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Making your life greener - one bite at a time.

For a quick effective mosquito repellent, simply crush a handful of lemon balm leaves in your hand and rub them on exposed skin. Grow the plants near the backdoor or in the garden, where the leaves will be handy when you need them.

Bug-proof the Yard
There are several things to do when trying to protect yourself and kids from those nasty bugs in the yard during the summer. One thing to do is plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in the garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.

There are many insect repellents that contain "pyrethum," which is actually a natural extract of the marigold plant. It is very safe for use around children and pets.

Other plant oils mosquitoes don't like are citronella, jojoba, neem, witch hazel, tea tree oil, peppermint, lemon basil, lemon oregano, lemon geranium, lemon grass, catnip, eucalyptus and pennyroyal.

You may also want to regularly spray your plants and grass with a soap and water solution. This will have 3 effects: 1) it will dehydrate most bugs and kill them without chemicals, 2) it will help to keep your grass and plants clean of pollution and make them healthier and 3) it will soften your soil which mean you won't have to water as much. Use a hose-end sprayer filled with 1 cup of eco-friendly dishwashing soap for your grass or 1 tablespoon of soap in a hand-held sprayer for your plants.

Thai lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), contains citronella oil, a safe and natural insect repellent that's just as effective as the commercial chemical products, especially when it's fresh. In fact lemon grass contains more than just citronella oil and is more effective than true citronella.

Rubbing the long, grassy leaves on the skin works well, but the stalk is even better. Take one stalk of fresh lemon grass (grip it near the ground and give it a sharp sideways tug to break it off from the clump), peel off the outer leaves, snap off the grass blades behind the swollen stem at the base. Bend the stem between your fingers, loosening , then rub vigorously between your palms so that it fractures into a kind of fibrous juicy mass, and rub this mess over all exposed skin, covering thoroughly at least once. Pleasant on the skin and effective and the effect lasts about 4-5 hours. In most places, where the mosquitoes are less fanatical, you can use less and it will last longer.

The most common -- and most effective -- natural insect repellents are various essential oils. Clove oil and citronella (rose geranium) are the most effective against mosquitoes, but be careful with clove oil and use it sparingly -- it can be a skin irritant. Other fairly effective essential oils include: Lemon grass, eucalyptus, castor oil, peppermint, tea tree oil, lavender, and cedar.
It's important to remember when using essential oils: Don't use them internally! They need to be used externally on your skin and garments. Be sure to test any oils on a small patch of skin before applying widely to your body to avoid allergic reactions or skin irritations.

To make a lotion, use: 2 ounces distilled water, 2 ounces olive oil, and about 120 drops essential oil. Put the water into a deep mixing bowl, and using a wire whip, begin beating quickly while slowly drizzling in the olive oil. After oil is mixed into the distilled water, stir in the essential oil of your choice (citronella is probably the most effective for insect repellent use).

To make an oil repellent, use: 20 drops Eucalyptus oil, 20 drops Cedarwood oil, 10 drops Tea Tree oil, 10 drops Geranium oil, 2 oz. carrier oil ( such as olive ).

Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities. Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.

Natural Mosquito Repellent
by Barbara Pleasant 

2 1/2 teaspoons total of any combination of the following essential oils: basil, cedarwood, citronella, juniper, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, pine, rose geranium and/or rosemary.

1 cup 190-proof grain alcohol (available in liquor stores)

Place ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake vigorously. Transfer to small bottles for storage. To use, rub a small amount on any exposed skin (test first to be sure your skin will not be adversely affected by the repellent) or dab it on clothing.

Experiment a little to find which essential oils work best with your body chemistry. If you're lucky, you also will like the way they smell; otherwise, add a few drops of peppermint oil to fine-tune the fragrance.