Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Wasp traps
Get Rid Of Wasps: Traps & Tips
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If you’ve ever been stung by a wasp, you know they live up to their reputation of being aggressive and having painful stings. When you regularly spot them in your yard, chances are there’s a nest on your property or nearby. These are not pests that you want hanging about, especially if you have children running around. The best way to get rid of them is to find the nest and destroy it, but if you can’t find it or if it’s not on your property, you can use traps to tempt them away from high-traffic areas to another part of the yard to kill them.
New for 2012: Here’s a quick DIY I saw on my local news (tv) using an empty jar, orange juice and a bit of jam (you’ll find the soda pop bottle versions I published previously underneath):- Punch a hole into the jar lid that’s about as wide in diameter as the base of your pinky finger (you want the wasps to crawl in but not be able to fly out easily).
- Fill jar about 1/2 full with orange juice (can also use orange soda or some sweet & fruity smelling liquid).
- Smear raspberry or strawberry jam underneath the lid.
- Seal jar with the lid then place it at the back of the yard or some place away from foot traffic.
- The wasps will be attracted to the sweet smelling juice and jam and will crawl into the jar and eventually fall into the juice and drown.
- Wait until it’s dark outside before emptying the jar of its contents and refilling with a fresh batch of juice and jam.
Here are directions for two easy homemade wasp traps, they require the same materials and and have the same concept, but two different designs (one’s ideal for hanging, the other for setting on the ground). I used graphics that show soda inside the bottles, but you need to use empty pop bottles (ignore the soda levels shown in the images).
Ground Version
- Take an empty two liter pop bottle or any plastic bottle that has a consistently even width along the sides.
- Using a sharp knife, cut off the top of the soda bottle just below where the start of the bottle sides are at even width.
- Fill the bottom of the bottle with bait about 2″ deep (ideas below).
- Insert the top of the bottle upside down into the bottom of the bottle (remove the bottle cap first). The pieces should fit together nice and snug, but use duct tape along the top edge to secure the pieces together if you need to.
- Set the trap out wherever you’ve seen them (in flower beds, close to a hedge, near the bird bath, etc.).
- The wasps will fly into the trap to get at the bait, but have trouble finding their way out. They’ll eventually drown in the liquid bait.
- This setup will also work for killing fruit flies.
Hanging Version
This is well suited for hanging in tree branches or along the eaves of a house (away from entrances since this will attract live wasps). They will fly up into the trap from underneath, but have trouble finding their escape by flying down and out.
- Take an empty two liter pop bottle, tighten on the cap then cut off the bottom few inches of the bottle.
- Taking a second two liter pop bottle, remove the bottle cap and cut off the top part of the bottle right underneath where the width is the same as the rest of the bottle.
- For the bigger bottle piece, puncture two small holes, one on either side of the bottle (at the top) and push through each end of a piece of heavy string or yarn, knotting at each end inside the bottle (this will need to be long enough to hang the bottle and strong enough to hold the weight).
- Seal the holes where the string runs through with duct tape to prevent them crawling out and escaping.
- Place the small piece up inside the bigger piece, securing together with duct tape around the edges.
- Fill with bait about 2″ deep and hang.
Tips:
- Do not fill it so full of bait that there isn’t plenty of air space between the bottom (or top) of the pop bottle opening, you want them to be able to fly in with no trouble.
- Empty and refill the traps regularly, wasps won’t be too tempted if they’re filled with drowned critters. You can submerge the trap in a bucket of water for about 1/2 hour to make sure they’re all dead before cleaning and refilling.
Bait Ideas
Just like ants, wasps can be looking for two different types of food sources depending on the colony’s needs at the time: protein or sugar. Set out two different traps to see which bait tempts them best, then continue to fill with that type of bait. Or you could do a sugar & protein bait together (for example: mixing juice with a piece of meat).
- Jam dissolved in water (sweet enough to attract the wasps but diluted enough to drown them)
- Fruit juice
- Beer
- Sweet Soda Pop
- Wine
- Maple syrup diluted with water
- Molasses diluted with water
- If you need protein baits: Try adding a piece of raw hamburger or a chunk of canned tuna, canned dog or cat food to a trap with fruit juices or even plain water (deep enough to drown the wasps but the piece of meat bait needs to be sticking out above the liquid surface to effectively attract them).
Mosquito repelants
How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
As promised from yesterday’s post for How To Stop Mosquito Bites Itching, I’ve compiled a big list of recommendations and home remedies for repellent suggestions.
A few things to note first:- You pretty much have to stop breathing to not attract the attention of these annoying critters, a big attractor for them is the carbon dioxide from your breathing.
- It also seems they are attracted by scents like perfumes, sweat, body odor as well as body heat. Unless you stop using shampoos, soaps, deodorants and detergents–it’s hard to be scent free.
- From what I understand, DEET has proven to be the most effective repellent. DEET is pretty crazy stuff though, so if you’d like to try less harsh solutions, there are plenty of tips below for you to give a shot.
Something to keep in mind: Since some people seem to be a mosquito magnet while others around them don’t get a single bite, I have the suspicion that there could be a personal body chemistry factor involved. And that could explain why a remedy that works for one person, may not work for another.
I suspect that’s why some people swear by the Bounce sheet method, or the Avon Skin So Soft solution, while others have a different experience. Bounce nor the Avon SSS did a thing for me btw, but I did include them in the list below. I know a few people who SWEAR by them.
Basics:
- Wear light colored clothing, these critters are attracted to dark clothes
- Keep your body covered as much as possible (including wearing a hat), although they can find their way through the fabric–it does cut down on bites
Home Remedies & Tips
- Vanilla Extract: A few different recommendations for this one, each contradicting the other. Some say to dab Vanilla Extract on your pulse points, others say to rub it all over your skin & dab your clothes. Some say the cheap stuff is what you have to use, others say the real, pure Vanilla is the only thing that will work. Some say to apply it full strength, others say you can dilute it with water and spray it on. Play around with Vanilla to see what gives you best results–there are plenty of believers for this one so I think there’s something to it.
- Garlic: This isn’t a favorite thing to do day-to-day, but if you’re going camping or hiking through heavily infested areas, try a garlic powder and water paste. Apply to pulse points, behind knees, on shoes and ankles and a dab or two on your cheeks or somewhere on your face and neck. Remember–keep out of eyes. And maybe stay out of public places too
.
- Essential Oils: Mix choice of essential oils with rubbing alcohol, or witch hazel, or distilled water and spritz on body or directly on cloth to rub on body (shake before each use). Or add a few drops in baby oil or olive oil then rub on skin. You can also apply drops along a strip of fabric (cotton) and tie around wrist. *Make sure to avoid mouth and eye areas when using essential oils. I’ve listed them in the chart below…
| Citronella | Lavender | Catnip | Eucalyptus | *Pennyroyal | *Tansy |
| Basil | Thyme | Cedar | Tea Tree | Peppermint | Lemongrass |
*Seems to be strongly recommended. Also see this list of recipes for homemade repellents using a mix of essential oils.
Plants That Repel Them
Break off leaves and crush them roughly, rub them all over your clothes and skin. Toss the bruised leaves around the perimeter of your deck or patio. Also plant these in pots and arrange them around the patio. You could also infuse these in water and then use that as a spray.
- Lemon Thyme
- Citronella
- Lavender
- Basil
- Catnip
- Pennyroyal
- Tansy
- Marigolds
Commercial Products
*(other than DEET items)
- Avon’s Skin So Soft (straight or mix 50/50 with rubbing alcohol)
- Bounce Sheets (hanging out of a pocket or waistband)
- Listerine (mixed 50/50 with household vinegar then sprayed all over body)
- Vicks VapoRub
- You can purchase citronella torches to stand in the ground or set on table tops
Household Hacks
- Spray garlic powder and water all over the yard and bushes. Use a fertilizer hose attachment. Will need to be done bi-weekly (approx) or after a heavy rain.
- Another trick you can try is to spray Listerine on the lawn or around the deck or campsite.
Items to Eat
*Daily
Apparently the smell that comes out of your pores from a steady diet of the below deters mosquitoes. The items aren’t meant to be combined, they’re just different suggestions.
- Garlic
- B1 Vitamins
- Brewers Yeast
- Lemons
Proven False
Elder's Meditation of the Day January 30
| Elder's Meditation of the Day January 30 | |
| "Bright days and dark days were both expressions of the Great Mystery, and the Indian reveled in being close to the Great Holiness." |  |
| --Chief Luther Standing Bear, SIOUX | |
| The Great Spirit created a world of harmony, a world of justice, a world that is interconnected, a balanced world that has positive and negative, this way and that way, up and down, man and woman, boy and girl, honest and dishonest, responsible and irresponsible, day and night. In other words, He created a polarity system. Both sides are to be respected. Both sides or anything are sacred. We need to do good and we need to learn from our mistakes. We need to honor what takes place in the daytime and we need to honor what takes place in the nighttime. We learn that we need to learn and we see what we are supposed to see by staying close to the Great Spirit. We need to be talking to Him all the time, saying "Grandfather, what is it you want me to learn?" | |
Great Spirit, let me learn today that all things are sacred. Help me stay close to You, my Creator.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
8 indoor plants :]
8 aromatic indoor herbs that purify air naturally
This is a collection of some house plants which help clean the air in the room from pollution, bad smell and lower carbon dioxide naturally.
Some of them repel biting insects, other invite useful wasps that kill the parasites on the other plants.
Most of those plants below will live in perfect coexistence near each other (except the mint, if planted in the same box or pot).
They will also not grow too tall and wide, so you can fill small spaces around your windows and not risk stumbling upon them all the time.
Rosemary in pot
Source: Lovelihood @ Flickr
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Rosemary
Some use this herb for cooking, other use it as a herbal tea.
As with all plants having needle-like leaves, the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is evergreen and can be held indoors in the whole winter, still leaving pleasant aroma.
Most of the needle-leaved plants are very good purifiers, especially for humid winter air. They breathe carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Rosemary is not exception.
The most important function of this herb is its ability to improve cognitive function and shield the brain from free radicals.
And the presence of this plant in the room is enough in the long run. Rosemary still exhales some of its essential oils in the room (you don't need to boil it in a tea infusion to benefit from it).
Lavender blooming
Source: Dylis Ong @ Flickr
Lavender (Lavandula spica L.)
You need to check if you are not allergic first, but this herb makes very good house plant.
- It is excellent insect repellent.
- The aroma relaxes the lungs and helps for calmer night sleep.
- The aroma (also) helps relax if you suffer from anxiety.
If you don't want to buy oil lamp for aromatherapy or sleep with lit aroma candle beside your bed - have a pot of Lavender growing on your bedroom window. It loves sunlight so - don't deprive it or it will refuse to bloom.
At late autumn, the sunlight will be insufficient, so gather the seeds when the plant withers and reseed them at early spring.
The soil is best to be sandy and not too rich (exclude compost and fertilizers) and the plant is best kept in a pot with good drainage. Don't drown the roots or you risk losing the whole plant.
Basil
Source: Averain @ Flickr
Basil
(Ocimum basilicum L.) a.k.a. Basil is one well known herb and spice.
Naturally it is spread in Asia and North Africa but can easily be cultivated for all climates and domesticated.
Grows about 1-2 feet long with small white blossoms and wide leaves.
The fruit is small 4-seed nut that dries and drops by itself at autumn and can be reseeded in the next Spring.
The rich aroma and the pleasant peppery taste are only one part of the coin. It can be also used as herbal tea and as all other plants will reduce the Carbon Dioxide in the room.
Gather some leaves for the salad and leave enough smaller leaves for it to grow.
Mint
Source: AntonyCramp @ Flickr
Mint
Mint (Mentha spicatta L.)
The best herbal tea for winter.
The best plant for indoor planting.
There are many subspecies which are also called Mint. They include plants suitable with cooking with dry beans, plants suitable for baking meat, others suitable for extracting fragrant oils for perfumery and scent lamps and dozens more.
