Insects
Bees
Keeping bees in a homestead is like having magical little helpers buzzing around, making your garden and the whole world a better…
Pests, the natural way · 30 Guides
Insects
Spot it early, stop it without poison
Start with: Bees then follow the Guides in order
Insects
Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Maggots)
Photo by Oktavianus Mulyadi: Let's talk about the incredible benefits of black soldier fly larvae and how you can breed them. These…
Feed
House fly maggots & meal
Photo by cottonbro studio: Making House fly maggot meal. In short, house fly maggots can be easily grown, fed as maggots or…
Garden
Critical Guide to Organic Pest Control in Southern Africa: Proven Natural Solutions for Healthier Crops
organic pest control - a ladybug eating aphids. Organic pest control is a way of managing garden pests without using harmful chemicals.…
Insects
Dubia Roaches
Dubia Roach (Blaptica dubia) is a species of cockroach that has gained popularity in the pet trade as a feeder insect for…
Insects
Turkestan Cockroach
Turkestan Cockroach (Blatta lateralis): The Turkestan cockroach, scientifically known as Blatta lateralis, is a species of cockroach that is native to Central…
Insects
Superworms
Superworms (Zophobas morio): Superworms, scientifically known as Zophobas morio, are the larvae of a darkling beetle species. They are commonly used as…
Insects
Mealworms
Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor): Mealworms are the larvae of the darkling beetle species Tenebrio molitor. They are widely recognized as popular feeder insects…
Infrastructure
Fly Trap
Make your own fly trap without using chemicals or poison! Here's a simple guide on how to make a cheap and easy…
Insects
Aphids
Aphids. Understanding Aphids in an Organic Garden. Aphids, also known as plant lice, are small, sap-sucking insects that can wreak havoc in…
Business Ideas
Organic Fertilizer
Organic Fertilizer. Types of Organic Fertilizers. 1. Animal-Based Fertilizers. • Manure: Comes from animal poop. It is full of nutrients like nitrogen,…
Insects
Ladybirds (or lady-beetles or ladybugs)
ladybug, ladybeetle or ladybird. Lady-beetles (or ladybirds or ladybugs) come in many different colours. Most if the species of ladybeetles are predators…
Insects
How to Control Soft Bugs Organically
How to Control Soft Bugs Organically. Soft-bodied insects like aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites can cause significant damage to plants by feeding…
Feed
Insects for Homestead Chicken & Fish Feed
Why insects? Insects turn low-value organic leftovers into high-value protein and fertilizer, closing loops at village scale. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae,…
Insects
Termites in the garden: understand activity and assess damage
Distinguish useful decomposition from crop damage, keep simple observations and choose responses that fit the actual problem.
Garden
Insect hotels and living habitat: make room for garden allies
An insect hotel can make small wildlife easier to observe, but it is only one part of a living garden.
Insects
Ants in the garden: follow the trail before treating
Ants can be predators, soil workers or companions of sap-feeding insects.
Insects
Earwigs: useful predators or seedling pests?
Earwigs are recognisable by the pincers at the end of their bodies.
Infrastructure
Elephants and beehive fences: a community option to assess
Beehive fences use bees as part of an elephant-deterrent system.
Insects
Leafminers: read the damage before treating the garden
A pale winding trail inside a leaf often draws attention before the insect itself is seen. Leafminers feed within leaf tissue, but different insects make mines and not ev…
Insects
Fall armyworm: inspect maize early and compare the evidence
Fall armyworm can injure maize, particularly when larvae feed in the whorl of developing leaves. Early observation helps distinguish a current infestation from old damage…
Insects
Bagrada bugs: protect young brassicas and learn from local intercropping
Bagrada hilaris is a small shield bug that can damage brassicas such as cabbage, kale and mustard. Young plants deserve close attention because feeding at the growing poi…
Insects
White grubs: distinguish decomposers from root damage
A pale, curled grub in compost or soil is not enough information to decide whether it is harming a plant. Beetle larvae differ in what they eat, and a useful diagnosis co…
Garden
Wall spiders: observe these hunting neighbours
Flat, fast-moving spiders on walls can be surprising visitors. Learning to recognise common hunting spiders can reduce unnecessary spraying and make the home garden a bet…
Feed
Crickets for feed: begin with a small contained trial
Raising insects for poultry or fish feed can be interesting, but a living colony requires management and a reliable market or use. Start by testing survival, labour and f…
Chicken
Termites as poultry feed: local observation and a cautious trial
Chickens readily investigate many insects, including termites. That observation does not make termite collection a complete feeding system. Consider species, contaminatio…
Insects
Inspect new cactus pads before adding them to a planting
Inspecting a few new pads is easier than dealing with a pest throughout an established cactus planting. Keep incoming material apart while you check its identity, health…
Insects
Build a coastal bee-forage calendar
A bee-forage calendar records when useful flowers are actually available near you. On the Namibian coast, a sheltered irrigated garden can flower differently from exposed…
Business Ideas
Plan a bee catch-box project with an experienced beekeeper
A catch box is part of a beekeeping arrangement, not a guarantee of income. Before placing one, agree who is responsible for inspection, neighbours, colony removal and ow…
Feed
Black soldier fly larvae: record the feedstock and harvest
Black soldier fly production is easier to evaluate when incoming material and harvested larvae are measured. A successful demonstration is not enough to establish feed sa…
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