Winning the War on Garden Pests and Disease WITHOUT CHEMICALS

Do you struggle with pests and disease in your garden, but don't want to use harmful chemicals? We're giving away all of our strategies right here. Thank you Thrive for sponsoring! Use my link thrivemarket.co... to get 30% off your first order + a free gift worth up to $60!
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We want to share our passion for efficient, sustainable homesteading that brings the family together. On our homestead we do chemical-free gardening, grass-fed milk and beef, pastured eggs and broiler chickens, and free range children :) We love to go on adventures as a family, so if we're not workin on the farm, we're probably hiking or out getting ice cream. We're all into DIY, and being inventive and creative. We believe in homesteading that's sustainable, not just sustainable homesteading. In other words, we want to show you that homesteading doesn't have to wear you out to the point that you give it up. We've seen it happen, and almost came to that point ourselves. So go ahead and take a whack at that subscribe button if you'd like to join us on this crazy ride. Get ready to learn and be inspired!

[@melissapritchett2731]

It’s hard to imagine that you guys have been gardening for 10 years bc you both look about 18. Love your videos. ❤

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! 😄

[@Sky-Child]

True love and clean living does that for folks - it's like the fountain of youth!

[@trevorwhat]

Your videos are a living encyclopedia/diary of (more than farming) knowledge. Generational stuff. Big thanks for putting them together.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks for being here and supporting us! 😊

[@Just-Nikki]

My husband and I have been using a hand vac for garden pests for years. A neighbor asked me why we are vacuuming outside 😂

[@morethanfarmers]

Haha that’s great! 😄

[@leesamahaffey694]

When putting up cattle panels, I have seen others raise them off the ground maybe 12". Makes them better for trellising as they grow taller. Also easier to prune bottom leaves.

[@jaclynpass4604]

I did that! Mine are about 18-24 inches off the ground

[@BTimbz3113]

Can’t wait for you all to get millions of followers, keep pushing, in my opinion no family better! Raising the elevation! Love y’all Thk u!!!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you! 😄

[@carltonhunter5892]

I recently retired from the army and living here in South Korea. just started my raised bed garden and it is flourishing not on your level. but I am getting my seeds or the first batch from Berlin Seeds. love the content very insightful. be blessed.

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s awesome! Hope it goes well for you!😊

[@maryegerton6848]

Your garden is so beautiful. The only fertilizer I use is a homemade variety. I have two garbage bins with lids. I fill them about one fourth with green matter such as grass clippings, leaves from trimming bushes, weeds etc. I fill it up with water. Then I let it sit for two weeks before I water my plants with it. The longer it sits, the better. Not going to lie, it’s kinda smelly. But it works, and it’s free. I fertilize around every couple of weeks or so.

[@Sky-Child]

That stuff is worth it's weight in gold!

[@jaclynpass4604]

I love this channel and everything you guys offer. You have taught me so much about the life I want to eventually lead! Ignore the haters, we understand that in order to make money off these platforms, ads are necessary and honestly the stuff you promote is amazing as well and I don’t mind watching. Thank you for being so awesome and giving me something positive and entertaining to watch each week!

[@morethanfarmers]

Appreciate the kind words. ☺️ Thanks for being here!

[@stephendavis2485]

Yearly project is great to watch! Keep at it guys!

[@Just-Nikki]

I make a hydrogen peroxide and water mix with a tiny bit of dish soap and I have not had an issue with blight since using it. I spray about every 2 weeks.

[@wesleykincade]

Do you think I could spray the soil at the end of this year and beginning of next year with the hydrogen peroxide mixture? Would that help to deter it?

[@Seasoncromwell]

Sounds like similar principles to my iodine stuff. Love it! So many cool ways to do this.

[@camicri4263]

What iodine stuff, please share! Thank you!

[@Mildret-ff7ts]

May you please share the ratio of the peroxide and water

[@ComplicatedSimplicite]

Do you know if this will work for cabbage moths

[@walkbyfaithfamily9177]

Every time I have tried to grow pickling cucumbers they got sick and died. I started growing "Market More" and they have done great every single year. They make good pickles too.

[@justintime6346]

Wow those tomato plants are awesome. Which kind are they? I should probably rewatch and have my answer! Probably the ones acclimated to your climate! 😊 Thanks for sharing and caring 🙏🏼

[@morethanfarmers]

We grow Carolina Gold, Celebrity Plus, Amish Paste, and Sun Gold!

[@TheEGA4421]

Cody❤Michelle, this is an excellent educational video. You both have consciously inform your viewers that "what works for your garden". Your tips...lady bugs, air flow, mulch, spraying plants, etc...may seem ludicious but at the same time it works for you in Ohio. Out west, down south or even the Rockie Mountain states everything will be different.

[@blackpearldeluxe8356]

I really enjoy your videos. As a tipp for your tomatoes, try to bind them up the next time. And cut the leaves off of them, so there is more airflow und prevent the fungus. Greetings from germany

[@julieagain]

If you cut all the leaves off you’ll get tomato scald here in the US

[@blackpearldeluxe8356]

But please not all the leaves😃

[@AHomesteadingHustle]

Dandies are great because they don't contain pork like regular marshmallows! Good to know they carry those!

[@LaurenDenson]

I love new video days!!! Michelle’s voice has become my daily meditation. Love just playing y’all in the background while I’m baking. Huge fan girl! And I love y’all’s Ohio accents! It really is great! Thank you for keeping this mama inspired and going!! My first year gardening thanks to y’all! 🫶

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks, Lauren! Glad to hear it! ☺️

[@asc3998]

With the cattle panels not being tall enough, Jess from Roots & Refuge attaches the panels up higher of the ground (I think 3').

[@elizaC3024]

Thrive market is awesome. With allergies, and wanting healthier options it is such a game changer.

[@susiebyler5226]

About potato beetles. Ugh, we have had them Really Bad this year, to the point that I just gave up. We did spray them and it still didn't take care of them. So I will be keeping leaves from this fall for that very reason.. Thank You for sharing

[@morethanfarmers]

Sorry to hear that!😞 Hope it goes better for you next year!

[@kprairiesun]

Thank you both for giving such clear explanations of how you deal with pests, planting, etc.

[@lattelolly6925]

Such good information. Thanks for sharing. Your garden is beautiful.

[@Mtpumpkinsman]

I’ve found that with the round tomato cages, pounding in a t post that weaves between the rings a bit is a total game changer to keep those stable and will hold any tomato plant you can grow

[@bethsands7665]

You are definitely growing in knowledge each year and making it all look easy since you have a vigilant plan and are diligent on following through with what knowledge you glean from the previous year. Thanks for sharing your accumulated knowledge to save us steps and help us out in what-ever state we live in. Awesome, informative video. I enjoy fish fertilizers as after using it , the garden smells like a fresh ocean.

[@tracyreaume6451]

Your garden is beautiful! 😊

[@gabriellescheper1715]

I am extremely blessed by your videos. Very informative, wholistic and helpful. You all are following the Eden lifestyle. This is what God ordained for his children. Best way for your family especially for the times we are living in.

[@beverlyhuhn2374]

Regarding the cattle panels, I started pruning my tomatoes so that there is only one main stem. I don’t allow any of the branches to become thick and heavy enough to need trellising. I have good air flow and still get a BIG harvest.

[@Acedog-vq2ph]

Hey folks, I grew up on a farm in Piedmont NC. I learned the value of hard work early, although; I did not always enjoy it. I know now that my chores were important to helping the family run smoothly day by day. Keep up your good work and blessings to you all.

[@mrs.broccoli4362]

Cattle panels, that was a thing to find here in Germany. Finally I ended up in the building materials store where I least expected it. but I have it and I work well with it. Thanks to Michelle's video, I also used it for tomatoes, which I really like, and it's also good for runner beans, black berries and I tried vertical gardening with zucchini and squash. Thanks again for your great tips. Thank you also for the new video, there is always something for me to learn and I am very grateful to you for that.

[@morethanfarmers]

That’s great! Thanks for continuing to follow along with us. 😊

[@camicri4263]

Right on guys! Blessings!

