Years ago I learned just how toxic heavily marketed gardening products, weed killer, insect repellent and even fertilizer is for our health. After both of my parents struggled with cancer I knew big things had to change in our family.
I grew up watching my parents use chemicals in our home and garden. They used practically everything, including fertilizer (so toxic!) and insect killer as well as sprays around our property to kill weeds. It was what I learned and all that I knew. Looking back, I now know that this is so disastrous for our long-term health.
My husband worked for years around toxic chemicals while managing garden departments at two major retailers. His stories of moving it around the store and getting it on his body, breathing it in, burning his nose…UGGH. I knew that we had to do better or our fate would end up like my parents’.
In conversations about gardening, I learned that the majority of people are totally unaware of the risk. They purchase these chemicals where they, their kids, and even their animals play. They don’t realize the dangers lurking all around them.
Bzzzzz
And what about all the wildlife and bees we’ve killed by using these chemicals? We need bees for our food and existence. They are our pollinators. We can all do better. #savethebees
Have you seen the lawsuits against Monsanto (which is now owned by Bayer)? You know, the ones where they have had to pay billions to victims of cancer or the families of those who have passed. If a jury is finding sufficient evidence to link the chemicals in Round-Up and many other chemicals to cause cancer then I want to know why they haven’t been banned in the US? Have you ever thought about that? I cannot be the only one!
If you haven’t looked into toxic chemicals and how our government does not protect us then I suggest you start by watching the documentary called Stink on Netflix. It’s eye-opening. Big corporations know they are causing harm and do not care. They do not care about you, your parents, your children, or your neighbors. They only care about lining their pockets with your money.
Man, this fires me up!
Farmers spray their fields then we consume what they grew. Animals eat grass, hay, and soy contaminated with fungicide. So toxic! Oh, but then we consume those animals so we consume those chemicals too. If you happen to live near a farm that sprays their fields, then you’re also breathing it.
Eliminating these toxic chemicals from our everyday life has become a bit of a passion of mine. All of us have been touched by cancer in some way. It’s everywhere! My parents didn’t deserve the nasty repercussions of all their treatments. Neither has your loved ones.
Our Little Garden
Since our RV is stationary this Summer we decided to do a little garden (in pots) for our boys to learn and care for. They have had a blast. We planted the seeds on Earth Day since we couldn’t plant a tree and then purchased a few plants to pot. They have enjoyed eating the sugar snap peas, radishes, tomatoes, and sweet peppers so far. We are waiting for the carrots, onions, and the remainder of the sweet peppers – which should all be ready this month!
Non-Toxic Alternatives
Though there are many other factors that cause cancer, today I am going to show you how you can eliminate the dangerous chemicals that you use on your garden and lawn with things that are safe and non-toxic.
Before we began traveling we found some great essential oils that work well in the garden and lawn. Since these come from plants it was a no brainer that they were safer than the toxic chemicals on the store shelf.
White Vinegar – One surprising non-toxic weed killer that we all have in our kitchen is white vinegar. We found that white vinegar worked great. You can even add a bit of water to it and it still works great. However, it kills all the plants it touches. So be careful to only apply it directly to the weed and not to your veggies.
Vinegar Backpack Spray
Take your backpack sprayer and dump in:
⅔ vinegar to
⅓ water
and then walk around and spray the weeds growing in the curbs, grass, or bark yard trim.
I have seen people mention using dish soap but HELLO! Nearly all dish soap contains nasty toxins too. Be aware!
Our garden and flowers seemed to attract bugs. They enjoyed our garden as much as we did. I found that using another backpack sprayer with peppermint and cassia essential oils worked so well.
After watering the plants I would go out with my backpack sprayer and spray down the plants that were affected. Make sure to get the underside of leaves too because those pesky critters will crawl under and wait it out! If you have a big problem you may have to spray daily until you get it under control.
These two also work great for ants, spiders, and mice that get indoors too! I want the bugs and critters to stay outside! If you notice that they have come inside, spray the area where you believe they’re entering. Just know that they won’t want to cross those oils to go back out. So you’ll need to vacuum them up!
