Jim Muir's Squash Bug Remedy
There are 2 methods that you can effectively use: 1. Collect as many live bugs as you can, add them to a blender with some water, and blend them up good. Strain the mixture, and spray the liquid all over and around your plants.
2. The second method is Biodynamic, and is called "peppering." Collect the bugs, and carefully burn them in a metal bowl or pot. A propane torch works OK, just don't blow the resulting ash (peppers) out of the pot. Let cool, and grind up the ash. Place the ash in a crock (I use a 3 gals. one), get a wooden stick, add the ash to the water, Now stir the mixture clockwise,until it forms a vortex (whirlpool). Break the vortex with your stirring stick, and stir counter-clockwise until a vortex appears. Repeat the process, stirring for 20 minutes. Strain the liquid. I use a 3 gal. Solo back pack sprayer. Spray the mixture on and around your plants and garden. I know it involves more effort and equipment for this method, however, I have been using Biodynamic peppering for over 30 years and it Works!
Initially I used a plastic 5 gal. bucket, with 3 gals. of de-chlorinated water in it to mix up the peppers. Then my wife Jenni got me a 3 gal. ceramic crock that I have been using ever since. Either container will work OK.
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We're very into the sunken bed idea and hope it works well! We're fortunate enough not too have rocky or caliche-plagued soil, so we went for it.
Anyway we've certainly sweated alot (and gotten in shape!) digging and preparing sunken beds this summer! So this morning was a BIG milestone because we actually planted something!!! After months of bed digging, compost making and soil-building, we decided to plant one of the new beds as a (late) monsoon garden of black-eyed peas, squash, etc. We just got fresh seeds from Native Seed Search in the mail yesterday, plus I had old, saved seeds that may or not germinate - couldn't resist getting something planted. We'll wait until early September to plant the rest of the garden with winter vegetables, plus fruit trees we've been keeping alive in containers all summer, & flowers and herbs!
Farraday and Jeff
Thank you so much! Our garden is not actually built yet. We are in the very early stages of planning. We're currently soliciting community support and asking our local community questions like where they would like the garden to be located. Feel free to check out our community forum next Monday (8/9 from 6-7:30pm at the Escalante Community Center in Tempe) to learn more :)
Enjoy this beautiful day!
-Alyssa
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