My own gardening philosophies are always open to change, but they are rooted in permaculture and ecological ethics, organic solutions, and system based thinking. My problems always become solutions and the more natural, the better. I do not use any pesticides or chemical sprays. Instead, I choose to control pests and diseases by companion planting.

RELATED TOPIC: Why I Garden With (but Mostly Without) My Kids 

COMPANION PLANTING

It is a traditional organic gardening practice where certain plants enhance each other’s growth. A little bit of history will help us understand why we have been using this method. The planting of the “three sisters” by Native Americans. When Europeans arrived here they learned a great lesson when planting beans, corn, and squash together. The corn provided support for climbing bean vines, the beans added nitrogen to the soil, and the leaves of the squash plants provided mulch to hold water in the soil.

This year I tried something new. I planted with the purpose to serve all. My raised beds would not only feed my family, but my companion planting would feed the wild critters that come along for a nibble. I planted cover crops and marigolds for the wild bunnies to enjoy, I planted dill to attract wasps to help take care of my cabbage worms, I planted garlic between rows of beets and lettuce to repel aphids. I planted so many flowers and pollinators to help my bees and butterflies. It has been such a successful start for me, everyone is living in complete harmony.

 ORGANIC PEST CONTROL LIST

 Flowers:

  • ALLIUMS – A member of the onion family. One of the best defenses against cabbage worms, carrot flies, and slugs.
  • CHRYSANTHEMUMS – Repels mosquitos, roaches, beetles, ticks, silverfish, lice, root-knot nematodes, and ants.
  • COSMOS -Cosmos flowers are magnets for beneficial insects like lacewings, parasitic wasps, tachinid flies, and hoverflies that feed on many pest insects and provide free pollination services. They also do a good job of repelling the corn earworm.
  • DAHLIAS – Dahlias don’t just look pretty, they also repel nematodes and do an excellent job of attracting and feeding pollinators.
  • FRENCH MARIGOLDS – Aphids prefer them over your veggies. They repel whiteflies, kill nasty nematodes and eelworms. Ladybugs are very fond of Marigolds.
  • GERANIUMS – Deter many types of insects, including mosquitoes, leafhoppers, and corn earworms. Plant them with your corn, roses, grapes, cabbage, and rose bushes.
  • LAVENDER – Besides their lovely smell, their oils are perfect to use in repellents and when planted fresh, they ward off moths, scorpions, water scorpions, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes. Bees also love lavender!
  • MEXICAN MARIGOLDS – Keeps harmful insects and wild rabbits at bay. Plant Marigolds near your squash, melons, and tomatoes.
  • NASTURTIUMS – Known as a “trap crop,” they attract cabbage moths, aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles to their leaves. Nasturtiums and asparagus work great together.
  • PETUNIAS – Plant near cruciferous veggies, beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn, and peppers. Roses also do well when this natural insect deterrent is planted nearby. It repels aphids, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers, and squash bugs. These pests get trapped in their sticky stamens.
  • SUNFLOWERS – Draw aphids away from other plants. They are very strong plants, so they don’t suffer easily. 

Herbs:

  • BEE BALM – Not necessarily a pest repellent, but great at attracting beneficial critters and predators to your gardens, such as hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies.
  • BASIL – Repels flies, mosquitoes, the carrot fly, asparagus beetles, and whiteflies. Plant it with your tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and spinach for healthy, tasty veg.
  • BORAGE – This herb helps to sweeten your tomatoes and strawberries and repels tomato hornworm and cabbage worms.
  • CATNIP – Repels just about everything except cats! This includes ants, flea beetles, aphids, the Japanese beetle, squash bugs, weevils, the Colorado potato beetle, the cabbage looper, and cockroaches.
  • CHIVES – This allium plant deters Japanese beetles, carrot flies, aphids, mites, and even rabbits. It has been said that when planted with apple trees, it prevents scabbing.
  • CILANTRO– The strong fragrance of cilantro can attract beneficial insects and encourage them to stay in your garden to prey on other pests. Plant near tomato, spinach, dill, mint, and basil. Or plant in rows bordering fruits and vegetables.
  • DILL – Another herb that almost works for everything! It repels aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, the cabbage looper, and the small White. Best planted with cucumbers and onions but keep away from your tomatoes as it attracts tomato hornworms.
  • EUCALYPTUS -It smells nice, and it looks lovely in the garden or a flower arrangement! Eucalyptus helps to keep away aphids, the cabbage looper, and the Colorado potato beetle.
  • GARLIC – Garlic repels root maggots, the cabbage looper, Mexican bean beetles, the peachtree borer, carrot flies, and slugs.
  • LEMONGRASS – This plant contains citronella, which mosquitos hate. It can also repel whiteflies. Plant with other plants that require the same warm and sunlight conditions.
  • MINT – The oils found in mint and all other herbs in the mint family, including oregano, peppermint, sage, hyssop, and lemon balm, can help keep mosquitoes, aphids, the cabbage looper, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and the small Whites away.
  • ROSEMARY – With its pungent scent, rosemary can help to repel the cabbage looper, carrot fly, cockroaches, mosquitoes, slugs, snails, and the Mexican bean beetle. When planted near peas, lettuce, and beans, rosemary will also help to protect the plants from rabbits.
  • THYME– The herb deters mosquitoes, earworms, maggots, hornworms, and whiteflies. The leaves must be bruised for the chemicals to be released that deter the pests. Squeeze a few leaves every time you walk by your garden and it will help keep pests away.

The Beauty of a Garden

Just like anything in life, when you find yourself struggling in the garden identify the problem and find your solution. Try something new and have fun with it. A garden is much bigger than you or I, it is a place to learn and heal. A place to relax, regain strength and allow your body, mind, and emotions to heal.

With Love,
Farmer Jen

FUN MINI NATURE PRESERVE ACTIVITY

You don’t need a big yard to attract wildlife.

Items needed:

Window box, broken pots, compost, trowel, herbs, trailing plants, water, gravel or bark, pine cone, and saucer or jar lid.

Step One: Make sure the window box has holes in the bottom. Cover the holes with broken pots.

Step Two: Fill your window box with compost. Then plan where you will plant the plants.

Step Three: Plant your herbs and trailing plants. Water them well.

Step Four: Fill the top with gravel or bark to prevent water loss. Add a pine cone to make a home for visiting bugs. Add your shallow saucer or lid and fill it with water for whoever might stop by for a drink or a wash.

woman in garden

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Jennifer Mustin
Jenny was born in Santa Monica, California. The majority of her childhood years were spent being raised in Thousand Oaks. Jenny and her husband Trevor had known each other since high school. It wasn’t until much later that they became inseparable. Jenny and Trevor were both working in Santa Monica when they crossed paths again. Jenny was a single mom and Trevor is a firefighter... now the rest is history. Together they have three wild boys and one bonus daughter. With a blended family and wanting to bring a new level of simplicity to their lives, Jenny and Trevor moved back to Ventura Country and bought a little piece of land in Simi Valley. They are the type of people who raise chickens, alpacas, donkeys, and lambs in their backyard. They build fences and fix what’s broken. Their goal is to be self sufficient, sustainable, and waste free as much as possible. Jenny homeschools their children and helps run their neighborhood Co Op preschool all while working part time. Jenny is best known for brining in any animal that needs help (even when her husband has no idea about it until after). Jenny loves being in her garden, it's where she becomes grounded and reclaims her calmness. She is the type of person that always chooses to see the best in everything, she truly loves living life to the fullest. Jenny believes at the end of the day, hands should be dirty, hair should be messy, and hearts should be full.

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