This is some information from another website. I can't vouch for it. ellen Just a few alternatives to synthetic pesticide poisons: 1. Neem - One of the best natural or botanical pesticides for controlling bloodfeeding arthropods and other pests is Neem. What is Neem? Neem, a member of the Meliaceae family and a botanical cousin of mahogany, is a tall, fast-growing, evergreen tree which has an attractive crown of deep-green leaves and masses of honey-scented flowers and thrives even in nutrient-poor, dry soil. It tolerates high temperatures, low rainfall, long spells of drought and salinity, and can be propagated by seed. Because of its many benefits, neem has been worshipped as a goddess in India. Neem is bitter in taste. The bitterness is due to the presence of an array of complex compounds called "triterpenes" or more specifically "liminoids". The most important bioactive principle is a terpenoid known as azadirachtin; however, at least 10 other neem limonoids also possess insect growth regulating activity. The tree's scientific name is Azadiractita indica. Neem has been used for centuries primarily against household and storage pests, and to a limited extent against crop pests. Neem trees were the only green thing left standing during a ravaging locust plague in Sudan in 1959. Neem does not kill pests but affects their behavior and physiology and reduces the risk of exposing the pests' natural enemies to poisoned food sources or starvation. Neem derivatives affect more than 200 insect species belonging to Coleoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Thysanoptera, several species of mites and nematodes, and even noxious snails and fungi. Although neem oil can be used directly for pest control, semi-purified "bitters" and "neem rich" fractions can easily be standardized for biological properties and could satisfy even stringent quality requirements. Being water soluble, they also can be applied as systemic compounds which render them more photostable and nonphytotoxic. A garlic odor often present in other neem products is absent in "bitters". Neem products are effective and relatively hazard-free. An added benefit of using semi-purified neem fractions, rather than pure compounds, is that pests will be less likely to develop resistance. Neem compounds act together on several different behavioral and physiological processes which also helps prevent insects from evolving resistance to the compound. Their effects include repellence, feeding deterrence, reduced ingestion and digestion of food, poor growth and development, reduced longevity and fecundity, mating disruption, oviposition deterrence, inhibition of egg hatchability, molting failures and direct toxicity. Reports suggest that by paralyzing the muscles in the insects' mandibles neem induces starvation. At lower than lethal dozes, azadirachtin also mimics juvenile hormone, preventing insects from maturing. Neem-based insecticides can be further fortified against dynamic pests by optimizing their use with microbials or other botanicals. Neem fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, bark and roots can be used as general antiseptics, antimicrobials for the treatment of urinary disorders, diarrhea, fever, bronchitis, skin diseases, septic sores, infected burns, hypertension and inflammatory diseases. Neem oil and its isolates - nimbidin, nimbidol and nimbin - inhibit fungal growth on humans and animals. Neem leaf extracts and teas are used to treat malaria; ioquin tablets and injections containing neem extract are currently being formulated for treating chronic malaria. Exposing kissing bugs (Rhodnius prolixus), the major vector of Chagas disease in Latin America, to neem extracts or to azadirachtin "immunizes" them against their internal protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. We are trying it on termites. Cattle leaf supplements containing neem leaf powder are used as worm killers. Creams containing neem oil are used for animal wound dressing and also act as fly and mosquito repellents. Neem oil in human bathing and laundry soap kills lice and neem in dog soaps and shampoos controls ticks and fleas. Neem twigs are used daily by millions in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan as disposable toothbrushes; extracts of neem bark are used in some toothpastes and mouthwashes. Neem plantings also serve as a refuge for honeybees, wasps, spiders, birds, bats and other beneficial organisms, and the litter of falling leaves can improve soil fertility. Neem overall as a relatively safe, natural (botanical) pesticide poison with numerous benefits. Neem nectar does not kill pollinating bees. 2. Noxema - We have found that Noxema® or Ben-Gay® applied to the exposed skin of children and people repels mosquitoes and other pests. (Always check to see if you are sensitive before using any product.) 3. Invincible Herbal Insect Repellent from Great Garden Formulas by Joan Benjamin and Deborah L. Martin: "...before heading outdoors, I douse myself with an incredible repellent that my friend Marion Spear and I concocted, Tina Wilcox, head gardener at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas says. "It renders me almost invincible to both insects and poison ivy!" Ingredients and Supplies: 1 large handful fresh jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) 1 large glass jar with plastic lid (vinegar corrodes metal) 1 strainer 1 quart apple cider vinegar ½ teaspoon pennyroyal oil 1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil 1 teaspoon orange oil 1 teaspoon citronella oil 1 plastic spray bottle Directions: Crush jewelweed in the jar and cover with vinegar. Let steep for several days. Strain out the jewelweed and mix essential oils into the vinegar. Before applying all over, spray a small amount on the inside of your arm and monitor for 15 minutes for any allergic reaction. To use, spray thoroughly on clothing and lightly on any exposed skin except your face. Reapply every ½ hour or so. (To keep insects away from your face, spray your hat or bandanna.) Yield: About 1 quart of invincible spray. Note: This formula will keep indefinitely. Caution: If you are pregnant, don't use pennyroyal, even topically, as it may increase the risk of miscarriage. Note: Citronella oil has been known to attract female black bears.

