Chicken Herder

I may be having trouble keeping chickens alive this year, but I’ve had no problem at all raising mosquitoes.  With all the water we’ve been enjoying, there are swarms of mosquitoes around me almost every time I go out to work (which is often).  The only time I consider using Off!® is when I’m going to be working outside after dark – it’s just too many chemicals on me all the time otherwise.  As a result they are landing on and biting me constantly.  I’ve almost given up trying to swat them, it just eats up so much time.  With this controversial policy, you’d think that I would be swollen on all exposed surfaces, but surprisingly, I’m not.  Once I became aware of this incongrous reality, I paid attention, trying to determine what was working.  Here’s what I’ve come up with: Dr. Bronner’s magic soap (peppermint flavor), and Tropical Traditions’ gold label coconut oil.

For the last couple years, I’ve been using coconut oil to treat mosquito bites…and it certainly helps, but it doesn’t make them go away…just lessens the itching.  What is new this year is Dr. Bronner’s soap.  When I’m finished working outside for the day, I shower using Dr. Bronner’s soap (you can feel the essential oils tingling).  When I’m dry, I apply coconut oil to any bites I still feel, and so far, I’ve had no itching.  I’m not sure what is actually doing it…but the only thing I am doing that makes any sense (to me) is the soap/coconut oil combo.  Just thought I’d share.