Diatomaceous Earth
This week's new product isn't so much "new" as it is new to us — and, we'll wager, to most board-members in these neo-green times. Because wouldn't you know it, but nowadays even insecticide has gone green.
We're speaking about "diatomaceous earth," or DE — a soft, sedimentary rock comprised of ground-up, fossilized shells of algae-like plants called diatoms. (See above. Kinda pretty, ain't they?) Ground into a flour-like powder, DE is used for all sorts of things, from filtration devices to cat litter to an odorless and nontoxic "mechanical insecticide."
And by "mechanical," no, we don't mean it sends in teeny-tiny Iron Men to blast your cockroaches, bedbugs and other insect pests. Instead, teeny-tiny razor-sharp edges penetrate the bug's exoskeleton. The insect's internal liquid leaks out onto the absorbent DE, and the bug dehydrates and dies. Hey, we said DE was green; we didn't say it was nice.
As with anything dusty, nontoxic or not, you don't want to breathe it in, so have your staffer wear a dust mask when using it. Regardless, it's sure a darn sight safer than the traditional boric acid and most chemical sprays you're using. Which us leads us now to our Reading Rainbow moment: To learn more about diatomaceous earth, see articles like the Associated Press story, "Pest Control Business Turns to Greener Methods."
Since diatomaceous (pronounced "die-ah-toh-MAY-shus") earth is a naturally occurring mineral, it's available in a wide variety of packages, weights and prices. Sources include:
Best Prices Storable Foods • P.O. Box 3182 [or] 1715 CR 2540 Quinlan, Texas 75474 • (972) 288-0262 • txfooddude@internet-grocer.net
Biconet • 5116 Williamsburg Road, Brentwood, Tenn. 37027 • (615) 370-4301 • toll-free (800) 441-BUGS • info@biconet.com
Dirt Works • 1195 Dog Team Road, New Haven, Vt. 05472 • (802) 385-1064 • toll-free (877) 213-3828 • jfmeshna@dirtworks.net
Golden Harvest Organics • 404 N. Impala Drive, Fort Collins, Colo. 80521 • (970) 224-4679 • info@ghorganics.com
