RE: mosquito control

**"Alliums" g*@green-logic.com**

Hi, Folks!

Emily wrote:

<<Our community garden (6/15 Green) in Park Slope, Brooklyn, has been
plagued by a phenomenal mosquito population over the past two years. We're
trying to get a head start this year on covering out water barrels and other
measures to avoid having as much of a problem this year. Have any other
community gardens had success stories related to combating mosquitoes?>>

If covering the barrels works for you, go for it.  I buy a gallon of cheap
vegetable oil and pour about an inch of oil on top of the water in each
barrel -- it does gunk up the watering cans, but it's cheap, doesn't hurt
the plants and is very effective.  This technique was used in Philadelphia
since it was founded and we're still using it.

<<One of the things we want to do is install a batbox or two. Has anyone had
a success story with attracting a bat population? Care to share it with
us?>>

We have 5 bat boxes at the community garden and after 4 years, we have yet
to have a single bat.  Personally, I suspect that they like the abandoned
factory across the street from us much better and when the developer who
recently purchased the factory tears it down, I think the bats will be
lining up to move it. What's really frustrating is that at dusk, I can see
the bats flying out and over the garden on their way to someplace else -- I
wish they would stay and eat more of OUR bugs!

Hope this helps -- I'm interested in hearing how folks deal with these
situations also.

Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator
St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth

A mission of 
St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA  19460

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden