Green pesticides might seem like an oxymoron at first.  I never even thought to look for an eco-friendly insect killer because I simply assumed they didn’t exist.  However, a recent invasion of ants in the kitchen prompted me to look for natural ways to get rid of ants.

I tried my time-tested green method of keeping ants outside by sprinkling a line of cinnamon along the windowsill where they were coming in.  However, these ants were persistent and burrowed their way through this natural barrier.  I next considered using diatamaceous earth, but didn’t have a clue where to buy it around here.  Diatomaceous earth is composed of fossilized sea creatures that are ground up into a fine powder.  The powder is sharp and cuts into the waxy coating of insects when they come into contact with it.  This kills the bugs because they dehydrate from the cuts in their shells.

Serendipitously, I was contacted by a representative for EcoSMART about their green insecticides.  They asked to do a giveaway through my blog, but I wanted to ensure their products really were green before considering it.  I asked them to send me a MSDS for their product, which would list the ingredients and indicate if there were any toxic chemicals.

I learned that their Garden Insect Killer contains the following:

Active Ingredients:
Rosemary Oil ……………………………………….. 0.25%
Peppermint Oil ………………………………………0.25%
Thyme Oil …………………………………………….. 0.25%
Clove Oil ………………………………………………. 0.25%
Other Ingredients*………………………………. 99.00%
Total …………………………………………………. 100.00%
*Water, Mineral Oil (USP), Octadecenoic Acid Potassium Salt, Lecithin

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the product really is quite harmless for humans. However, I recently learned that many essential oils are actually very toxic for cats. That said, the article I read was referencing oils in flea products that are applied directly to a cat and would be ingested when they lick it off of their fur.

I guess you need to balance the toxicity of chemicals vs. essential oils and the likelihood of your cat ingesting the product, while also factoring in the environmental impact.  Being green is never black and white, is it?

The EcoSMART website said you can “spray and harvest” on the same day.  But does it work?

EcoSMART was kind enough to send me a bottle of the Garden Insect Killer as there are unknown bugs munching up the leaves of the miniature orange tree out back.  We started spraying the tree and I’ll let you know if it works.

About that giveaway…

Stay tuned.  I just have to set up the code for the contest, which I hope to do in the next couple of weeks.  Then, you’ll have a chance to win an EcoSMART Safe Picnic Value Bundle.  It’s still picnic weather where I live!