Garden pests can be a nuisance, whether they're aphids devouring your lettuce or stink bugs ruining your tomatoes. Chemical insecticides, however, may not be the most ideal solution. Though they are effective at warding off destructive insects, they can also threaten your and your family's well-being, causing skin irritation, eye problems, and even cancer. Further, they may harm helpful bugs as well as birds and other wildlife and contaminate groundwater, making their way into various bodies of water and sickening aquatic animals.