Most experienced gardeners will tell you that the only sustainable method of pest control is to establish a stable ecosystem. This means keeping a population of insect carnivores to keep those aphids, mealy bugs, gnats in check, it also means staying away from insecticides (organic or not). In comes the ladybug, Coccinellidae. (Images CC Wikipedia).

Seeing swarms of little black bugs flying around your home? They're most likely fungus gnats or fruit flies, living either off exposed fruits or off decaying plant matter inside your house. Eliminating them is difficult due to larvae buried into houseplant soil or other decaying matter, but not impossible.

Instead of buying expensive, toxic methods of of ant control, why not use a little baking soda? This old and safe method has been proven effective in wiping out entire ant colonies. Just mix a little baking soda with some powdered sugar, and sprinkle it around the anthill.

Red ones, yellow ones, green ones.  There are over 250 species of these soft bodied insects that reproduce rapidly and asexually.  An army of aphids can weaken if not kill your plants.  

There are countless insectides, poisonous and organic for control; others recommend diatomaceous earth, lady bugs, and herbal repellants.  Only the poisonous ones really seem to work, but that renders my plants inedible, and shortens my life span.  The others, depends on your garden conditions.  Let's run down through my list of successes and failures: