last year we planted bush beans in a large water trough. We carefully prepared the soil, added seeds and waited for the seedlings to arrive. No problem, right? They did begin to sprout and we had visions of eating fresh green beans. But there was one big problem. The soil was somehow infested with earwigs and boy were they hungry! Pretty soon our bean plants were gone and we needed a new plan. We needed something to deter the bugs.

We decided to try Neem Oil. We had heard about it for years but we never tried it before. We planted new beans in the same spot, applied Neem and the earwigs stayed away. A few weeks later we had delicious beans.

Little did we realize how effective it is on several garden problems with little lasting toxicity to the environment. It’s like a wonder drug. It is a popular product for organic gardens, derived from the seeds of the Neem tree Azadirachta indica which is native to India and Southeast Asia. It is yellow to brown, has a bitter taste, and a garlic/sulfur smell. It has been used for hundreds of years to control pests and diseases.

Azadirachtin is one of the most active of the many components of neem oil. It affects hormone systems making egg laying and growth less successful. It acts as a repellent and reduces insect feeding. The exact role of every neem component is not known.

The key is to use it just on the plants you need to protect, not as a general application in your whole yard. You don’t want to harm beneficial insects. Neem kills adult, larvae and egg stages of insects. Do not apply to wilted, newly transplanted or stressed plants.

Neem controls blackspot, powdery mildew, rust, spider mites, aphids, whiteflies and other insects. It’s commonly used on roses, flowers, houseplants, ornamental trees, fruits, nuts and vegetables. It’s best to apply neem oil as a preventative treatment before any signs of fungal diseases or pests appear. This helps create a protective barrier on the plants and minimize the risk of infestation or infection.

It’s important to follow the instructions provided on the neem oil product label and consider the specific requirements of your garden when using any pesticide or plant care product. Consulting with local gardening experts or extension services can also provide valuable guidance tailored to your region.

While neem oil is generally considered safe for most plants, there are some plant species that can be more sensitive and may experience leaf burn or other adverse effects when treated with neem oil. Some examples include Ferns, some orchids and succulents and certain flowering plants. You should test a small area of a plant to see how it reacts, or do research. Leaf burn is more likely to happen in hot, dry conditions. It’s best to apply neem during cool conditions or in the evening.

Tomato Hornworm

Powdery Mildew

Neem Benefits

Organic and safe: Neem oil is an organic and biodegradable alternative to synthetic pesticides. It is generally considered safe for humans, beneficial insects, and other animals when used as directed.

1. Broad-spectrum effectiveness: Neem oil has shown efficacy against a wide range of pests and fungal diseases, making it a versatile option for gardeners.
2. Systemic action: When used as a soil drench, neem oil can be absorbed by the roots and transported throughout the plant, providing internal protection against pests and diseases.

Neem Drawbacks

1. Persistence: Neem oil breaks down relatively quickly in the environment, but its effects can persist for a few days to a few weeks. This means it can potentially affect beneficial insects, such as bees and ladybugs, if applied when they are actively foraging.
2. Non-selective: Neem oil is not selective in its insecticidal properties, meaning it can harm beneficial insects along with the targeted pests if they come into contact with it.
3. Potential leaf burn: Neem oil can cause leaf burn on some plant species, particularly those with sensitive foliage or when applied in direct sunlight.

Neem oil is a contact pesticide. If there’s heavy rainfall or frequent watering, it can be washed off the leaves, reducing efficacy. Direct sunlight and high temperatures can degrade the oil. Choose cool days or evenings to apply. Neem oil may not be effective for heavy infestations or on certain pests. It may not be as effective on internal pests such as root borers. Sometimes you may need to consider stronger pesticides or fungicides if neem oil is not effective.

Can neem oil repel tomato hornworms?

