Cob: Flying ants? and red ants in new cob bench??????

[Myra Bonhage-Hale]

Thanks for the idea Marlin.  I went up today to look after picking some
Tansey branches and uncovering the side with the ants
yesterday.....revealed.....no ants...no sign of ants???  Weather cloudy, not
cold - will keep you posted and buy borax next time I go to town.  (just in
case they are living deep down in the holes for drying!)...Namaste.  Myra
Visit me on the web at www.lapaixherbaljourney.com
and www.sustainabledevelopmentforwv.com
----- Original Message -----
From: <lightearth at onebox.com>
To: <lapaix at iolinc.net>
Cc: <coblist at deatech.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 13, 2002 1:25 PM
Subject: RE: Cob: Flying ants? and red ants in new cob bench??????


> Borax maybe ? Worked great for me in several ant situations...watch out
with soils it will sterilize the soil from growing anything even though it
is natural.....works great to prevent bug/mold in many situations...
>
> Marlin Nissen
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:     "Myra Bonhage-Hale" <lapaix at iolinc.net>
> Sent:     Sat, 12 Oct 2002 16:17:34 -0500
> To:       <coblist at deatech.com>
> Subject:  Cob: Flying ants? and red ants in new cob bench??????
>
> Yikes, just went up to look at the aforementioned cob bench which a group
of us worked on last Saturday - the cob = 2 seperate stages - one underneath
the other - the top cob is still wet after almost 3 days of rain - it was
covered with plastic and held down with large stones so rain did not get in.
The cob is above a dry wall rock base (not dry wall used on walls inside -
just rock stacked without mortar) and it is about 8 inches high now = 9 feet
long on foundation of tamped earth tires (3).
> However, lifting up the cover to show someone working in my gardens today,
I was astonished to find literally hundreds, perhaps thousands of winged
ants and llittle red ants marching up all one side and in and out theholes
for drying - what do I do?  I have an organic herb farm (certified for 3
years, still using same practices) and am chemically sensitive, so I do not
use pesticides of any kind.  I guess I could put tansy and peppermint on the
still drying cob - I'll do that and let you know if it works.  If that
doesn't, I will try essential oil of peppermint.  Has anyone else ever had
ants invade their still drying cob????
> Visit me on the web at www.lapaixherbaljourney.com
> and www.sustainabledevelopmentforwv.com
>
>
>
>