How to keep garden pests away (naturally)

red chili flakes or cinnamon sprinkles have been known to steer of pests. neem oil is good too

I find my gloved fingers are the most useful tools for removing most garden pests- although I admit using tongs to remove tobacco/tomato hornworms. Not because they sting or bite, because they don't of course- but they are just fearsome looking and squishy. In cases where something more is called for, I opt to use either neem oil, a vegetable soap/salt spray, or sometimes one based on chrysanthemums. You can make your own if you have the blossoms, and I have done in the past. The biggest lesson I have learned from my garden is to be patient, and not compare my produce results to the pictures on the seed packets- looking for perfect. I think you could apply that lesson to a lot of things besides vegetables, really. Perfect is not a goal, it's not realistic, and you will miss out on a lot of great stuff if you can't see past the skin. So I guess learning to love imperfect produce has taught me to love imperfection in others AND in myself. There are probably a lot of life lessons you can learn in a garden, if you are open to them. LIfe is supposed to have started in a garden, which may be why we all find comfort in one.