Growing veggies without killing
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I usually grow tomatoes and never bother about bugs on the plants. Maybe they all fall off when I water them. Actually I generally ignore bugs on plants anyway, they are someone else's dinner waiting to be eaten. Snails and slugs I relocate by hand.
ps I don't have a greenhouse, things go from the house window sills to being weaned to outdoor life. I think that helps me keep my toms fairly bugless.
ps I don't have a greenhouse, things go from the house window sills to being weaned to outdoor life. I think that helps me keep my toms fairly bugless.
I'm struggling with that too Keegan.
There are some things you can do:
* Floating Row covers (though the use is limited)
* Planting things that will repel insects (I think geraniums or marigolds are two - but I'm really not sure)
* Don't plant too closely - and mulch or weed (this helps a little)
etc.
You will definately have to get used to bites being taken out of things etc.
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There are some things you can do:
* Floating Row covers (though the use is limited)
* Planting things that will repel insects (I think geraniums or marigolds are two - but I'm really not sure)
* Don't plant too closely - and mulch or weed (this helps a little)
etc.
You will definately have to get used to bites being taken out of things etc.
I have no problem with killing insects, though I would never do so with pesticides and stuff. Not because of the insects, but because of the veggies and the ecosystem.
I don't think I would ever seriously want to kill birds or mammals. I would come up with all kinds of physical barriers
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But killing the "little pests" is not a big problem ethically*. There are billions of identical clones of them in the ecosystem, more are killed by other means in every minute than you could kill in a whole season. I can recommend some good books about ecology and insects to you if interested.
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OTOH, if it's worth it (the trouble to kill insects), that's another question. It probably is not in most cases. Companion planting, planting more (to make up for the loss caused by bugs), and natural predators are methods that are often far more effective (and involve less work).
I don't think I would ever seriously want to kill birds or mammals. I would come up with all kinds of physical barriers
But killing the "little pests" is not a big problem ethically*. There are billions of identical clones of them in the ecosystem, more are killed by other means in every minute than you could kill in a whole season. I can recommend some good books about ecology and insects to you if interested.
OTOH, if it's worth it (the trouble to kill insects), that's another question. It probably is not in most cases. Companion planting, planting more (to make up for the loss caused by bugs), and natural predators are methods that are often far more effective (and involve less work).
I've never really had a huge bug/pest problem in my vegetable gardens. besides slugs, which are easy to control because I just pick them off and toss them in the grass.
Whenever I've tried to grow dill I get horrible aphid infestations. so I just don't plant it anymore. I've tried planting the marigolds and such, but it doesnt seem to work.
Mostly just shaking plants or spraying them with water will get bugs to drop off them but still let them survive.
Whenever I've tried to grow dill I get horrible aphid infestations. so I just don't plant it anymore. I've tried planting the marigolds and such, but it doesnt seem to work.
Mostly just shaking plants or spraying them with water will get bugs to drop off them but still let them survive.
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