[@JackieHorsley-z8s]

I enjoyed your video glad Iam not the only gardener that Dills with pest In my garden

[@jevo19761]

Your channel is one of the best! Thank you. This video couldn't have come out at a better time. I was researching aphids and fungus just yesterday and your solutions were timely. God bless you and your channel.

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much!

[@cleosworld9096]

Fairly new sun I hope u see my comment on your last post on here about negative comments. I don’t comment much on ur videos because I don’t have much to add😂 you all do do amazing and as I said in last post I’m not ur typical audience but I’m in PA and love seeing ur videos

[@tuliplangel4624]

For 8’ tall tomato plants..Texas Tomato Cages has foldable 6’ heavy duty cages with extra 2’ add on pieces… perfect for all my indeterminate tomatoes…I’ve used them for 15 years plus!!!!

[@shermdog6969]

Peroxide works on blight, fungus, mold. Its all ive used over the last 20 years. Cheap and is good for your plants.

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

How do you apply it?

[@Mommyslittlegarden]

Thanks for this tip!

[@jenny_by_the_woods]

I love your tomato trellis idea, this is fantastic!! Im going to do this next year cuz this year mine are a wild jungle 😆

[@MoneypitHomestead]

Enjoyed your garden tour and the knowledge you share. Have a great evening. Lisa

[@justincarman4963]

Those are some of the best looking tomato plants I've seen!

[@morethanfarmers]

Thanks!😄

[@brandihegge-gf3tz]

Thank you for ALL the informative videos you guys put out. I always look forward to watching them:) You guys are one of my favorite you tube channels. Gardening has it's challenges!!!!! I've never had issues with my onions and this year we had to pull 18 rows out because of root maggots:( Didn't even know that could happen. I was so sad, but on a positive note, i harvested what i could and preserved a lot with our freeze dryer ( the greens) and cut the bulbs up and froze them.

[@kimberleychapman8416]

The garden looks beautiful ❤ Thanks, as always, for your helpful advice. We are finally getting a summer here in the U.K. So, we so busy after work each day except on Saturdays when we have a Sabbath. ❤😊

[@sgrvtl7183]

Always a Delight to see your videos! I sent along this video to my friend in France~! She's from Ohio, too, so we both have an interest. Garden & Flowers are beautiful, beautiful!💚

[@morethanfarmers]

Glad you enjoy them and thanks for sharing! 😊

[@janicedias_sowgrowanddiy]

My favourite homesteading channel with young people to watch.. both of you are so knowledgeable. Michelle's canning, preserving, sourdough baking and cooking skills are really commendable... 👌🏻 You should really look into bio enzymes... It surprises me that the west is still not familiar with bio enzymes and their myriad advantages in the garden and in the household a a cleaner, antiseptic etc... Aso just wanted to let you know that I look forward to your videos... Thank you for the inspiration.. it's my dream to homestead someday and my son enjoys watching Maddy and Captain and Cowboy.... ❤️ We watch your channel from the United Arab Emirates just FYI...

[@morethanfarmers]

Thank you so much! Glad you’re here! 😊

[@TDiem-vh9zv]

PLEASE READ! Aphids can be controlled by spraying a 50% water and 50% milk mixture. Does hurt good bugs or the plant. If anything, it nourishes with calcium. Thought you'd like to know❤

[@heavenly-dreamsdairygoats]

Thank you to the both of you for this educational video, till next time God Bless.

[@lindabyrne1645]

Enjoyed watching the channel!

[@JAFTOBpr9]

Do the steps. If you listen, they are outlining the steps. Soil testing, ammending, mulching, triming, diligence(not perfection) in examining, etc. I've spent Years half-heartedly doing the things they talk about and have never soil tested. We grow in raised beds and containers because we have less than 2 inches of topsoil/soil on top of feet of chirt, flint and clay- and we are on top of a hill, so, also in a run off/watershed area. Since we do raised beds I didn't think we " had to" do soil testing. I was wrong. Thank you guys; bunches. It's informative and encouraging. Greatly appreciate y'all.

