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Buzz Off: Make These Natural Herbal Insect Repellent Bundles
Try this all-natural technique to keep mosquitoes from attending your next outdoor get together.
I love being outdoors in the summertime.
I love sitting outside on warm summer evenings chatting with family and friends.
What I don't like are mosquitoes. For some reason, I'm one of those people that mosquitoes find irresistible. Sometimes the mosquitoes can be so bad, it's difficult to even enjoy being outside. There are many products on the market to keep them at bay, but as beekeepers, my family always needs to err on the side of caution with any chemicals we use in the gardens.
We grow plenty of fresh herbs during the growing season. Herbs are wonderful at repelling unwanted insects and attracting beneficial ones. Did you know that just by growing lavender, mint and sage you can repel mosquitoes?
As another way to ward off these annoying critters, I like to make these herb bundles when the herbs are plentiful. I make a bunch of them at a time. They can be used immediately or they can be hung to dry in a cool dry place for later use. It takes about a week for them to dry. When freshly made ones are added to the edge of a fire pit, they will smolder like "green" wood. You can also use the dried ones as fire starters with kindling. If you have a fire-resistant tray, you can also light dried bundles and let them burn on their own. The burning herbs emit an earthy, herbal aroma. I find it calming and soothing. Even the kids can help with this craft from the harvesting to the tying. It is a great family-friendly project.
For your safety, never leave burning or smoldering objects unattended.
Supplies:
- Fresh sprigs of lavender, sage and mint
- String
- Scissors
- Newspaper
Take a peek at the photo gallery below for the step by step directions:
