Question
Hi, Elyse,

I live in Hawaii and I thought it'd make sense to grow some vegetables/herbs since it's pretty much summer forever here.  I started growing them about a month ago and I noticed the leaves had holes but no culprit.  There's a lot of geckos in my yard so I thought insects probably weren't the problem.  Then I was shocked to see slugs one night on the leaves!  I want to try and be as organic as I can so I was wondering if you could give any tips on how to get rid of slugs and/or protect the crops from them.  I've read in a book that beer in a cup attracts and drowns them so I'm trying it out for now.

Answer
Sean:
Good luck. What I'd heard about gardening in Hawaii is that the number of insects there make it very difficult.

Slugs are pretty easy to control. Beer does work, but it also attracts beneficial insects, if you have them, such as ground beetles. Another trick I use is ground egg shell. These, along with diatomaceous earth, are more of a deterrent than a slug-killer. By far the best control is hand-picking. Squash them or drown in a bucket of soapy water. This is best done early in the morning or early evening (or even by flashlight at night), when they are most likely to be out and about.

Chickens, ducks and geese are also good for bug patrol, even if they are just allowed along the perimeter of the garden.

Elyse