16 - Friday, Marcii 9, 1990 - North Shore News LIFE \B LIFESTYLES Control indoor pests organically COMMONLY USED substances such as paint thinners, household pesticides, cleaners and solvents, and some aerosols produce haz- ardous waste. Our respeasibility for them dees not end at our curb- side. Many of these household pro- ducts present a direct health hazard to you and your family. The only long-term solution to keeping our water and air clean — and our homes safe — is reduc- tion. The following are alternatives to household toxics for controlling indoor pests. Controlling Indoor Pests ANTS: Locate the place of en- try, squeeze a lemon onto it and leave the peel. Ants will also retreat from lines of talcum powder, chalk, damp coffee grounds, bone meal, charcoal dust and cayenne pepper. COCKROACHES: Plug all small. cracks along baseboards, wall shelves, and cupboards, and around pipes, sinks, and bathtub fixtures. A light dust of bozax around the fridge, stove and duct- work is effective in controlling cockroaches. For a trap, lightly V/orm your From page 15 proved to be clean and adequate. The bedding should be moist, not dripping wet. 4. A suitable location. A base- ment or enclosed garage is ideal, as long as the worms and the bin are not subjected to extremes of temperature. The worm bin should be elevated so that containers placed underneath can catch the liquid which drains out of the holes. This liquid is rich in nutrients and ideal for watering potted plants. 5. Separate your compostable wastes in the kitchen. This will in- clude vegetable and fruit peels and scraps, leftover foods, even limited 57% grease the inner neck of a milk bottle and put a little stale beer or a Taw potato in it. FRUIT FLIES: Pour a small amount of beer into a wide-mouth jar. Cut the corner out of a plastic bag and attach the bag to the jar with a rubber band. Flies will enter and be trapped. Change the beer when necessary. FLIES: Sunny windows are flies’ most common entrance into your home, so close windows before the sun hits them. Use regular sticky flypaper to catch unwelcome flying guests. You can make your own with honey and yellow paper. MOTHS: Keep vulnerable clothes dry and well aired. Cam- phor can be used, as it is the ma- jor, non-toxic ingredient of moth balls. To trap moths, mix 1 part molasses with 2 parts vinegar and place it in a yellow container. Clean regularly. HOUSE PLANT PESTS: Hot- pepper spray will also help to con- trol pests on the leaves. And don’t forget soap and water, but be sure to rinse the plants with fresh water afterwards. SILVERFISH: Traps can be made with a mixture of | part molasses to 2 parts vinegar. Place near cracks and holes where pests live. Silverfish can be repelled by treating baseboards, table legs, and cracks in cupboards with a mixture of borax and sugar (or honey). SPIDERS: Under ideal condi- tions, do not destroy spiders because they help control pests. STORED FOOD PESTS: Keep mites and moths out of your staples by drying the food in a warm oven (70 F, 20 C) for one hour or by freezing for 2-3 days. Always store foods in air tight containers. Weevils’ favorite foods are beans and grains; to keep them away, hang small cloth sacks of black pepper in your food bins or around your food storage area. TICKS and FLEAS: If your pets are infested, wash them well with soap and water, dry them thoroughly, and use this herbal rinse: Add “% C (125 ml) of fresh or dried rosemary to a litre of boil- ing water. Steep 20 minutes, strain, and allow to cool. Spray or sponge evenly onto pet and allow to air dry. Do not towel down, as this will remove the residue. Make sure pets are dry before letting them outside. way into good compost amounts of meat scraps. Coffee grinds, including filters and tea bags can also be included. Do not use rubber bands, plastics, glass or cans as they will not break down in the bin. To bury the garbage, pull aside some of the bedding in the bin, dump the garbage and cover it over again. Bury each successive load in a different location. Cover the din with a small gar- bage bag to prevent it from drying out, and use two pieces of one by two in. wood with a sheet of plywood or other suitable material as a lid to discourage pets or other animals. Supplies of vermicompost do not happen overnight. But as the OFF CLOSET ORGANIZER OR MIRROR DOORS (min. purchase $200) We've moved to serve you better so visit us at our new location — just rd. he CHARI CANADIAN BA CLOSET SHOPS om Li a weeks go by the bedding takes on a different texture and color. The bin will provide a continuous sup- ply of compost (or fishing bait) and, perhaps, a sense that we are actively doing something for the environment. Melntosh is willing to speak to groups or individuals interested in this composting method. Contact him at 986-2303, or write to John Mcintosh, 1124 Premier Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2H3. SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY + FHIDAY Greenpeace has compiled the in- formation contained in this fact- Sheet from a variety of sources and can assume no responsibility for