[@morethanfarmers]

You’re welcome! 😊

[@Renesmee1921]

Try an arch tunnel made of panels. You can do tomatoes on one side and beans(or something else) on the other side.

[@leerocks3859]

I always use my hand Vac for the bugs in the garden, its the best ✌

[@morethanfarmers]

It sure is! 😄

[@chelseekpeace]

I seen a gal take a butane hand torch to squash bug eggs 🔥 the leaf takes a bit of a hit, but it's oddly satisfying and makes quick work destroying them. I'm currently in squash bug overwhelm... I've won several battles but I'm afraid they will end up winning the war.... 😅

[@stacybarker4749]

Hi Michele! What variety of broccoli do you grow? The broccoli you harvested this year is huge!

[@efiedtkou3943]

Michelle, I had the same problem, and I bought 6, and 7 feet T-posts, and tied them up to the posts, and it’s working, except for the 8 -9 ft plants, lol

[@carolynmoody9460]

Once again another great video keep up the amazing work❤❤❤ 🕊️

[@thelmagoulet4790]

Thank you..I enjoy your videos.❤🙏

[@morethanfarmers]

You’re welcome! Glad you’re here!😄

[@naiap8410]

I was finally growing stuff in my garden way up north (close to Alaska), and then we get hit with hail the size of a quarter. My poor tomatoes... 😭😭 but thank you for all your tips! I try to implement them where I can! 💛

[@morethanfarmers]

Oh dear! Sorry about that! 😞

[@naiap8410]

@@morethanfarmers Such is life, I'm afraid. Hahah! But I love watching your videos! I hope to have my own property in the next handful of years, so learning all I can from others :)

[@beccamanning2531]

It is super common for cucumbers to come in a big flush and then start dying back so you did great! some people plant in succession because of this

[@dhansonranch]

Garden looks good. That is interesting about your Mom and potato bugs. The netting works well - only way I can grow brassica's. Good info. Good job!

[@AnitaSouth]

In Australia, I use a garlic, chili mix with some Castile soap, a few drops, and I like to add a few other things like Neem oil, or white oil.

[@carahallmancentralalabamaf2155]

Our tomato plants often grow 10-12 ft tall. The only thing that works for us it a tomato stake(my husband has a sawmill and he cuts them for me) that's 10 ft and we drive it in about 6-8 inches away from the tomato plant when we plant them. Then we just tie as they grow. Once they reach the top of the stick, I typically have some suckers planted beside the old plant that's coming in and just starting to produce.. this keeps my plant purchase down and manageable for me where we can have tomatoes all season and plenty of green tomatoes to make my husband's green tomato chow-chow to last all winter.

[@lisaware5910]

Putting all this info in my back pocket for next growing season. Currently 36 weeks pregnant and have five others. So the garden looks more like a weed patch at the moment. 😅

[@ThriveMarket]

💚

[@micheleibranton2226]

Do y'all eat your sweet potato leaves? We love to eat them in our salads. Thank you for your advice on bugs and fungus. I learn so much from y'all. This Texas heat has gotten the best of us this year. Its good to see your garden thriving.

[@aprild714]

Man I love in northeast Ohio and boy we are dry, dry, dry we finally got a little rain today and desperately needed it, I usually don't deal with blight until August maybe a couple weeks behind you but this year it seems really delayed but at the same time my tomatoes seem really behind ??? Not sure if it's due to lack of rain or what but will say the pest along with other things are very different from years past.

[@TheAnointedone84]

Hey how many tomatoes plants do you all do per year? How many broccoli plans do you all plant each year? How many potato plants do you all plant each year? How many cucumbers do you all plant? How many strawberry plants do you all plant each year? Can you all give a plant count on how many plants you all grow every year?

