Saturday, May 17, 2008

ORGANIC GARDENINGI don't typically buy organic produce. I mean, it seems a little ungrateful, my dad being a pesticide salesman and all. But, I did want my square foot garden to be pesticide free. So, I had to think outside the box when I discovered my broccoli plants had been taken over by an army of small green worms
My pest control of choice? Two eager boys, five and two, armed with mason jars and the anticipation of a penny per worm. An hour later, my broccoli is worm free (for today), and my boys are forty-three cents richer.
De-worming the garden has been added to their daily chore chart. With a payout like that, they can't wait for tomorrow!

*Image from Vox Sciurorum on flickr.com

10 comments:

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  2. Anonymous8:39 PM

    Too funny, Laurel! :-) I just got the updated, new version of Square Foot Gardening. I'm going to help my daughter set up a box or two next week (planting time here is the end of May/early June).

    Have fun with your garden!
    Susan

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  3. Anonymous10:35 AM

    Good thing you have boys, because I don't think Jayne Mac would touch a worm with a ten foot pole!
    Thanks for thinking about me, and as far as meals go, I think Michelle Wagner(is that how they spell their last name??) is in charge of all that.
    Eloise is doing well, and we are adjusting to a fam of five, but I hope to be out in the land of the living soon!

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  4. according to mother you have to soak the brocc in salty water to get the worms to come out of the brocc and die. :)

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  5. so cute that C and L are so into it :) good idea. reminds me of picking pecans at your parents.

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  6. What a great solution! 43 worms! Wow and yuck. :)

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  7. Anonymous4:23 PM

    I bought brocolli at a stand in Brooklet. I didn't notice the catepillars until they were on our plate. Yikes. Gross. It made me mentally sick. I don't know how I didn't see them when I was washing it. I guess it just goes with fresh, local produce - whether you are buying it or growing it. Congrats on growing it!

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  8. Excellent idea! My twin boys (6 years old) would live the jar/bug concept.

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  9. What a great organic idea! I'm taking my kids out to the patch right now! Thanks!

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  10. WOW I was just about to post about my organic garden and today I had an infestation myself. Does this really work? I just threw out 7 softball sized tomatos today.They were still green :( Full of huge holes and I picked off 3 fattie caterpillers. So sad. I have been trying so hard with my soapy water spray bottle but apparently it's not working. They must come out at night and terrorize the garden when i am sleeping.

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