I am constantly impressed by all of the ways I have found to be able to use essential oils to replace harsh chemical-filled products that I once thought were completely normal to use.
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Today I am taking on the garden!
Every year I have grown a garden.
Some years it was nothing more than a tomato plant in a pot.
And some years I have had the lushest raised beds that produced an abundance of fresh produce.
There is something powerful in growing your own food and I await spring each year so I can get growing.
When my kids were little they would help me with the garden.
They even had a few plants that were “theirs” to care for.
I have SO many fond memories of them picking weeds and watering their gardens with me.
The last thing I would want is to have their little hands touching anything harmful.
Organic Gardening
I try not to use any kind of pesticides or fertilizer and just allow the plants to grow as naturally as possible.
This was fine at the last house where everything grew so easily and I had nice rich soil.
But here at our new house, I am finding it a lot more challenging to keep the bugs and animals from ruining any veggies that may have grown.
Don’t get me wrong, I still get plenty of peppers and tomatoes.
It is just that I would like to be able to use the cabbage and squash that have not done well for me in the last couple of years, due to mildew and bugs.
Since I am not about to ruin my attempts at growing healthy, non-toxic food for my family by covering it was pesticides to get rid of the bugs, I needed to find another solution.
Essential Oils
I chose Young Living to use Essential Oils for in my gardening my family.
I love the Seed to Seal Quality Commitment that they offer which cannot be found with any other essential oil distributors.
They use only the perfect plants, grown in the perfect conditions on farms that Young Living owns and operates, before being harvested and distilled properly using only the first distillation.
Then they test every single batch of essential oil in house and through a third party facility to ensure that they meet stringent specifications, exceed international standards, and contain the optimal levels of natural bioactive compounds before bottling and shipping to anyone.
So what happens when a batch doesn’t meet these high therapeutic grade standards?
Nothing is wasted!
Young Living uses the leftovers to create their own organic pesticides that they use on their own farms to ensure the plants that will one day provide more essential oils are grown in the best way possible.
If it is good for their farms, then it must be good for my own little garden, right?
Thankfully I have learned that I can use my beloved essential oils to get rid of pests naturally and keep my plants strong, healthy and producing all season long!
Here are the recipes I am planning to try this year in my own garden.
All Natural Pest Deterrent Recipe #1
20 Drops Abundance Essential Oil
20 Drops Oregano Essential Oil
16 oz Water
1 Drop Non-toxic, organic dish soap
Add everything to a spray bottle. The dish soap is important because it helps the oil mixture stick to the plants.
All Natural Pest Deterrent Recipe #2
Thieves Cleaner
Water
Fill a spray bottle almost full of water. Add just enough Thieves Cleaner to color the water.
This recipe is especially good for roses and squash plants. It’s so gentle that it can also be used as a good produce cleaner.
One of the things I find myself constantly trying to combat each year in my garden is mildew.
I can usually count on it occurring on my zucchini and other squash plants. I will be using the recipe below this year to keep my plants healthy and mildew free this year.
Mildew Recipe
1 Teaspoon Vodka
7 Drops Oregano, Thyme, and Tea Tree Essential Oils
1 Oz Water
Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and spray plants in the evening.
Of course, the other thing we need to watch out for is pests that would love to feast on all your hard work!
Thankfully Young Living Essential Oils can easily help keep them all away.
Ants – Peppermint, Spearmint, Cinnamon
Aphids – Cedarwood, Hyssop, Peppermint, Spearmint
Beetles – Peppermint, Thyme
Caterpillars – Spearmint, Peppermint
Cutworms – Thyme, Sage
Moths – Cedarwood, Hyssop, Lavender, Peppermint, Spearmint
Snails/Slugs – Hyssop, Pine, Patchouli, Cedarwood
Spiders – Peppermint, Spearmint, Wintergreen
Cabbage Worms – Peppermint, Citronella, Rosemary
Just add a few drops to wood chips or a cotton ball and scatter around your garden beds to deter pests from entering.
Now gardening can be fun and safe for everyone!
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- How to Get Kids Excited About Gardening
- 3 Gardens You Can Grow to Combat Stress
- Gardening is Good for Your Health
