Lelia, Regionality The results of the Iowa and West Virginia pest management trials are preliminary and regional. For instance, squash vine borer is not a significant problem in the West (west of Interstate 35). In general, organic growers need to be guided primarily by research done in their own regions. The University of California IPM Web site, however, presents very similar recommendations to what these research studies suggest: field sanitation and crop rotation to break pest cycles in the field, and use of rowcovers to prevent infestation from nearby pest hatching sites. Research remains to be doneregion by region and under weather conditions that may differ markedly from year to yearÂon the best organic methods to control insect pests on all varieties and market types of Cucurbita. Will the poison address the eggs? Read here. I was wondering if I sprayed them with soap if it would cause them to suffocate? I have a feeling if it were that simple, it would show up on all the fact sheets discussing control. Pest management is complex, if you wish to use chemical products, do so responsibly which goes further than reading the label. If you want to learn, a good place to start is here: Integrated Pest Management This lecture is presented in two parts. Each part is 90-minutes in length. Recorded in Sacramento County in California's Sacramento Valley, this lecture is by Mary Louise Flint, Ph.D., Director, IPM Education and Publications, UC Statewide IPM Project and Extension Entomologist & Cooperative Extension Specialist. Education: B.S. Plant Science, University of California, Davis Ph.D. Entomology, University of California, Berkeley Appointment: 100% Cooperative Extension Research Interests: Integrated pest management of landscape, agricultural and garden pests; biological control of arthropod pests; alternatives to pesticides; adoption of alternative practices by practitioners; innovative delivery of pest management information. Topics discussed in the Integrated Pest Management Lecture: * IPM references and resources * Preventing pest problems * Natural common enemies * Making less toxic pesticide choices * Controlling aphids, scales, caterpillars, coddling moths, tree borers, snails and slugs, and lawn insects. You can watch the programs now online: Just make sure you have Real Player installed or download it free. Integrated Pest Management Part1 90 minutes Integrated Pest Management Part 2 90 minutes You'll want to bookmark the following link to Professor Flint's Lab Research on: Controlling Pests in Gardens and Landscapes: Vegetables and Melons I promise you'll learn one or two things to put in your gardening bag of pest management arsenals. ;)

I talked to the worms just hours ago. I dug a couple up from the ground (which is exciting all on it's own, we don't have many just around in the ground). I disturbed MANY that were living in the trash can filled with last summer's compost, then I dumped them into the ground and mixed it up. I tried to cover them quickly, but yes, I did talk to them. I talked to the wild rabbits that were startled to see me, they're much jumpier in the spring than they are by summer. I also talk to my dogs and my cats. I used to talk to my grandmother's pony too. As long as they don't start talking back (in English at least, my cat meows a conversation, or yells at me for food), we're ok. When they answer us, it's time to take a little drive... Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

Thanks, that just made my Monday morning.

Patty, I'm sure you know I've learned a bit in the last few weeks of doing research since our contract was about to expire (it did last week). I don't want to write a lot on a public board, especially after what happened to the other poster yesterday. If you want to know more of what I've been (similar to you) through, I will share in an email... IMO, catfishsam is a little different. If you do a search for the posts, they were listed as victorian and the house was not. You posted to her post about the fenced in yard, the front was fenced with a wood privacy fence. The post Thinking of taking house off the market - is here. The pictures are gone but if you reread what you wrote, it will refresh your memory. Roselvr, YOU ARE A SWEETIE. Thank you so much for every single one of your suggestions! I haven't checked any of the other listings, so didn't know about the higher price coming up~that's very 'enlightening', to say the least, and could kill my sale. When it was first listed, I saw the listing on the KW site. However I tried to find it last night and nothing came up~what the he** is going on? I haven't signed up to watch~didn't realize that was an option. Will do that, too. You're very welcome! I ended up doing a bit more looking after I posted and was going to post but I figured I'd wait till we got back. It was one of those days where I couldn't shake my meds after waking up, so looking at this stuff was perfect for this morning. At Remax (http://rbranchandbeach1.california.remax.com) if I searched using $375 - $400, your place did not come up. It was only when I used the $400 to $450 that it did. This is something that seriously needs to be addressed. Why use "value pricing" if it isn't showing up for the lower amount catching those buyers? What I would do is send an email with all of your concerns and tell him he has 48 hours to fix them or you are going to consider breaking contract. There is nothing I dislike more then to be ignored by an agent once they have my business. If he was ignoring my phone calls, he would get either (or both) a phone call or an email with me asking how he planned to present offers to you if he isn't accessible during the weekend. Tell him that this is a major concern of yours, that you are afraid it may lose a sale. The longer you wait, the worst that the market can get. Since you are able to break contract, do so. I have no thoughts on the man vs. woman agent. I really feel that it is the individual agent that I have to click with. Things they say to me are weighed, then I decide. Find out about the commission. From what I am hearing from agents I interviewed the other day, 6% is better and may make a difference on whether the house gets shown. Ours was also 5%, but in our case, I really feel that we have to go local because the inventory is high, they don't have to go out of the office for listings to show. We'll see. Dabunch, boycotted~you hit the nail on the head cause that's exactly how I feel. If I am right, the reason you are being boycotted is because your house is not listed properly. This is due to the lower pricing not being searchable and the fact that you are not on his personal / company web site. This is a biggie; be sure to address this now, with 48 hours to fix this. I haven't signed up to watch~didn't realize that was an option. You know how I am always saying to sign up on all of the major sites using your house info as the search options like you were buying? This is what you need to do. Go to Remax, Century 21, Keller Williams, Weichert and any of the magazine sites - if you have a real estate book from the super market, they should have a site. Yahoo has a real estate site as does MSN. Be sure you break the search info down into 2 different ones - one to watch the lower price you have and another for the higher. You'd use say the numbers I listed up top. I know it is a lot of work, but you need to do this before he fixes everything so you can see if it comes as an email update. Sorry for the book.... I didn't write it all at once lol