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Re: ants

Toni Office wrote:
>
> There isn't a problem with ants, until they start farming aphids all over the
> garden.  That's when they need to be eliminated!  I'd prefer not to have
> aphids all over my vegetables and I really don't want to see my flower leaves
> all curled under with hundreds of aphids underneath.
>
> I'm sure there is a middle ground somewhere between totally wiping out my ant
> population and the 60's philosophy below!
>
> Toni
>
> In a message dated 97-06-28 12:20:40 EDT, you write:
>
> << I can't *imagine* why ants in your garden or  anywhere outside your house
> would be such a concern that you would seek to eliminate them!  Hasn't it
> occurred to you that you might not completely  understand the role of ants --
> or many of the other garden creatures which  are more of a nusiance than
> anything else -- in your garden or in the world?   Don't you realize that
> when you use poison to eliminate one "pest" you will  eliminate many insects
> you might want to keep -- spiders, ladybugs, etc.?
>
> How ever do you cope with gardening at all, what with its constant barrage of
> "icky" insects, bugs, worms, spiders, grubs, rot, dirt . . .
>
        I think that the disparity of opinions are largely based on differences
of intent. I planted my garden with the intention of feeding my family.
I don't want bugs eating my family's food. Some folk put in gardens as a
hobby, they can deal with a decreased harvest in return for the feeling
of being one with nature.
        When the latter start making declarative statements about what the
former must do or not do I get nervous. For instance, it is very
possible to use a poison to kill one insect without killing others, it
just takes more care. But some folk don't want you to use 'poisons' so
they use extremist propaganda to try to scare you.
        The truth is somewhere in the middle as Toni pointed out. I would use
Boric Acid on the ants. Use it sparingly and clean it up when you are
done. Boric acid -is not- poisonous in any reasonable dose. But like
oxygen, too much is a bad thing. It's pharmacutical use is as an eye
wash! Try that with Garlic Tea!
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