Living in a private house certainly has its advantages, but I never expected to face such a nuisance—especially in a cottage village!

In the countryside, flies are understandable. With livestock and pets around, manure is inevitable, and so are the insects. But in a quiet cottage settlement? That came as a shock.

Recently, we were hit with a full-on invasion. As the weather warmed, the buzzing army multiplied beyond belief. Neighbors contributed to the problem too—one kept turkeys, another had chickens, and across the way there were geese, goats, and more poultry. On top of that, the nearby equestrian school meant even more manure—and even more flies.

Our workshop window turned into an open gateway. We tried everything: keeping windows closed, hanging mosquito nets, even draping fabric scraps over doors. Sticky fly tapes dangled from the ceiling and filled up almost immediately.