predator

The number one key to growing organic food is to monitor predatory action.  If you aren't going to use poisons to keep them at bay then you've got to find another way to remove them:  handpicking.  It ain't pretty people but it's the price you pay if you want organic pesticide free vegetables.

Step 1 Poops

Be able to recognize the signs that you've got unfriendlies.

Tale tell signs include holes in the foliage and /or poops of some kind.  

Some bugs even lay eggs EGGS.

Poops can range in size from poppy seeds ( like here)  

  to peppercorns. 

Step 2 Seek

Once you've found the clue, start turning over leaves and sure enough...

Ah Hah!  Found ya you  little sneaky bastaaad! ( spoken with a British accent of course)

Step 3 Destroy

I usually check out the leaves as I'm watering.  Injured leaves will begin to be so glaringly obvious that you'll easily catch them with a quick glance.

And then you'll get a killer's high from squishing all the nasties you can find.  It's awesome!

If you miss them at their beginning stage, don't worry, you'll get another chance.  

They only get bigger.  Each stage of the larvae will metamorphosize into a larger bug.  

The bigger they get, the more they eat of course, so it's best to catch them as early as possible.

You definitely don't want to have to squish THESE GUYS by hand!

It's kind of a tedious and somewhat disgusting process. 

But.

Isn't it worth it for these beauties?