Fall has fallen - bringing gray skies, apples, coats, puddle jumpers and
moths. It seems to be a particularly bad year for the moths here at the little green cottage, (well, perhaps good for the moths but, bad for us). They have been sneaking in, fluttering about, finding their way into our closets, nibbling on sweaters and nesting in linens. Oh just the wee ones, so quick and spazzy as they drunkenly flap around the place. Try as one might to capture them, they seem to multiply lickity split so that when one is caught, five more find hidey holes.
I made the heart sinking discovery the other day that they had infiltrated my kitchen cupboards en-mass. Oh yes, I had learned from previous battles waged, that certain foods must be stored in sealed tight containers, lids battened down and double checked. This year however, they have learned a few new tricks those pesky devils! A well sealed plastic container seems no match for their wiles, they have managed to make their way into the most imperceivable of crevices.
Surely not the raisins! Yes, the raisins, the banana chips, the pecans, and of course the corn meal. Oh it made me ill to have to chuck the stuff. So, this morning I set about moth proofing the pantry. I store most of my regularly used grains and beans in glass jars and they seem to fair much better against the invasion, my mission was to put
everything in glass! Fortunately my grandmother left me well stocked in vintage canning jars so, I set to it. For the jars without proper rubber seals, I placed regular canning lids on top. There can't be the slightest whisper of space for the moths to wiggle through, for I have seen what they can do, these ninja moths.
And I must say, all these jars of food stuffs look kind of gorgeous to me. Take that ninja moths!
Fall has fallen - bringing gray skies, apples, coats, puddle jumpers and moths. It seems to be a particularly bad year for the moths here at the little green cottage, (well, perhaps good for the moths but, bad for us). They have been sneaking in, fluttering about, finding their way into our closets, nibbling on sweaters and nesting in linens. Oh just the wee ones, so quick and spazzy as they drunkenly flap around the place. Try as one might to capture them, they seem to multiply lickity split so that when one is caught, five more find hidey holes.
I made the heart sinking discovery the other day that they had infiltrated my kitchen cupboards en-mass. Oh yes, I had learned from previous battles waged, that certain foods must be stored in sealed tight containers, lids battened down and double checked. This year however, they have learned a few new tricks those pesky devils! A well sealed plastic container seems no match for their wiles, they have managed to make their way into the most imperceivable of crevices.
Surely not the raisins! Yes, the raisins, the banana chips, the pecans, and of course the corn meal. Oh it made me ill to have to chuck the stuff. So, this morning I set about moth proofing the pantry. I store most of my regularly used grains and beans in glass jars and they seem to fair much better against the invasion, my mission was to put everything in glass! Fortunately my grandmother left me well stocked in vintage canning jars so, I set to it. For the jars without proper rubber seals, I placed regular canning lids on top. There can't be the slightest whisper of space for the moths to wiggle through, for I have seen what they can do, these ninja moths.
And I must say, all these jars of food stuffs look kind of gorgeous to me. Take that ninja moths!
18 comments:
Oh dear, same problem, different continent... I have decided to freeze all my irregularly used flour, and just keep the plain baking flour out in a jar - it goes so fast that the little rotters don't have time to invade! I've concluded that the eggs are laid outside the lid edges and the tiny larvae wriggle their way in. I've not yet found ANYTHING that keeps the French ones out, so I await with interest to see if your strategies work! Very best of luck.
Hi Alex
What a pain in the posterior!!
It's the kind of thing I dread, as it is so hard to keep them at bay once they get started, isn't it?
I love to see jars filled with grains and pulses - we have the ones with rubber seals like yours. Such a lovely sight it speaks of home to me, and has a very pleasant 1970's feel about it.
wishing you a happy weekend ahead if we don't pass each other again in blogland :-)
Denise x
creepy crawly, this makes me itch all over, touch wood an all that, it's been a long time (touch wood again) since they were in my pantry at least. luckily they haven't done any harm to yarn and clothes roaming about(if moths they are, not sure about that actually). now i fight them with see through boxes, scented soaps and such. blah:( i love your pretty glass jars, gorgeous food should really be seen like that if possible! keep fighting the good fight!:)
I <3 jars for food storage. They're pretty and they inspire me to cook! Nice to know they keep the moths out too. Eek.
I have a terrible time with moths a few years back and we ended up putting most items in glass. It seems to have helped and we did not take the moths with us when we moved. The project did require throwing away quite a lot of food. Also my kids got real picky about their food for quite a while.
They do look gorgeous all in jars like that! Such a shame to be throwing out so much food though, what a terrible pest. I've been finding tiny holes here & there in our clothes, time to take action I'd say!
Ugh not moths!
Your glass jars look beautiful though.
Sick, I bet Floss is right. You poor thing, what a sad job to have to do. I give my chickens things like that as long as it is not moldy...Your jars look so good and how nice that you can think of your grandmother when you look at them.
My sympathies. I went through the same thing 6 months ago. All that food to toss :( Wish I had your glass collection though.
Oh, my, not good at all. Have had to do that once before, so maddening. On the up side, you're right: All those glass jars look fantastic!
just came across your blog. love the title. great blog.
i hate the moths but i love your jar pics LOVE!
we really do need to go on the road together!!! :)
We stayed in a house in San Francisco a couple of years ago that was INFESTED with house moths. I was neurotic about bringing them back with us and quarantined the suitcase until everything was washed! We have a few clothes moths and I sympathise with you, they are a pain to get rid of once they get settled in.
I don't know about these moths! We always have a few moths that fly in the house in the summer time, but they usually die if we don't get them out and we haven't had any other problems. What attracts them and what should I be keeping a look out for? We do have tons OF crickets in the new farmhouse. I don't know what attracts them either, but they don't seem to do anyharm other than to be obnoxious when you are trying to sleep.
I have a tip for this... a real one that doesn't involve drinking red wine to numb the pain either! Tape a bayleaf to the inside of the pantry door, this should keep moth numbers down, however I have it from a reliable source that this won't work on real ninja's, x
i just came across your blog today. very beautiful.
i just went through the same thing yesterday with the moths. i think they are gypsy moths. Ughh! i can totally relate with what your going through. i was so disgusted at how much food i had to waste. they were in my raisins, peanuts, millet (which was in a jar!), i had pounds of dried pears that i had dried that they also were in, my bread crumbs. i too converted to all glass jars, though i wasn't lucky enough to have all those beautiful vintage jars, i just have regular ones, but it still looks lovely to look at.
We also had moths which infiltrated glass jars. Bay leaves scattered through the pantry get rid of them. Magic.
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