Homemade Bug Spray

It's very important to me as a gardener to keep my garden organic and healthy.  Using the square foot gardening methods and raised beds keeps that pretty easy, when all you're doing is yanking a random bit of bindweed.  Then along comes some critter you can't identify and then what do you do?

Some evil thing is attacking my tomatoes!  I couldn't really see anything except some very small white spots, even with my old lady glasses.  They didn't move when I poked them.

But I decided I'd try this method of attack that worked last year.  Start with about a cup of water in your blender.  Add to this, five or more cloves of garlic and one tablespoon of hot chile powder.  This is some super hot stuff I got from the Indian market.  Blend it well, then add about three cups more water and let it set, preferable overnight.  Then add a couple squirts of mild dish soap or Dr. Bonner's soap.

Strain your mix into a jar.  I strained mine first through the regular mesh strainer, then a second time through a very fine mesh.  You don't want any junk in there to clog your spray bottle.

Label your jar so you know what it is.  I, being the sensible one, labeled mine "garlic spray", then the very silly guy came along and added "IN CASE OF VAMPIRES".  Tomato vampires!

Dilute the mix about half and half with more water, and put it in a spray bottle.  It's best to use this in the evening or very early morning, so it has time to dry before the sun comes out and sizzles it on your plants.  Make sure to completely soak the plant, under the leaves and all over.  Last year I had a lot of success with this, as long as I was consistent about applying.  If you are in the middle of an infestation, you should apply it every day.  It is more time and labor intensive than a chemical pesticide you get off the shelf, but much healthier for you and our planet:)

I'll keep you posted on how it works on the tomato plants.  Do you have any recipes for homemade potions you use around the house and garden?  I'd love for you to share in the comments:)