Yes, neem oil can be effective in repelling tomato hornworms. Tomato hornworms are a common pest that can cause significant damage to tomato plants. They are the same color as the plant and are huge! Neem oil acts as a deterrent for many insects, including tomato hornworms, and can help prevent infestations. To use neem oil for tomato hornworm control, follow these steps:

1. Prepare the neem oil spray: Dilute the neem oil according to the instructions on the product label. Typically, a concentration of around 2 to 4 teaspoons of neem oil per gallon of water is recommended. You can also buy neem in spray bottles that are ready to use.
2. Apply the neem oil spray: Spray the diluted neem oil solution onto the tomato plants, ensuring thorough coverage, including the leaves, stems, and the undersides of the foliage. Pay extra attention to areas where hornworms are commonly found, such as the stems near the fruits and the top portions of the plant.
3. Repeat as necessary: Neem oil is not a contact insecticide, meaning it does not kill insects on contact but rather acts as a repellent. Therefore, it’s important to apply neem oil regularly, typically every 7 to 14 days or after rainfall, to maintain its effectiveness as a deterrent.
4. Combine with other control methods if needed: If you already have an infestation of tomato hornworms, you may need to use additional control methods such as handpicking or introducing natural predators like parasitic wasps to help manage the population.

While neem oil can repel tomato hornworms, keep in mind that it may not eliminate an existing infestation entirely. Therefore, it’s important to monitor your plants regularly and take prompt action if you notice signs of significant damage or a large number of hornworms. Their coloring closely matches the tomato plant and they can be difficult to find. Some people get a black light flashlight and search for them at night so they are very easy to see.

Can Neem affect fish, birds or other wildlife?

Neem oil has low toxicity to birds, mammals, bees and plants. It is slightly toxic to fish and other aquatic life. It’s best to spray the leaves, not the flowers since insects must eat the treated plant to be affected. Pollinators are unlikely to be affected when the oil is correctly applied. Always follow the instructions on the neem oil product label for proper usage and safety precautions.

Two of the many Neem Oil products found on Amazon:

Ready to use neem oil spray

Concentrated neem oil

An ode to natural drying of laundry

Ditch the dryer and give a clothes rack a chance,
A simple solution to make your laundry dance.
Save energy and money, and cut your carbon footprint,
And watch your clothes sway in the gentle breeze’s hint.

Each garment finds solace in nature’s embrace,
As the sun’s radiant warmth dries them with grace.
No harsh tumbling, no intense heat, just gentle care,
Clothes that last longer, with less wear and tear.

With each piece hung up with purpose and love,
A moment of meditation, a calm from above,
A mindful act of kindness to your clothes and the earth,
As laundry becomes a chance to renew your worth.

So try a clothes rack and embrace the ancient chore,
Find a rhythm and a joy never felt before,
Where simplicity and sustainability meet,
And laundry becomes a moment of grace, oh so sweet.

Every dollar you save is a dollar you can apply to better, more sustainable choices. Ok, I admit it, I was lazy. And that laziness cost me about $2000 in the last three years because I continued to pay full price with Verizon for years after I knew there were several less expensive choices out there. Finally one day recently, I decided this was going to change.

The choices I saw mentioned most often were Mint Mobile, Tello, Consumer Cellular and Visible by Verizon. They all have reduced price plans that can fit the needs of the majority of users. The chart below gives you a quick look of the range of plan cost each company, for a single person, in early May of 2023:

Company	Cost per Month	Carrier
Mint	$15-$30	T-Mobile
Tello	$10-$29	T-Mobile
Visible	$25-$35	Verizon
Consumer Cellular	$20-$35	T-Mobile and AT&T

My impression is that phone plans change often, depending on market forces. A few plans require prepayment or contracts, while most don’t. Before you start shopping, look closely at your recent bills to see how much data you actually use, since that is basically what you are paying for, along with speed. Most people don’t use more than 5 GB per month, so stop paying for more data and features than you need!

It will take some time to read the details and figure out what you want. Some plans include international calling, while others don’t. Some might even throttle you down to 2G after you have used up a certain data allotment. If you decide to change carriers, you may want to talk to neighbors to see if they get decent reception from that carrier in their house.

Once you decide on a plan, pick a day when you don’t have too much going on because it will take a bit of time and focus to change over. Get the directions and study them a bit. Once you start seeing the savings every month, you’ll wonder why you ever waited to make the change.

eSim/Sim card

First see if the service offers eSim and if your phone accepts eSim. If you can’t use eSim, you’ll have to order a Sim card from the new carrier before you start the process to change over.

