If you need bug repellent  check Natural Causes from the folks at Citrus Magic. It's a 100% natural DEET FREE, insect repellant making it safe for everyone in your family to use. Now you can go on picnics, work in the yard, go camping, and enjoy the great outdoors without the fear of biting insects or nasty chemicals. If you buy 3 bottles of their 8 oz. Natural Causes Insect Repellant they will send you a fourth bottle for free! More info!

A better way of doing things.

We could only hope that the health of our children would not be a political issue. Unfortunately this is far from the truth, and if we want a healthier  planet we must overcome the toxic legacy of the politics of poison. The folks at Orange Guard feel that their mission is to help create this better, less toxic world for our children.

Poisons like arsenic, a heavy metal, will go into your body, and are difficult to remove. The pesticides and plasticizers are even worse. They go into the body and don1t come out, period. They can either mimic estrogen or block testosterone, causing serious hormonal disruption. DDE, a breakdown of DDT, has been found in the amniotic fluid of pregnant women in California.

Off the coast of Southern California it is estimated that there is over 100 tons of DDT in the ocean.   It was poured down the drain in massive quantities by the manufacturers, up until DDT was banned. As a result, the eagle eggs on nearby Catalina Island are too thin for many of the chicks to survive.

The common organophosphate class of pesticides are a near cousin to nerve gas which was designed to kill people during World War 2.  When that fell out of fashion it was decided to develop their use for insects.  Unfortunately they are still far more effective on children than bugs. In addition,  pesticide exposure, being cumulative over time, can be the cause of many serious medical conditions which often are not linked back to the source.

Even low level chronic exposure to chemical pesticides has been shown to cause neurobehavioral damage to children. The symptoms are heart wrenching as seen in Toxic Legacy, a program that was recently shown on the Discovery Health channel.  Our homes are a real source of toxic pollutants. The chemical pesticides that people use around their homes are not allowed at the dump; an unused portion in a can must go to a toxic waste site-- so while it is in your home what does that make your home?

So what can we do? Well, if you have bugs use Orange Guard for your pest control!  If you have a pesticide service, demand that they use Orange Guard. Why? Because you care about the health of your planet, family, pets, birds and the lizards that you are lucky enough to have as your neighbors. All of Orange Guard's ingredients are on the FDA GRAS list (generally recognized as safe) and are food grade. Orange Guard is EPA registered in all 50 states (and Puerto Rico) with labeling that states that it may be used around food, humans and pets. It not only kills the insects you spray it on, but acts as a residual repellent, keeping bugs away. Finally we have an effective natural alternative to toxic pesticides!

Sometimes ants REALLY DO ruin picnics, just like in cartoons. For those who don’t like to use pesticides, however, there wasn’t a lot you could do except share your lunch with your tiny neighbors. Until now.

Victor is the world’s leader in poison-free pest control. More than 22 products have been awarded Poison-Free certification by Scientific Certification Systems, including ant, roach, rodent and moth control.

Though prevention is recommended (clean up after yourselves!), sometimes ants and insects make their way into your castle. Instead of blasting the intruders with waves of toxic chemicals, however, Victor advises a more environmentally friendly approach. Victor’s poison-free sprays contain no poisons to endanger you or your family. The active ingredient is food-grade mint oil, and poses no health risk to your family. It will not contaminate foods or cookware.

Insects are attracted to moisture and, of course, food. To keep problems at bay, Victor recommends cleaning regularly, fixing leaky pipes and caulking cracks in the foundation. Mixing one teaspoon of cinnamon with water repels ants, as does freshly cut tansy sprigs.

When you need reinforcements, however, Victor is a strong ally.

For more information, check out www.victorpest.com.

Andy Summa is a freelance writer in Sugar Land, Texas.
 

• Gardeners
• Peaceful Valley Farm Supply
• March Biological
• Orange Guard
• Victor Poison-Free
• Club Home
• Natural Pest Controls
• Gaiam
• Safe 2 Use
• Buglogical Control Systems
• Planet Natural
• Gardens Alive
• Whatever Works
• Johnny’s Seeds
• Biconet

FOR BIG’UNS:

• Have a Heart - humane animal traps

ACCESSORIES:

• Planet Natural
• Gardens-Alive
• Eco-Planter
• The Natural Gardening Company

GARDEN TOOLS:

• Seeds of Change®
• Morning Farm
• Gardens-Alive

RESOURCES:

• Invisible Gardener
• Natural Pest Control
• Get Set Inc.
• Bio Integral Resource Center
• The Best Control

Check Those Pesticides!

Pesticide information is now at your fingertips with a new online database from Pesticide Action Network of North America (PANNA). Information is provided on over 100,000  common home and garden pesticide products. The site offers sophisticated software for a wide range of search options, including to find out how toxic a pesticide is, if it contains carcinogens, if it is considered a hormone disrupter, or how it is regulated. Visit PANNA’s site, click here.
 

OTHER:

• Termi-Mesh

BETTER THAN A BUG LITE!:

• Organization for Bat Conservation

• Bat Conservation International

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES:

• Precisionworks Inc.

• Hydrexheat

ANTI PESTICIDE RESOURCES:

• Beyond Pesticides
• Environmental Working Group
• Pesticide Action Network North America

Safe Non-Toxic Lice Treatment

As embarrassing as it is to have your kids come home from school with head lice, it is very common and is not a reflection on your family's bathing habits. Children pass lice around almost as easily as they do the flu. Up until recently, most parents raced to the pharmacy and bought a lindane-based lice shampoo, now on the EPA's suspect list as a powerful disrupter of human hormones!

We can all be grateful to companies such as Lice Off, for their dedication to safe, nontoxic alternatives. Their product "Lice Off" naturally treats and prevents lice using pure essential oils and olive oil.