My son found two ticks on himself within a one week period and has instituted a tick check on his kids every evening after playtime. He also bought a spray by Coleman that is 25% DEET for when we are in the tall grass or brush. We've never, ever had them be a problem before in the 22 years we've lived here! I always knew there was a possibility and usually wear my pants tucked into my socks when walking the fields or woods, but I never saw any tick on me - ever. The dogs and cats are on Frontline, but that doesn't cure the situation. I, too, believe it was the extremely mild winter just past that has increased their population. We're seriously talking about getting a half dozen or so guinea hens. They're reportedly really good at keeping ticks under control, along with other pests, and they don't mess up the gardens like chickens do.

Same here it was FINALLY sunny, so I sat and planted out some of my seedlings into four and six pack cells...I am going to put them in my NEW greenhouse tomorrow ( using it for the first time) and allow them to grow up some more. I am going to use them for a plant swap, or maybe even sell them...I left the other half of each jug intact, to be put out in the garden. It sure felt good to get dirt under my nails !

I live in the Hudson Valley. This year I have had 4 tick bites. I had never seen a lyme tick in my yard before this year. I think it has to do with the fact that I eased up on my routine of throwing my outdoor clothes into the basement laundry everyday and not rewearing them (7 garden outfits are not unusual here), taking a shower before bed on any day I am outdoors (which is everyday during garden season), and never lounging in the house with outdoor clothes on. So I got bitten. Back to the routine... All the bites had a really bloody hole after the tick fell out (or was dug out by me). They were in my forehead hairline, under my breast, and in my groin. One bite gave me a fever and weird muscle pains in the smooth muscles of my abdomen the next day for 5 days. I went to an infectious disease specialist here and he put me on doxycycline for 2 weeks. He said the most true (90% sure) test comes around 3 months after the bite (it tests for your own antibodies). I tested negative for the other bites but will wait now to test for this one that made me sick. I caught it early. Don't ignore immediate symptoms of Lyme because it then goes unnoticed and can make you really sick, crippled and uncurable years later. I was also tested for the other two diseases the ticks are carrying (mentioned above). It's not fun and I urge everyone to really take care of yourself. I trap a lot of mice and voles in the garden because they eat my plants, but I'm wondering if I should let them live so the ticks will go on them! Those tick tubes look good and I will investigate them. They're new to me. Also keep an eye on any bagged mulch you buy. I had a few bags of cedar mulch that had swarms of dog ticks in them. What a nightmare! This year the new bags of mulch brought those huge snake worms (look them up) which turned my mulch, pathways, compost and my whole garden soil into nothing but worm casting pellets, devoid of organic matter and too porous to hold water. What a year...