Even if using eSim, you will need to remove your existing Sim card, assuming you still have one. Since I was using my existing phone, I did not have the special device to do this. I checked YouTube to see how it is removed and they suggested using a paper clip to release it but all that did for me is bend and cause frustration. Then another person suggested an earring post and that worked perfectly.

Refurbished Phones Save Money and Reduce Waste

It’s up to all of us to deal with phones responsibly. We should keep them for several years as long as they fulfill our basic needs. At the end of life we should be sure to dispose of them responsibly so that they don’t end up in landfills.

According to the EPA, one million mobile phones contain a total of 75 pounds of gold, 772 pounds of silver, 35,274 tons of copper, and 33 pounds of palladium. Palladium is a precious metal that is most commonly used in electronics to make electrical contacts. It is a material used in the manufacture of watches, surgical instruments, and more.

More than five billion of the estimated 16 billion mobile phones possessed worldwide will likely be discarded or stashed away in 2022, experts said Thursday, calling for more recycling of the often hazardous materials they contain.

If you need to replace your existing phone, you can save lots of money by buying a refurbished one. We just purchased a perfectly good refurbished Apple SE for less than $250. This is obviously a much more sustainable option than buying new, and doing this also allowed us to update to something newer. The cost savings, increased sustainability and the upgrade was a triple win that felt really good.

At the same time you get the new phone, you may be able to get credit for your old phone. Check with your new carrier and they will provide information about that. Be sure to back up and erase your phone before you give it up to anyone. You can find instructions online for your type of phone. Even if your phone is not worth anything to your carrier, check online to see where it can be donated or recycled.

You really can save money and reduce waste at the same time with no pain.

An ode to natural drying of laundry

Ditch the dryer and give a clothes rack a chance,
A simple solution to make your laundry dance.
Save energy and money, and cut your carbon footprint,
And watch your clothes sway in the gentle breeze’s hint.

Each garment finds solace in nature’s embrace,
As the sun’s radiant warmth dries them with grace.
No harsh tumbling, no intense heat, just gentle care,
Clothes that last longer, with less wear and tear.

With each piece hung up with purpose and love,
A moment of meditation, a calm from above,
A mindful act of kindness to your clothes and the earth,
As laundry becomes a chance to renew your worth.

So try a clothes rack and embrace the ancient chore,
Find a rhythm and a joy never felt before,
Where simplicity and sustainability meet,
And laundry becomes a moment of grace, oh so sweet.

For many years most households have had choices of electricity companies to save money or to choose a more sustainable option. It’s not difficult to shop for deals on your electricity service. All we did was search for electricity providers in our area, which brought us to one of the comparison sites. We live in eastern Massachusetts and our regular provider is Eversource. There are several comparison sites that could help us shop around. There may be different websites in your area, but here are examples of what we could use:

EnergySage: Allows you to compare energy rates and plans side-by-side from different providers in your area. You can also read customer reviews and learn about the different types of energy plans available.

ChooseEnergy: Offers a personalized search engine that helps you find the best energy plan for your specific needs. You can compare rates from multiple providers and filter your search by energy source, contract length, and other factors.

PowerSetter: Helps you to compare energy rates and plans from different providers. You can compare plans based on price, term length, and other factors, and you can also sign up for alerts when better deals become available.

ElectricityPlans: This website offers a similar search engine as the others, allowing you to compare rates from multiple providers based on your zip code. You can also filter your search by plan type, term length, and other factors.

These sites also allow you to sign up for the new provider, which in the process notifies your current provider of the change. You then get a few instructions on how to log on to the new company.

Since we wanted to save money and get 100% renewable energy (such as wind, hydro and solar), we picked a company called Verde Energy, which has 100% renewable sources. We also saved about 36% on the kilowatt per hour charge of our regular provider Eversource. Eversource will still handle billing, delivery and repairs.

Most of these alternatives offer a contracted price that lasts a few months. Pricing or available vendors will likely change by the end of your contract. Consider whether you want to look for a “time of use” plan and how it may fit your needs. These types of plans usually allow you to pay a lower price in the evenings when demand is lower and there is less strain on the grid.

By investing a bit of time into finding more sustainable energy sources, you might save some money at the same time.

K-Cup brewers with the prefilled brew cups are seductive: so many choices of brews, no fuss, and who doesn’t like freshly brewed coffee? But once you realize the environmental impact of the plastic cups, they aren’t so fun anymore.

Even John Sylvan, the inventor of K-Cups, later regretted his invention. He knew that the billions of cups that are sold each year just end up in landfills. He knew that the production of K-Cups requires significant amounts of energy and resources, from the extraction of raw materials to the manufacturing process to water usage and transportation.

Although some manufacturers have introduced compostable versions of K-Cups, a vast majority of them are still not easily recyclable in most municipal recycling systems and none can be composted by the consumer. There are fewer than 100 industrial composting facilities in the United States that can handle these types of coffee pods on a large scale. This limits the options for environmentally conscious consumers.

Good Alternatives

Fortunately, there are good, even economical alternatives which include using a refillable K-Cup in a Keurig brewer. You can also find other brands of single brewer units that use a refillable K-Cup or an alternative type of basket. Then there’s the whole world of espresso brewers that use no disposable baskets. These other choices reduce plastic waste, reduce your exposure to plastic and allow you to use freshly ground coffee, including organic, which is important to many people, and for the environment. Quite a few of these brewers are much less expensive than a Keurig.

I looked online and found several brewers that are under $50. I even found a method that employs an extra fine tea strainer that costs only $7.99. We bought one of these, and what we like about this strainer is that it is made only of stainless steel, so you are not drinking coffee that has been exposed to hot plastic.

As I looked at alternatives, I saw how simple they are and how little room they take up on your counter if you choose the right one. I’ve listed a few below and there are many others to choose from. If you need a new single cup brewer, take a look at what’s out there and find something that is not adding to the many billions of “convenient” K-Cups piling up and wasting energy and materials in manufacturing each year. Given the number of choices, this will be quite easy.

Single Cup Alternatives under $50

Hamilton Beach The Scoop, handles cups and mugs

Wirsh single serve coffee maker

Chefman single serve coffee maker

Single cup strainer has no plastic touching the brew and is only $7.99

Like many people in our neighborhood, we fell for the “non-toxic pest control” services offered in our area. We were concerned primarily about ticks, so we signed up with a company to spray our yard with a treatment containing herbal extracts and oils, applied every three weeks. It seemed to work pretty well and we were relieved to find an alternative to standard chemical insecticides.

Then at the start of year two, we started to wake up. What about the other insects? Wasn’t this spray killing them too? Don’t the plants and the birds need insects? Sure, the company was not applying long lasting chemicals, but the spray was interfering with more than just ticks and mosquitos. So began our quest to see what else we could do that would be less harmful.

Tick Tubes

Mice and other small rodents such as chipmunks are common carriers of ticks. Tick tubes were developed to help interrupt the life cycle and therefore the spread of ticks. Tick tubes are sold as small cardboard tubes, similar in size to cardboard toilet paper inserts. They are filled with cotton that has been laced with permethrin, an insecticide commonly used as a spray on clothing to kill any ticks that try to reach you by climbing on your clothing. You place the tick tubes on your property where rodents likely travel or live. The rodents make use of the cotton as nesting material, and once the cotton is in their nest, any ticks on the rodents are exposed to the permethrin and die.

The commercial versions of tick tubes made from cardboard are expensive and also degrade quickly, especially with exposure to rain, which means you have to buy them again and again. We got tired of paying so much money repeatedly, and thought there must be a better way, so we developed our own version.

DIY Tick Tubes

We bought two 5-foot sections of black PVC pipe, and cut it into four-inch sections. Then we soaked some cotton balls in permethrin, and inserted three cotton balls each into the sections of PVC. The PVC does not degrade like the cardboard, and so we can refill them every few months and not worry about them disintegrating after a few months. This is much less expensive than repeatedly buying the expensive commercial versions.

