In recent years, the UC Statewide IPM Program has received an influx of questions from UC Master Gardeners and the general public about homemade pesticides. Below is our official statement on homemade pesticides and guidance for UC Master Gardeners when discussing pesticides with clientele.

A brief definition of homemade pesticides: Mixtures formulated with household ingredients (i.e. dish soap, vinegar, garlic, cooking oils, etc.) with the intent to use for killing, controlling, reducing, or repelling a pest (insects, mites, pathogens, weeds, vertebrates) are considered pesticides. Homemade pesticides might also include mixtures of commercially available pesticides (for example neem oil) with household ingredients.

UC IPM statement on homemade pesticides: Homemade pesticides, as defined above, should not be recommended or suggested by UC Master Gardeners to the public as a method for controlling pests. Unless included within UC ANR peer-reviewed publications, homemade pesticides generally have not been studied in replicated research trials and therefore have not been scientifically proven to effectively control pests. The ingredients used in homemade pesticides vary widely, and their effects on the environment (natural enemies, pollinators, water quality, soil quality) and humans have not been studied or proven to be safe or less-toxic.

What should UC Master Gardeners do? UC Master Gardeners share science-based, unbiased information and resources with the public. This includes UC ANR publications and other resources on the UC IPM website that have been written by UC academics and peer-reviewed for accuracy. On page 222 of the UC Master Gardener Handbook, it states, “All pesticide recommendations to the public must be recommendations published by UC. Do not recommend home remedies for use as pesticides…”?

When discussing pest control strategies with the public, UC Master Gardeners should provide options and resources. This follows UC IPM's integrated approach, which seeks to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment.

In the process of presenting pest solutions, you may suggest pesticide active ingredients but not specific products. These must be referenced in the UC IPM Pest Notes for the pest you are dealing with. For example, if a client is looking for a pesticide to use to control aphids, you may suggest horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps because these pesticides are listed as options in the Pest Notes: Aphids publication. When “oils and soaps” are mentioned in UC IPM publications, we are referring to commercially available oils and soaps that are formulated specifically for use as pesticides- not household oils and soaps meant for cooking, cleaning, or other purposes.

Homemade pesticides are not advised for several reasons:

1. They are not registered by the U.S. EPA and are not in compliance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Pesticides are legally required to be registered by the U.S. EPA for sale and use or comply with FIFRA exemptions.
2. They do not come with detailed product labels like commercially available pesticides. Pesticide product labels have instructions for use, including the amount to use, frequency of applications, how soon after application you can harvest crops, and whether the product can even be used on edible crops. Safety and disposal information is also listed, including what to do if someone is exposed and needs to seek medical attention.
3. Pesticide product labels are legal documents that users are required to read and follow. If someone gets harmed while using a labeled product, they can seek legal action. If they did not use the product according to label instructions, they would likely lose their case. Homemade pesticide recipes and advice shared online and through social media, vary from one to another and do not include these important details that prevent harm or litigation. Home remedies shared by UC Master Gardeners that are not backed by research could subject the University to litigation if a user experiences damage or injury from advice given.
4. Some household products included in homemade pesticide recipes include additives and ingredients that are synthetically made that could harm the environment because they were not formulated to be used outdoors, on plants, or in a manner different from the ingredient's intended purpose. Most dish soaps are not naturally occurring substances nor are they biodegradable. They can contain detergents and degreasers that are harmful to groundwater and aquatic and soil organisms.

A note about acetic acid, or vinegar: Pesticides with the active ingredient acetic acid and labeled as herbicides can be used to control small or young weeds. However, household acetic acid (vinegar) products labeled for kitchen or cleaning uses, should not be used as herbicides. Keep in mind that products containing more than 10% acetic acid are dangerous and often these pesticides will have the signal word DANGER as high concentrations of acetic acid is corrosive and can cause irreversible eye and skin damage.

If you have any questions about pesticides or would like information about pesticide training for your program, contact the UC IPM Urban Team at ucipm-community@ucanr.edu.

                                                                        -- Lauren Fordyce & Karey Windbiel-Rojas, UC IPM

References

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PI288

https://www.epa.gov/minimum-risk-pesticides

Ag Day at the Capital

UC Master Gardener volunteers play a crucial role in community gardening education, food donations and other activities. This important statewide program also hosts community education fairs and offers seedling sales to local residents.  More often than not, the revenue generated from these activities goes right back into their program.

I know there are several UC Master Gardener Programs that successfully connect with their local and state officials. I want to highlight the UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County  for their efforts connecting with State Senator, Dave Cortese (15-San Jose.)   Senator Cortese attended an event when he was a Supervisor, and continues participation as a state legislator.

