Sticking to our convictions

We have an ant problem, a big one, our whole front yard is seriously infested with the little buggers. Last year they were bad and we tried every natural solution we could find to no avail. This year they are worse. We are committed to not using chemical pesticides, herbicides or fetilizers; we believe they are not only bad for our planet but that they are ultimately bad for us, they get into our food chain and wreak havoc.

Today, I had a conversation today that challenged my conviction to avoid the use of pesticides. I called a pest control company that advertises 'eco-friendly' pest control. I thought maybe they had a natural solution that I hadn't heard of. It all sounded good until I asked what they use to kill the ants... a Chemical.. called Dragnet. The lady on the phone says that is " is safe after 4 hours but children and pets shouldn't be around it until it dries" huh?! how is that ecological. "it's plant friendly" she says on the phone.

I want to get rid of my ants, I don't want a chemical sprayed in my yard that in turn will get into our soil and then into our food that I grow here. Do I ignore our convictions and say, its only the front flower bed where we only grow flowers? that would be the easy way out, I found myself considering it ... briefly.... % yrs ago I wouldn't have though twice about it. Today it strikes me as test of my convictions and my commitment to our green lifestyle.

I have to admit that I quickly decided this wasn't an option for me, but oh for that brief moment I almost wished it was an option I could choose. TO have an easy, quick solution to the ants swarming my front yard seems divine. I just can't embrace the price it costs to opt into that solution. IF I want to live green, it has to be all the time, not just when its convenient, or 'stylish'. I resigned myself to searching up more natural solutions online and trying them again.

The whole exercise brought to mind other challenges we have faced along our journey, the foods we loved but no longer eat because they contain MSG or some other unsavory additive. The convenience of prepared foods left on the wayside because so few of them are healthy and additive free. The price of good wholesome organic food sometimes seems too high... the temptation to give and and just buy the inexpensive, the favorite msg laden snacks and hire the chemical weilding pest control company is sometimes

We have never felt better and are happy to be leading lives we feel are but sometimes it sure would be nice to find real food easier, to have cleaning options that work and to be free of pests in the garden! hrh