DIY Wins: More than Four Times the Number of Tick Tubes

Here is a cost comparison between the commercial tick tubes and the DIY version:

12 Commercial Tick Tubes for $58 – Must buy repeatedly

30 DIY Tick Tubes for $56 – Refillable
2 5-foot sections of 1-1/4 in. PVC pipe: $30 (Home Depot)
PVC cutter: $15
24-ounce bottle of permethrin: $18
200 cotton balls: $8

For only $56 you get more than twice as many tick tubes, and the tubes can be refilled at least one more time with the cotton balls left over, making the DIY approach more than four times as cost effective. The 24 ounces of permethrin will provide for multiple refills, so for another mere $8 you can refill the 30 tick tubes twice more, making the DIY solution wonderfully inexpensive.

Share the Extra Tick Tubes with Neighbors

We live on a fairly large property, and only use 8 tick tubes. If you make 30 tick tubes, please share the extras with your neighbors. Everyone will benefit from this, including you, because the adjoining properties probably contain some ticks.

Tick tubes are not a complete solution but they can be part of a larger strategy of control. That’s where our next phase comes in: Nematodes!

Soil Nematodes

Nematodes are microscopic, worm-like organisms found in soil and other environments. We had not heard of these creatures before, and were surprised to learn about how specific species of soil nematodes can help reduce or eliminate tick populations. The nematodes enter the tick through natural openings or by penetrating the cuticle, and then release bacteria that cause septicemia, ultimately leading to the tick’s death. You need to make sure you buy an appropriate species and follow the instructions for application.

We found a company called Arbico Organics that recommends you apply two types: Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. Steinernema attacks mobile pests, including ticks, while Heterorhabditis goes after stationery pests and ticks. The nematodes arrive by overnight or two-day shipping in a small ice-pack package, and must be stored in your refrigerator and used within two weeks. The two species of nematodes arrive in two separate small plastic containers, in a powdery substrate.

It is required that the ground where you are going to apply the nematodes be wet, because the nematodes need a moist environment, so it’s best to try to ensure that the nematodes arrive on a day when it rains, or has rained very recently. Just watch the weather report, and if it looks like it’s going to rain two days later, order the nematodes so that they will arrive when the ground is wet, or will soon be wet. Otherwise you will have to wet down the entire area yourself, which requires extra effort.

To apply the nematodes, use a hose end sprayer, the kind that is commonly used for applying other garden products that are mixed with water in the end sprayer. We hadn’t timed the arrival of the nematodes to correspond with a good rain, so we soaked the soil before we applied the nematodes. We applied the nematodes with the hose end sprayer to all areas where ticks might be present, especially at the base of bushes and other plants, and in any small piles of organic debris. See the instructions on the package to determine how often to reapply during tick season.

Despite these efforts, it’s still important to take note of any ticks in your yard or on your pets, wear protective clothing and check for them on your body.

Mosquito Dunks & Bits

Mosquito Dunks and Mosquito Bits are products that contain natural bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). When either of these products is put in standing water, such as birdbaths or rain barrels, the bacteria slowly release a toxin that kills mosquito larvae, but does not affect other organisms. These products are environmentally friendly since these bacteria do not harm people, pets or wildlife.

Mosquito Dunks are shaped like a small donut and are designed for larger bodies of water such as lakes, ponds and rain barrels. The Bits are granules that can be scattered in smaller areas of standing water like bird baths. The Dunks are easy to break up should you want to use them in smaller containers.

Keep in mind that this method does not affect adult mosquitoes, but it is quite an effective investment in preventing the development of adult mosquitoes.

We were frustrated each time we ate at a restaurant. Often we ended up taking home plastic utensils and plastic containers for leftovers, and felt bad as we used these just once and tossed them away. What a waste. We also discovered that putting them in the recycling was pointless, because they either wouldn’t be recycled or couldn’t be recycled, and even if they were recycled could only be recycled twice due to the properties of plastic. It was time for a plan, similar to how many of us bring reusable bags to the grocery store.

Reusable Containers for Leftovers in the Car

First we purchased stainless steel containers for leftovers and put them in the trunk of our car. In the beginning we would forget to bring them into the restaurant and we would have to go out to the car to get them. We rarely forget now, and we are happy every time we use these containers. We also have fun showing people who work in the restaurant that we brought our own containers. They always like that.

At a certain point we recognized another advantage of bringing our own containers for leftovers into restaurants: avoidance of plastic. When you bring your own stainless steel container, you not only avoid the health issues of your food being in contact with plastic, but you reduce the use of plastic in general. If everyone began bringing their own containers into restaurants the same way so many of us now bring our own grocery bags to the grocery store, the number of plastic containers for leftovers would be sharply reduced.

