This ancient grass has been regarded as sacred everywhere it’s grown and harvested. 

It is represented in the East on the traditional medicine wheel and one of the four sacred herbs of indigenous North American peoples. It was also strewn throughout churches in medieval Europe so that the sweet smell rose with each footstep. In fact, humans have been cultivating Sweetgrass for over 6,000 years!

Sweetgrass is known as the hair of Mother Earth. In Greek, hierochloe odorata, literally means “holy grass.” Native Americans called it, “the grass that never dies,” some tribes believe it was the first plant to cover the earth.

Traditionally, the grass was burnt as a mosquito repellent. The smoke would saturate into clothing and homes and Sweetgrass sachets were also used around the body to deter biting bugs.

With an increased duration of mosquito season, FLATOUT is the organic, non-toxic way to experience the outdoors. By utilizing a known folk remedy with proven scientific research, FLATOUT hopes to connect people with nature.

ENJOY THE GARDEN

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MOSQUITO SLANG: MARINGOUIN / SWAMP ANGEL / GALLINIPPER KATYNIPPER / NIPPER / SNOW MOSQUITO / NIGHTHAWK / BRASSHEAD DRILL BUG / MITSY / MOZZIE / COUSIN / SNIPE

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HOW TO BE FLATOUT

flat-out ‭\ ‬ˈflat‭-‬​ˌau̇t‭ ‬‭ ‬\: adjective Informal 1. moving or working at top speed or with maximum effort; all-out 2. downright; thoroughgoing

Whether you enjoy climbing rocks, planting flowers or sitting on a park bench - do it FLATOUT.

The Gullah are an African American ethnic group who predominantly live in the Lowcountry region of the U.S. states of Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Their language and culture have preserved a significant heritage as a result of their geographic isolation and the community's shared history and identity.

One tradition that’s continued is The Gullah "sweetgrass baskets”. These are highly regarded and intricately stitched, coil straw baskets.

Each one showcases the maker’s artistry, as well as the centuries of skill passed down through Gullah families in South Carolina’s Lowcountry region. This storied American craft dates back to the 1700s, and is a tradition rooted in West African culture. The baskets are nearly identical to traditional coil baskets made by the Wolof people in Senegal.

For more than eight generations, the Gullah community has continued the legacy, sharing their expertise and showcasing their wares at local markets. These incredible designs are made entirely with locally harvested sweetgrass.

WATCH | SUPPORT

Enjoy the Garden

1. ELIMINATE STANDING WATER:

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water. After it rains, make sure your area is puddle-free.

2. WEAR WHITE:

Mosquitoes are less attracted to white and light-colored clothing. Keep it loose and flowin'.

3. MAKE SMOKE:

Create a smoke screen between yourself and mosquiotes. Try our Citronella Grass Garden Incense.

4. HANG A BAT BOX:

Install a bat house near your home. A single bat can eat 1200 mosquitoes in an hour.

5. HUMMING BIRD FEEDER:

Put a hummingbird feeder close to a window. You can watch a natural mosquito predator in action.

6. DRINK WINE - NOT BEER:

Drinking beer attracts mosquitoes. It increases the ethanol content in your sweat - mosquitoes love it.

7. WASH YOUR FEET:

Ever wonder why mosquitoes buzz around you feet and ankles? Well, there's a specific bacteria that grows on human feet that lures mosquitoes.

In a new paper published on October 18 in the journal Cell, researchers suggest that certain body odors are the deciding factor. Every person has a unique scent made up of different chemical compounds, and researchers found that mosquitoes were most drawn to people whose skin produces high levels of carboxylic acids. Carboxylic acids are commonplace organic compounds. Humans produce them in our sebum, which is the oily layer that coats our skin; there, the acids help to keep our skin moisturized and protected. Humans release carboxylic acids at much higher levels than most animals.

These carboxylic acid levels vary from person to person, the less you produce - the less mosquito attention.

The researchers found that peoples’ attractiveness to mosquitoes remained steady over time, regardless of changes in diet or grooming habits. This property of being a mosquito magnet sticks with you for your whole life—which is either good news or bad news, depending on who you are. This study confirms, in a very careful way, that it is true that some people are more attractive [to mosquitoes] than others.

The Asian Tiger Mosquito (aedes albopictus) came to the US in 1985 via tires. Tires manufactured in Japan had standing water in them that provided a perfect breeding environment for the mosquitoes to lay their eggs. The mosquitoes traveled in the tires across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal, through the Gulf Of Mexico and entered the port of Houston TX. These mosquitoes have rapidly spread to every area in the US that provides a good habitat for mosquitoes. 

The southern states have the largest population of these scary looking biters. They are different from our other mosquito species. Most mosquitoes are the most active at dawn and dusk and find places to hide from the sun during the day. The Asian Tiger Mosquito follows no such rules. They are active all day long and are a more ferocious biter as well.

Take steps around your home to eliminate standing water and areas where mosquitoes like to feed and harbor to protect your family and pets from this aggressive mosquito.