All of them has few things in common:
- They make the air easier to breathe if you have lung disease.
- They have very pleasant aroma.
- They attract one small wasp when blooming. The wasp kills some parasites on other plants or injects eggs inside them.
- They make excellent herbal tea or tasty cooking spice.
- They love sun and water but are incredibly easy to grow.
You can cut a branch and leave it in a glass of water for one week. It will grow very potent roots and you can plant it everywhere.
From the main root system often grow additional spin offs which you can use or replant elsewhere.
In my own terrace garden, the mint is often partly rooted and removed, because the root is quite invasive and strong (smothers and kills other plants around the mint).
Jasmine grown indoors
Source: Nessalow1 @ Flickr
Jasmine
Jasmine opens its flowers between 6 and 8 PM, when the temperature is lower.
Having Jasmine aroma when dining is very pleasant.
Having jasmine tea is also very good. (Just bruise some petals in a cup and pour boiling water. Cover for 10 minutes with a small dish).
In China and India, it is mixed with green tea leaves and tumbled until the green tea absorbs all the fragrance form the Jasmine.
In fact - Jasmine tea bags bought from store are actually green or Oolong tea with Jasmine scent.
And even if Jasmine is not completely robbed from healing properties, Iit is better used as an evening house fragrance and air purifier.
I strongly recommend you grow this plant. It is not very expensive.
Rose geranium
Source: Rae Allen @ Flickr
Geranium
Geraniums, (Pelargoniums) are more than 200 kinds.
For all of them is valid:
- Excellent aroma if you can tolerate it.
- Mosquitoes repellent.
- Don't attract most of the parasites which suck plants dry.
- Looks excellent when blooming.
- Purify air.
- A detached cutting can be grown by just re-planting it. Takes about a week to grow new roots.
- Don't need much care. Can live without water for 2 weeks in cold days.
- More sun = more blossoms.
If you are still not convinced or not having too much botanical knowledge - this is the best houseplant for beginners.
Even more: Rose geranium (Pelargonium roseum Willd.) can be used as a helpful herbal tea in Diabetes melitus (type 2). It lowers blood glucose levels very quick.
Blooming Coffea arabica
Source: coconut wireless @ Flickr
Coffee plant
Coffee plant (Coffea arabica L.) CAN be domesticated easier than an avocado seedling.
There are above 120 subspecies Coffee plants, with sub-gene arabica being most famous and easy to grow at home.
They are spread worldwide and you probably don't know how good this plant can be indoors.
It blooms in white and smells so refreshing in the morning, you will probably skip your coffee beverage and just breathe.
The normal coffee plant can grow to a small tree (3 meters), but indoors in a pot, it is quite compact - 1 meter (3 feet).
Takes about 4 years until it starts blossoming and if you allow sufficient sunlight and help germination from small wasps and bees - you can grow your own coffee beans.
Roast and grind them to coffee :) one plant provides about 50 grams dry coffee mass (~ 2 ounces). Sufficient for one week.
Woodbine flowering with bugs attracted by the scent.
Source: CajunAce @ Flickr
Woodbine
a.k.a. European honeysuckle or Common honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenumL.)
This plant is very useful for indoor stairs, especially if your rooms have sufficient sunlight.
Regardless it is forest semi-parasitic plant growing over tree trunks, it can be domesticated and dwarfed.
You can grow it in pot with a wooden log or dry branch planted in the soil, so the vine can climb on it.
It has very sweet scent, especially at night.
Can be grown from a seed, and takes about 2 years to start blossoming indoors.
January 29
| Elder's Meditation of the Day January 29 | |
| "We grieve more because we have been disconnected from our earth, our first Mother, our spiritual Mother." | |
| --Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA | |
| Where does all life come from? The Earth. Where does everything return to? The Earth. Where do values come from? The Earth. Many people are lost because they don't know the importance of connection to the Earth. They connect to money, to relationships, to success, to goals. When we are disconnected from the Earth, we have feelings of being sad or lost. When we are connected to the Earth, we feel warm and secure. | |
Great Spirit, help me to stay connected to the Mother Earth.
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