We love to use Basil and arborvitae essential oil in our watering can about once a week when we water tomatoes and peppers. These oils give them vitality and assist them to resist environmental threats that sometimes cause havoc in a garden.
Some great tips from doTERRA members
Last year, I had the best luck getting rid of slugs using White Fir essential oil on my peppers. I have also used Peppermint oil for aphids and mystery bugs. I make after-sun spray with Lavender, Peppermint, and aloe juice. After a long day of working on my garden, Deep Blue® Rub comes in handy for the joints and muscles. I clean my hands with an essential oil sugar scrub. I can’t tell you how much I love using dōTERRA in the garden.
-Jamie Stit
I clean my greenhouse and garden tools with a mixture of 10 drops of Melaleuca in about 33 ounces of distilled water. We put this in a spray bottle and clean every inch of the greenhouse.
-Maila Chan
I have been an organic farmer for 35 years. I have been using essential oils in my gardens since I have been with dōTERRA. I teach the organic portion of “The Master Gardener” class for my local area. My class this year will include the wonderful uses of dōTERRA essential oils in the garden—not only for pest management, but also for plant vigor and growth. I don’t use any chemicals in my garden at all and love sharing new and safe ways to enjoy gardening! I have substituted dōTERRA essential oils for companion plants—the results are amazing! For example, basil is a great companion plant for tomatoes. I use Basil essential oil in my watering can to give the plants a dose that can be absorbed through the root system, or I use it as a foliar spray. This helps to give the tomato plant great vigor for growth and plant resistance.
-Kay Pittman
My garden was being attacked by a beetle-like bug. It was eating away at everything, especially my favorite lily plant. I put a couple drops of Peppermint in a spray bottle with water, sprayed the plants, and the beetle moved on! dōTERRA was part of my inspiration for my garden.
– Kristen Willis
Last summer, I was attacked by ants. They had colonized near my strawberry patch. I panicked a little—I hate ants!—and dowsed the suckers in a solution of water and Peppermint. The next day, the ants were completely gone! I was impressed by how fast it worked. Plus, even though I did go a little overboard (a few sprays would have worked), I know Peppermint is safe for my strawberries and me.
-Elizabeth Sperling
8 Tips for Starting Your Own Garden
Contact your local Cooperative Extension office. They are part of the land-grant university system all across the country. They have expertise on growing in your specific area and have experts and publications suited to your climate.
Start small and plant easy-to-grow crops. Many nutrient-packed vegetables grow quickly and easily and are less subject to weather-related problems than difficult-to-grow crops. Lettuce, spinach, chard, kale, Asian greens, and similar crops take up little space, don’t mind cold weather, and grow quickly.
Don’t overlook the root crops. There is nothing tastier than a home-grown fresh carrot, Asian sweet turnip, or fresh-picked beets.
Almost all vegetable crops love the sun. Sunshine helps plants get off to a good start and helps develop those sugars that make vine-ripened products so delicious. Walk around your yard and check for sunny spots and shady areas. Most likely, the area that gets the most sun will grow the best vegetables.
If you have a yard with a fence, use the fenced area to grow perennial crops such as raspberries and blackberries. They don’t mind a little shade and you can let them use the fence line for support.
Consider getting your garden off the ground by adding compost and forming raised beds. Shaping and raising beds lets you protect crops from wind and frost with row covers to extend your season.
Invest in drip irrigation with an inexpensive timer. You use less water (good for the environment and your wallet) and are less likely to water too much and/or too little. Small garden timers are inexpensive and easy to program. Many yards already have a sprinkler system—it’s easy to add a line for your veggies.
Know when to plant and when to harvest. Most extension offices have guidelines for the areas they serve. I like to follow what I call the “Grandpa/Grandma System” of gardening. Look around your neighborhood—find the grandmas and grandpas with the best gardens. They probably know more than anybody in town about what to plant, when to plant, watering, harvesting, controlling bugs, etc., than anybody, including the experts. The other trait they usually have is that they love to share what they have learned with friends and neighbors.