Sturdy Sporks Instead of Plastic Utensils

Next we focused on restaurants that provide only plastic utensils. After some research, we discovered sporks. These are handy utensils that have a fork at one end and a spoon on the other end. There is also a small serrated edge that functions like a knife. We now carry these in our backpacks for travel and put them in the car for takeout. The sporks we use are made of either titanium or stainless steel, so once again we are avoiding plastic, and avoiding the issue of our food coming into contact with plastic. If you don’t like sporks, you can always carry a set of regular stainless steel utensils, either from your kitchen stock, from a thrift store or purchased separately with a carrying pouch. There are wonderful sets of these available online at a low price.

Building the Habit

One of the tricks of all this is proactively telling the restaurant you don’t need utensils. You have to tell them this when you order, and then anticipate their giving the utensils to you anyway out of habit. You then have to check the order, and hand the utensils back to them before you leave. This is a bit of a pain for both parties, but just part of the process of building the habit, and raising awareness for the restaurant as well.

No Straws, Please

While you’re at it, request that they not give you straws. You will forget at least half the time in the beginning, but when you get truly tired of bringing all that plastic pollution home, you will remember.

It makes us happy and proud each time we do this, helping to solve the problem of plastic pollution, and making the world a little bit better.

Our world-wide plastic infested lifestyle is clearly not sustainable. Mountains of plastic are created and end up either in landfills, littering the landscape, or polluting the ocean. Only about six percent is recycled, and that six percent can only be recycled twice before it becomes unusable. The recent increase in fracking has made plastic packaging cheaper to manufacture and more abundant than ever, making the problem even worse. In addition to this, fracking itself is a cause of pollution, and some of the components of plastic production are dangerous.

Laundry detergent is a significant source of plastic pollution. Given that there are about 130 million households in the United States, we can safely say that at least 100 million plastic detergent bottles are emptied each year just in the U.S., though the number is problably far higher. Laundry detergent does not need to be in liquid form, which of course requires thick plastic, is heavy and uses a lot of fuel to transport.

Laundry sheets are much more eco-friendly. A slim package of laundry sheets in a cardboard liner takes up little room. Since the detergent is highly concentrated, a package that cleans 32 loads weighs only a few ounces, and contains no problematic materials; the laundry sheet dissolves, and the cardboard packaging goes into your recycling bin.

Each sheet is perforated and tears in half. We use a whole or half sheet, depending on load size. Since our clothes don’t usually have heavy dirt and stains, the sheets alone are fine. If we have stains we pretreat them with a stain remover.

While laundry sheets are not the cheapest option, the Febu brand we use is about equivalent to liquid Tide at about 30 cents per load. Arm & Hammer powder costs about half that.

Just knowing that we’re not throwing out a heavy plastic bottle every few months is definitely worth the added expense. We also expect the cost of laundry sheets to go down as competition and economies of scale kick in. Right now laundry sheet are available mostly on line, but I hope to see laundry sheets in grocery stores soon.

How many times have you had something around your house that was still useful, but just not to you? You can easily give away such items to a “buy nothing” group. Participation in these groups helps lower our carbon footprints, foster a sense of community and helps people save money. Keeping stuff out of the local landfill is also always a good thing.

We have had wonderful experiences with giving away many items we didn’t need that were only clogging our home, and that someone else might actually need. We’ve found that simply posting items with a photo in a Buy Nothing group gets several replies and within hours or days that item has been picked up from our front porch with no effort on our part. It’s so easy to post and then the items are picked up and you don’t have to do anything else. It truly is like magic.

To find a group near you, simply do a search on “Buy Nothing groups near me.” Usually there is more than one group in your area, so if posting in one is not successful, try another. In the unlikely event that you can’t find a local group, start your own!

There are many types of items listed such as clothes, furniture, toys, housewares, exercise equipment, decorations and tools. If you need something, you can post that you are in search of (ISO) a particular item. We learned recently of a woman who moved and was able to fully furnish her home with donations from a Buy Nothing group. The items below were just a few of those listed in one of our local groups today.