Guest guest Posted November 17, 2000 Report Share Posted November 17, 2000 Since we're on the subject of ahimsa, I have long struggled with this topic and am interested in other people's thoughts. OK, so I move into a new house that just happens to have a rather large native ant population on its outskirts. But now that it has grown cold and rainy, the ants want in and no matter what I do to discourage their migration, they find ways. I don't care to harm other beings, and yet I also don't care to have my cabinets, foodstuffs and bathtub crawling with insects! How does one solve this dilemma? I've hunted down various non-toxic potions and sprays but the upshot is that they still kill some of the ants. I suppose in a perfect mind-state, I would not be attached to having an ant-free kitchen, but that may be something I'll have to continue to work on in lifetimes to come! Anyone else struggle with this?<br><br>Thanks for your thoughts,<br>Robyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2000 Report Share Posted November 17, 2000 Put out ant traps and it's their own bad karma of invading your home that leads them to walk into the trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2000 Report Share Posted November 17, 2000 Robyn, there IS a gentle solution: "Miracle Chalk" from China. You simply chalk around corners and anywhere you have ants (or roaches). The ants just won't cross the line of chalk! And it says "non toxic to human being and animal. Save to use." It really says "save," and not "safe" on our box Don't you love these translations?<br><br>Anyway, we never saw dead ants! As far as we could tell, the ants just didn't like it and went elsewhere, probably to a place next door that used Baygon for all we know!<br><br>This stuff is cheap and we live close to Chinatown in Vancouver--so if you live somewhere where you can't get this stuff I'd be glad to send you some, just let me know! It really is amazing; we used it when we lived in Bali, Indonesia and if it works on the tropical buggers there (and seemingly without harming them) then it should work on N. Amer wimpy bugs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2000 Report Share Posted November 17, 2000 <a href=http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/prof/msg0811425627708.html target=new>http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/prof/msg0811425627708.html</a\ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2000 Report Share Posted November 17, 2000 espionus, wow! thanks for that link. I read all the posts, many of which also rave about the effectiveness of this product, and I also read the warning by the FDA. It seems the miracle chalk might not be totally non-toxic. It's strange, because like I said, we never saw any dead ants but it still works like a dream. The FDA seems to have a gripe with it not because it has been proven toxic, but because they cannot ascertain what the ingredients are; the labeling is unavailable or inconsistent and each company seems to produce a different variety. I wouldn't be surprised if it contains chemicals, but I heard it contained crysanthemum flower!<br><br>Also there was the concern that because the product looks like regular chalk, children will eat it. Still, the these are the same people who permit Raid and Baygon to be used in the presence of children and have no gripes with the use of toxic pesticides in large quantities on crops! A possible chemical company conspiracy? "If we can't reproduce the chalk then we sure as hell aren't going to let the Chinese profit on it"? :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2000 Report Share Posted November 17, 2000 just had to correct myself. It's the EPA, not the FDA, which issued the warning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2000 Report Share Posted November 18, 2000 Thanks very much to Sunshine for the info on "Miracle Chalk" and thanks to Eponius for the interesting link. I'll definitely look into this, but I'll need to settle the toxicity issue because I have lots of dogs with curious tongues -- and they're unlikely to leave a line of chalk untested! I have also heard of people using boric acid powder in cracks, etcetera but have been warned that despite a pretty high level of safety this can be toxic to dogs if ingested in any serious amount. It is also deadly to ants if they walk into it (might be true of "Miracle Chalk"; I don't know.)<br><br>Anyway, I'll try to find out more about the ingredients in "Miracle Chalk" and let you know if I come across anything interesting . . . <br><br>Meanwhile, I'm using a non-toxic product called "Orange Guard" which is pretty good at keeping ants away for awhile, but as I said, it does kill them upon first application. Afterwards, they just seem to stay away . . . so it's the best compromise I've found so far. <br><br>I've always been moved by the stories of Buddhist monks who carry brooms to gently sweep insects away before they step on the ground -- but it's very challenging to keep that in mind when they're crawling up your refrigerator! <br><br>Best,<br>Robyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2000 Report Share Posted November 18, 2000 robyn, I understand your desire for compassionate bug-riddance. I grew up in a place with lots of bugs; they don't bother me as a whole, and yet there is still a need to keep them away from our food and prevent them from biting us, etc. This chalk always seemed to be too good to be true, so we should look into it. It may be harmful to animals despite what the label says. Is there any way you can strategically mark the chalk without your dog being able to lick it? Unfortunately, from what I've read already, the chalk may be harmful. :-( I may not have seen any dead ants, but it's possible they died later!<br><br>I read that cinammon, nutmeg, and cloves are also good repellants, but I can't attest to it.<br><br>The suspicion I have is that the literature I've read so far discourages use of the chalk by saying it causes harm to children and contains certain pesticides, but at the same time recommends commercial insecticide products. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2000 Report Share Posted November 18, 2000 Jain monks actually, not Buddhist. Gee I'm getting to be a yogic Cliff Claven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2000 Report Share Posted November 18, 2000 <<Jain monks actually, not Buddhist. Gee I'm getting to be a yogic Cliff Claven.>><br><br>Screwgee,<br><br>Yes, I've read that Jain monks do it, but the first time I heard of monks gently sweeping bugs as they walked was in Indonesia at Borobodur where the guide explained that the monks who lived there in ancient times would abide by no violence . . . <br><br>Like all human behavior, there's overlap in many cultures ! <br><br>Best,<br>Robyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2000 Report Share Posted November 18, 2000 I wrote:<br><br><<Yes, I've read that Jain monks do it, but the first time I heard of monks gently sweeping<br> bugs as they walked was in Indonesia at Borobodur where the guide explained that the<br> monks who lived there in ancient times would abide by no violence . . ..>><br><br>I meant to say where the guide explained that the Buddhist Monks who lived there in ancient times . . . oops! <br><br>Robyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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