Q and A: Bt for bugs and self-sufficient lifestyle
Thursday, July 26th, 2012Bt for bugs
There are so many things I want to ask you that I could possibly write a book of questions. However I will start with this I see you use something called Bt for bugs in the garden, what is this, how is it used and where can you find it? I have never heard of this.
Judy Hiatt
Marysville, Kansas
Maybe you will find answers to your questions in the forthcoming Ask Jackie handbooks, soon to be coming out through the magazine. Bt is a natural product that is made up from a bacteria that is deadly to chewing bugs and worms that does no harm to butterflies, good bugs, earthworms, your pets, children, or YOU. It is quite common in even bigger stores, often sold as Thuricide. You mix it with water and spray it on your plants. And it is very effective! — Jackie
Lifestyle
I guess my question is about a perceived inconsistency in your lifestyle. You largely live off the land and are self-sufficient, yet you make your living in a high tech environment, the internet. I love the juxtaposition!
Do you have full “off-grid” solar with a battery bank that the solar panels keep topped off. Please tell us about your power setup.
Scott Solar (no really! it’s my name)
Chino, California
Hey, my boss, Dave Duffy, dragged me kicking and screaming into the techno-age! I still don’t “Tweet,” hardly ever Facebook (my kids nag me!), and don’t even go on the computer often.
We have a relatively small battery bank; six 6-volt golf car batteries, powered by four very small solar panels. We want to upgrade, but are doing so many other projects (costly!) that it has to wait. We’re building a big barn, have just finished fencing the new forty acres we bought, and just bought a haybine and big round baler so we can make more of our own hay. We want to install a wind generator, along with several larger solar panels, so buy my books! Big smile. — Jackie
July 26th, 2012
BT is not in my budget, but I sure do need it! We are so overwhelmed by ants and spiders and roaches this year that it has been featured on the news!
Kris
http://krissimplyliving.blogspot.com
July 27th, 2012
Jackie was reading the blog on the solar power and wanted to pass on that in many states there are grants that can be gotten from the state under some type of “green energy” bill. Wyoming has one and it can be used for wind or solar energy installment. Was featured on our news her a short time back they told that many states had these programs. Might be something for you and Will to check out if you haven’t already.
July 27th, 2012
Kris, get some diatomaceous earth, also called shell flour. It is not expensive and very effective.
Scott, you need to go to Jackie’s seminar. You can ask all the questions you want on her blog and still never get a fraction of the information you will by being there. I had a blast and am planning on going again. INVALUABLE!!!
Sheryl
July 30th, 2012
Kris,
My latest Bt was bought at our local farm store for $7.49, so it wasn’t a huge it and it sure saved our sanity!
Jackie
July 30th, 2012
Brenda,
Yep, we have checked it out. The only thing available to us is the Federal Tax credit and we have to make enough to owe enough taxes to make use of it…which we don’t. Oh well, thanks for your thought!
Jackie