Gardening Tips

From: MOTHER EARTH NEWS Story by: Ellen Sandbeck

Summertime, and the living is too mosquitoey and itchy? It’s a common complaint. And mosquitoes are not only a nuisance – they can also spread West Nile virus.

Wearing loose, light-colored pants and long-sleeved cotton shirts is helpful in fending off mosquitoes. On particularly muggy and buggy days, you can wear a head net, though sometimes that’s more than one can bear.

For many people, the solution is to reach for a DEET-based repellent before venturing outdoors. DEET has been around for more than 50 years, and the Environmental Protection Agency has assured us this chemical is safe if “used as directed.” DEET has been the standard against which all other repellents are measured – but is it really safe?