• About
  • Speaking
  • Consulting
  • Amber Hinds

  • Journal
  • Press
  • Contact

Amber Hinds

Nantucket, MA
DIY, Voluntary Simplicity
/
October 6, 2011

Catching Flies With Vinegar

Whoever said, “It’s easier to catch flies with honey than vinegar,” must have never heard of apple cider vinegar.Inevitably, this time of year, fruit flies take over my kitchen.  My normally bug free home becomes a casualty of canning and bringing extraordinary amounts of farm fresh produce onto my kitchen counters and dining room table.  I’ll pretend that they’re never — not ever — encouraged to stick around by dishes that don’t get cleaned the second we stop eating off of them.  No, I’m a better housewife than that.  Mostly.

This year, they came in with the tomatoes.  There were swarms within an hour of juicy red hitting my dining room table (and floor).  I couldn’t can fast enough.  Even though I know it wasn’t a reflection on my house’ cleanliness, they still make my skin crawl a little bit.  But what’s a girl committed to natural living to do?

Of course, there’s the obvious: keep the trash emptied, the dishes washed, and the fruit and veggies in the refrigerator.  But who really likes refrigerated tomatoes?

Enter the simple, natural, DIY fruit fly trap:All you have to do is pour apple cider vinegar (I do about a 1/2 inch) into any old container (glass is nice so you can see if it’s working), and put a paper funnel on the top.  The fruit flies fly in, but they don’t know how to get out.  Then you can take them outside for release (good karma) or just let them die in the jar (shh, we won’t tell).  The same vinegar will keep attracting flies for weeks.  I just move the jar around as necessary.

It works like a charm.  No honey required.

1 Comment
Share
  • Donna
    October 7, 2011

    Wonderful idea! Thanks! Hope you’re enjoying your canned tomatoes! Yum…

    Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

Recipe Rating




Previous Post
Wordless Wednesday: Black & White
Next Post
Changing Seasons

Life Right Now

aucoeur

View

Feb 7

8 1
Open
I started a podcast with Chris and our business partner, Steve! We'll be releasing episodes every Monday on website accessibility and craft beverages. Check it out or subscribe at AccessibilityCraft.com.

#podcast #podcaster #accessibility #accessibilityforall #accessibilitymatters #accessible #a11y #WordPress #webdesign #webdevelopment #websitedesign #ux #usability

aucoeur

View

Jan 22

12 2
Open
It's that time again... Girl Scout cookies! And this year we have two selling. Help them meet their cookies sales goals by ordering online. 

If you live nearby, choose girl delivery and help get cookie boxes out of our garage... Otherwise we're going to be giving them Girl Scout  Cookies for birthday and Christmas presents all year.

Addie's link: https://tinyurl.com/2os3rmdy

Zara's link: https://tinyurl.com/2nev4fs3

aucoeur

View

Nov 30

15 2
Open
Bus stop selfie with Nora. This week she moved from her tiny charter school with only 18 eighth graders to the public middle school with over 200. And now she rides the bus.

The charter school wasn't challenging her enough, has a huge percentage of students who are disruptive in the classroom, and has been having trouble keeping teachers. Last year she loved it. But this year it was one thing after another, so right before Thanksgiving she and I went to go tour our neighborhood  middle school, and she immediately wanted to make the switch.

We've never had a kid in public school and I was nervous about how the transition would go from such a small school to a big one, but so far she's loving it and is glad she decided to move schools. It helps that she knows kids there already from her dance team. Hopefully she'll still be happy when she starts getting homework. Coming from a no homework school that may be a shock to us all.

aucoeur

View

Nov 16

7 0
Open
My three year old girl. 💕

aucoeur

View

Nov 1

11 0
Open
Halloween 2022. Two witches, a murderous cat, and a creepy Victorian doll. 

Zara's costume was my favorite this year - Nora did her makeup and she wore my flower girl dress from my mom and step-dad's wedding. She might have worn it better. 😂
  • Start Reading
  • Explore Topics
  • Get in Touch
  • Subscribe

COPYRIGHT © 2020 AMBER HINDS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Site Powered by Pix & Hue.