Management Feature of the Month: Organic Fly Repellent
EC-Online has dozens of expert articles on horse and farm management with more being added every month. Click here for the Management Archives.
Make Your Own Organic Fly Spray
If You Don't Mind Them Smelling Like a Salad, There is a Non-Chemical Answer to Pest Control
by Terry Temple, Editor EC
In the early 18th century, the era of the Bubonic Plaque was one of the most devastating times in human history. There is a legend that remains about four miserable grave robbers who roamed the countryside looting the dead and dying, seemingly immune to the disease. When they were finally caught, they got away without punishment in exchange for the recipe of the “magic potion” that created their immunity. The concoction was called the Four Thieves Vinegar — and to this day, horse people use it to ward flies and all insects off their equines, as well as an astringent for summer sores, etc.
Here's a recipe for the Four Thieves Vinegar*
- 2 tablespoons crushed or powdered Lavender
- 2 tablespoons dried Rosemary or two large sprigs
- 2 tablespoons dried Peppermint
- 2 tablespoons crushed or powdered Wormwood
- 2 tablespoons crushed or powdered Sage
- 2 quarts of apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh, chopped garlic
Directions
Combine the herbs and vinegar in a sealed glass jar, and steep in a cool, dark place for two weeks or so, shaking daily.
Strain the herbs through a coffee filter over a sieve, and add the garlic. Let it soak for three more days, then strain again and discard the garlic. Use topically and as an spray to ward off bugs of all kinds, from mosquitoes to viruses.
*Herbs are available in bulk at a reasonable price from www.bulkherbstore.com/VFT