So, how do you engage your public officials? To find your local government official you can use the Google search engine or for state legislators https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/. Once you have identified who represents your community, I encourage you to get to know them.

Community engagement and connection is important. To mobilize support for your local UC Master Gardener Program, I encourage you to invite your elected officials to an upcoming event. Most elected officials have an email address or directions on how to send an event invitation.

Katherine Uhde, Program Coordinator in Santa Clara County, offers these successful event tips:

• Shoppers are focused on buying their seedlings. Don't let your elected official get lost in the shuffle, set aside time in your class/talks schedule for them to address an engaged audience.
• Alternatively, invite elected officials to give an opening address to kickstart your event.
• Communicate early and often. Elected officials have busy schedules. Send a save the date as early as possible and regularly check in with staff leading up to the event.
• Take photos to post on social media and share them with the elected officials.

If it is a well-attended event, you might offer an opportunity to host a constituent services table. For more information on how to host your public officials, please have your county representative contact me at sviolini@ucanr.edu. Remember, to grow a healthy garden, it takes time and energy. The same concept applies to growing program awareness among your public officials; it takes time and commitment to help them get to know you!

The UC Master Gardener Program has a positive impact in California. Celebrate your commitment to healthy living, mindfulness, and improving California resident's gardening practices!

Help Us Help You! Complete Our Needs Survey

UC IPM is looking for feedback from UC Master Gardener programs to help us determine education and outreach needs on pest management issues. The short 7-question survey will help us focus our efforts and help you better serve your communities.

Access the survey at https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=39243.

Master Gardener Program Coordinators can either gather suggestions from your volunteers and only submit one survey for each county or you can blast it out to all volunteers.  We will compile results and share them with you once ready. The deadline to submit feedback is March 31, 2024. We appreciate your input!

Urban & Community IPM Webinars

As you may know, UC IPM hosts free monthly webinars on pest identification, management, and prevention in and around the home, garden, and landscape. Webinars for the first half of 2024 are now open for registration.

These webinars are open to the general public so please announce them widely by sharing through social media and your local contact lists. Check UC IPM's Facebook and Instagram for webinar flyers/posts that you can reshare; and remember to tag us @ucipmurban!

The monthly webinars are held from 12:00 to 1:00pm on the third Thursday of each month. They are recorded and posted to UC IPM's YouTube channel for those who can't attend the live webinar. Visit our YouTube channel to see past webinar recordings.

Here are the IPM webinars for the first half of 2024:

• February 15 - Controlling Springtime Weeds
• March 21 - Insect Egg Identification (Easter egg hunt!)
• April 18 - Mosquitoes & Ticks of Public Health Concern
• May 16 - Moles, Voles, and Gophers!
• June 20 - Flea Control & Diseases: Starting from Scratch

Learn more and register at https://ucanr.edu/sites/ucipm-community-webinars/. Check our blog and social media pages to learn about new webinars, pest management tips, and more!

Happy New Year!
Lauren Fordyce and Karey Windbiel-Rojas, UC IPM

The UC Master Gardener Program is excited to welcome new Advisors to our community of practice! Each new advisor has assumed the critical role of supporting the academic integrity of the UC Master Gardener Program within their respective county or region. The advisor's role entails harmonizing program activities with local and state consumer horticulture needs, delivering top-notch training, and reviewing the outputs of UC Master Gardener volunteers for accuracy.

Advisors Andrews, Godfrey, Hill, Singh, Pitton, and Volk will work closely with UC Master Gardener Coordinators to support the ongoing success and growing impacts of their respective UC Master Gardener Programs. 

The following fantastic new Advisors have recently joined UC ANR:

Ellie Andrews

Specialty Crops Advisor, Sonoma, Marin & Napa Counties (UC Master Gardener Advisor in Sonoma County):

• Fruit, nut and vegetable crops
• Plant biological efficiency and abiotic stresses affecting plants
• Conservation and efficient use of water
• Harnessing ecosystem services

Jessie Godfrey

Environmental Horticulture & Water Resource Management Advisor, Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco (UC Master Gardener Advisor in Alameda & Contra Costa Counites):

• Climate Change
• Sustainable Natural Ecosystems

Ryan Hill

Weed Science and Agronomy Advisor, Tehama, Shasta & Glenn Counties:

• Weed control
• Herbicide safety

Hardeep Singh

Local Food Systems Advisor, Central Sierra (Amador, Calaveras, Tuolumne & El Dorado):

• Fruit & vegetable crops
• Urban agriculture/local and regional food systems

Bruno Pitton

Environmental Horticulture Advisor, Placer & Nevada Counties:

• Floriculture & Nursery
• Greenhouse management

Emma Volk

Production Horticulture Area Advisor, Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties:

• Vegetables