Question
Hello Charlotte;
I am interested in how you keep bugs out of your home naturally. We always have bugs getting in our house and I want to keep them out without toxic chemicals.

We have recently bought a home with a ton of trees and plants on a small lot (4600 and we have weeds that grow bigger then us and our lawn is starting to die off in spots. I did read what you wrote about putting down sod and then putting sugar on it when you water it, so we'll try that in the dead spots. thanks for you help

Answer
Hi Jennifer;
I grow rosemary and lavender as well as other herbs.
On each cupboard and pantry shelf, I put a piece of fresh rosemary about an inch long, and a piece a little bigger under each appliance in the kitchen and laundry room.
I put some in the bathroom vanitys, and where pipes go through walls, under the kitchen and bathroom cabinets, i stick a little piece of rosemary in the hole the pipe goes through. I put some rosemary anywhere roaches can come in or hide.
I have a large pot of lavender at each entrance to keep houseflies from coming in wher the doors re open. It also makes a beautiful entrance plant.
I use lavender oil for aroma therapy ( it is a great relaxant, and the scent will help you go to sleep faster and rest better. A drop rubbed lightly on a stuffed toy will help quiet a fussy baby in just a few minutes), and lavender repels other insects. rosemary repels a lot of different insects too.
I buy cedar oil at a health food store, and i paint a line of it on the clothes rods in the closets, and along the baseboard ( I do this about every 4 to 6 months, I use the fresh rosemary about once a month, and the lavender scent is used almost every day).
these are the herbs i use inside the house. I have just learned basil also repekls fleas and some other insects, and i use sweet basil in cooking. I also use lemon scented furniture polish, so all those are inside the house. I am not sure which, or a combination of all of them, but I don't have roaches, ants, spiders, earwigs or silverfish inside the house. and I haven't ever had a problem with any other kinds of insects.
If you have any more questions on organics, or need more information about any of these, write me anytime.
Charlotte