patsylabrador Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 I've got some herbs growing, the usual ones like rosemary, thyme, lavender, sage etc. I don't want to cook with them because we've had trouble with rats this summer thanks to our ridiculous neighbour who puts out food for them. I have even seen him saying hello to them. I've had to fill in rat tunnels in my herb garden which puts me off eating them - the herbs, not the rats. I never feel like eating rat. I was wondering if any of you have any bright ideas about how to use them. I came across an article about burning a bundle of dried herbs called a smudge stick but I think that might have a deeper meaning. What do you do with your herbs if you're not eating them? As an aside, one of our neighbours who is about 93 called on us and whispered about rats in her garden. She was very nervous and thought it was her fault and somehow embarrassed. She is amazing and had already cleaned out her shed. We helped her set up bait boxes and now she's really into it and quite a little demon with her pest control. The neighbour that feeds them is between us so we're attempting a pincer movement. I must admit I haven't seen a live rat for a couple of weeks. I've seen three dead ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Could you do herb bags, like lavender bags? Or mix them into pot-pourri? Personally, I'd make them up into bouquets garnis - those little bundles tied with cotton that you put into stews or casseroles. And then give them to your next-door neighbour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Oh for goodness sake; who would feed RATS We have had/maybe still have rats in our compost heap which is next to the shed. We think that they live under the shed and so have stopped putting peelings/other edibles in the heap and got a bait box. Not sure if that has done the trick yet but will keep at it....they do seem to work in the longer term but are expensive - ours was about £23 from Homebase. Hopefully, between you, you and your elderly neighbour can solve the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Can I suggest that you let the local environmental health department know about the neighbour who leaves food out; they are pretty strict about that sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted August 3, 2015 Author Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thank you, yes, I did try that. A lady came round very quickly, took one look at my chickens and decided it was my fault for having chickens. She said she was going to call next door but whether she did I don't know. Nothing changed. Although he was playing his music very loudly at the time and that has stopped so maybe she dealt with that issue instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thank you, yes, I did try that. A lady came round very quickly, took one look at my chickens and decided it was my fault for having chickens. How ignorant of her. There was another forum member on here some time ago, who had the same problem; an old lady living next door used to put out leftovers for the bird, and encouraged a large colony of rats. Never had them before she started doing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 Sounds like the pied piper of London - be nice if he and his music and rats walked off into the sunset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
