Common Sense Pest Control

There are more than one million insect species on this planet but less than one percent of those are considered pests. The other 99 percent play a crucial role in our food chain and many are indispensable. Flying insects such as bees and butterflies pollinate fruits and vegetables. Burrowing insects aerate soil and assist in the decomposition of organic material by returning nutrients to the soil. Insects also serve an important role as a food source for birds, fish, other animals and some plants. These facts seem to be forgotten in our quest to attain a “perfect lawn” and a pest-free home. Many people seem to think it is an “us against them” world in battling insects. But remember, a perfect lawn and pest- free homes are not really important in the big picture. What is important is preserving our health and maintaining a balance with nature.

What is Common Sense Pest Control?

Common sense pest control is designed to help maintain a comfortable, healthy home, landscape, and garden while reducing reliance on pesticides.

Common sense pest control is not a “no pesticides ever” idea. It utilizes integrated pest management techniques that emphasize physical, biological and cultural pest controls, s to pesticides and least toxic pesticides. The use of pesticides is suggested as a last resort and only when necessary.

The point is to provide you the information necessary to implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a.k.a. Least Toxic Pest Management, in your home and yard. IPM utilizes regular monitoring to determine if and when treatments are needed. It employs physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and educational tactics to keep pest numbers low enough to prevent damage and annoyance through least toxic and economical methods of pest management. IPM utilizes information on the pest and environmental conditions as well as the best available pest management methods.

Unlike most commercial pesticide applications, IPM treatments are not made on a schedule. Treatments are made only if monitoring indicates that pests will cause an unacceptable amount of economic, medical or aesthetic damage. Treatments are timed to be made when they will be most destructive to the pest and least disruptive to natural pest control methods.

Common Sense Pest Control Goals

Our goal is to educate people about using least-toxic and s to pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and to help you recognize the need to protect and preserve the quality of our surface and groundwater resources in response to the pressures of a rapidly growing population.

Pesticides are toxic to both humans and the environment. Reducing pesticide use to the greatest extent practicable will maximize the protection of both human and environmental health. Least toxic pest management prevents pollution and protects your health and the health of your family, friends and pets.

Why is this of value to you?

Pesticides are toxic chemicals. Many are known to cause cancer, chronic health problems and other adverse health effects in humans and other animals. The health effects of many of these substances are unknown. Using least toxic pest management in your home and yard, you will be protecting yourself, your family, and your pets from unnecessary exposures to toxic compounds.

See our article on 150 Organic tips for your Garden.

Check your local stores for environment and chemical free products