[@tammythorn5380]

The grasshoppers are eating everything in central west Texas. They are my squash plants. We have been able to save the tomatoes but now the heat is getting them. The peppers are coming along finally. I will be replanting squash this weekend hoping to get something to put up for winter. Good luck everyone

[@katehopkinsbrent5573]

Hunni. Snap a cinnamon stick in half placing on each side of squash, pumpkin, cucumbers- it works- squash bugs HATES it. I was turning duct tape inside out to a circle to catch them then I did cinnamon and haven’t picked one squash bug since. I’ve tried many things over the years and I’ve been gardening 35 years and I AM IMPRESSED with the cinnamon sticks…

[@Issyrc18]

Oh I’m so trying this! Squash bugs are the bane of my existence

[@lytieuanh1993]

I thinhk it's about to start we've got a lot of work coming

[@FaktaPetani]

Dishwashing soap is used as an adhesive and wetting agent, I also use it

[@dorothyczygmunt5232]

I truly appreciate your sharing of your experience in gardening and food prep. My ? Is about fungus spots on my cucumber plants in a raised bed. Is it best to pull a sick plant I've tried spraying but it's been raining alot. Starting to spread to my tomatoes? Also I was told to keep my plants leaves thin did that cause stress to the plants causing them being subsessitable to disease? Many thanks for all you do.

[@christinewyzer3121]

I got cukes bugs too. Those bettles. I didn’t get them sprayed with pyrethrin soon enough. Good thing I have two areas.

[@kydleemento4403]

U are so smart 😊😊❤❤

[@AlbinOnishchenko]

Fish fertilizer is nice!!

[@stmartin17773]

Winning.Common knowledge now is gardening for human microbiome who does all nutrient assimilation and immune promootion and mood regulation.

[@sammycoka9598]

I use diatomaceous earth or sevin products in my garden and it helps tremendously.

[@StonerSmurfin]

Hard shelled bugs have a coating of oil on them. Spraying soapy water on them removes that oil coating and allows the water in to drown them, because they breathe through small holes in the shell. Which is why the soapy water doesn't work if not sprayed directly on the bugs.

[@CityWideGardens]

Love your vids! Im in nj similar zone issues.

[@morethanfarmers]

Glad you enjoy them! 😊

[@familyguyts9627]

@More Than Farmers, I noticed a few yellow cucumbers. In case you didn't know it, if you let just one cucumber "over ripen" or mature on the vine, the vine will die thinking that it has done it's job in producing mature seeds to reproduce itself. So, don't every let any cucumbers mature on the vine ! Also, my wife eats her sweet potato leaf tops!

[@humanbeing4368]

They may be letting the cucumbers go to seed for seed harvesting.

[@familyguyts9627]

@@humanbeing4368 Could be. The video didn't really say but did say they were all dying off and just wanted to make sure she knew that could be the reason. I never knew that myself until a couple years ago. A lot of plants you can let something mature and dry out on the plant and it doesn't affect the entire plant but cucumbers are different apparently.

[@julieagain]

Maybe next year do an arch trellis with your cattle panels for your tomatoes. My tomatoes grow so tall the only way to manage them is an arch trellis

[@Seasoncromwell]

💯

[@MidLifNoCrisis]

I was wondering the same. Why don’t you just turn your cattle parks the other direction and make a trellis tunnel? It looks like you have the space and the funds to get more posts and panels. That would give you >16’ depending on whether or not you also raise them. The arch also keeps them short not that hopefully you don’t need a ladder to harvest at the highest points.

[@MichiganFarmGirl1]

When it gets hot and humid in Michigan our squash plants get downy mildew. How are you able to avoid this in your garden?

[@Seasoncromwell]

Hey hey y'all I know it sound nuts but in a 1 gallon sprayer you can put about 20 or so drops of povidone iodine (1st aid iodine) into water and spray. It acts like a multi mineral. You'll see the plants (all of them) perk up pretty quickly AND it stops powdery mildew and blight. Not kidding. Not an exaggeration. I'm in hot humid Maryland and mine used to die from blight every year and I'd just decided it was just par for the course. Last year my toms were rolling through September into October. That's wayyyyy longer than usual. Besides my blah blah blah .... I'm going to look into the items you use too!

[@Seasoncromwell]

Your broccoli! 😮❤

[@brandieerin6033]

I HIGHLY recommend a second cow panel PARALLEL a foot away from the first. It’s more effective than a single cow panel wall. JUST SANDWICH THEM! Commenting from your neighbor Zone 7B ❤

[@wesleykincade]

Do you happen to know of anything that I can treat the soil with over the winter to deter blight fungus for next year? I'm in Ohio too. The blight this year has been unreal! I think I've lost the battle this year :(

[@WildflowerApiary]

Beautiful garden!! How tall are your square cages?

[@miriammarquez4061]

@Michelle be aware when spraying the spinosad cause I believe that one can hurt the bees! 🐝

[@brightpurpleviking]

Squash vine borer and squash bugs have been my enemy for years. I finally skipped squash altogether this year in hopes the eggs hatch and don’t have anything to eat this year and move on 😂

[@morethanfarmers]

😂

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

Please keep in mind, that everything is made of chemicals so this language can be confusing. Chemicals include nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, etc. H2O means two hydrogen molecules and an oxygen molecule, both of which are chemicals.

[@carolynmoody9460]

So that means if we water our garden where adding chemicals.. this comments about as dumb as yours

[@heaven9378]

Yes they need to specify synthetic or natural (chemistry nerd here as well)

[@SusanCamacho-q1m]

Almost 1st. Ty for sharing

[@lildebra7941]

I planted 1 potato plant in a 5 gallon bucket may 24th and it has been raining the past 2 weeks every day on and off but more on, is that gonna rot my potatoes?

[@tomreppert1722]

What if you did 3 cattle panels attached to the ground at the bottom, and like an 18" piece of rope or steel cord attaching them at the top. The center one stake into the ground straight up, and the other two will fan out that 18" at the top.

[@morethanfarmers]

I think I get what you mean.. kinda like a "W"? That seems like it'd work, but then it would take 3 cattle panels 😏

[@dande9981]

yikes, fungicides kill soil life. we have blight issues as well. pruning out the lower leaves helps a great deal by increasing airflow. Baking soda spray which is organically approved is another treatment 2 to 3 tablespoons per gallon of water. I do need to re-search what kind of damage baking soda does too soil microbes though.

[@loganjackson1335]

As I am single what are your thoughts of only having raised beds? I am thinking about getting about 10 to 12 of them. I was also wondering if you have heard of Japanese Sweet potatoes and if you have ever tired to grow them?

[@morethanfarmers]

We like doing a few things in the ground, like tomatoes and corn, just so they don't blow over as easily. Otherwise, I think all raised beds would be fine! We've never done Japanese sweet potatoes.. will have to check it out!

[@loganjackson1335]

@@morethanfarmers that makes sense. I think I will grow the corn and tomato’s in the ground and the other in the raised beds.

[@JessicaCrowell-h4j]

Diatemeous earth for bugs! Early not after flowering though.

[@gD-cp3cg]

Hi Guys, I have a question, on my cabbage I have got some caterpillar. What do you do, what do you put on the leaves when it is like that ? What are the ingredients inside of BT ? Is white vinegar works ?

[@stacytotherow]

Do you have a problem with squash borers as well? What do you do? I keep up with the squash bugs better, but never fails the borers get my plants and next thing I know the plant is dead! Ugh!

[@lisanowakow3688]

Spinosad works on squash beetles.

[@trupikk]

Can we have a fruit trees update in next video?

[@juliapolentes892]

#2 Plastics can leech PFAS into the liquid they hold. It's a huge bummer for me, but it's worth it to me to avoid it.

[@The_Empty_Nesteaders]

Your tomato plants are much fuller (more green stuff) than mine. Mine are producing okay but they look “bare” compared to yours. Do you prune your tomato plants? Any other thoughts as to why mine would be so bare? (Same zone as you)

[@crystalmeazell7187]

Make your trellis higher for tomatoes. Like 6 feet on the t post.

[@ginettebachand2106]

Do you spray fruit trees? I have a few trees , they are still young and I hope to have many years with them fruiting. Does it matter the kind of fruit tree or the pest involved?

[@leodeboca]

Hey guys, have you tried cayenne pepper or chile powder yet? I used it in my garden to get rid of ants, and it works, let me know.

[@chastityanderson]

Hey where do you get all the leaves for your garden?

[@morethanfarmers]

We get them from a local lawn care service. 😊