Natural Japanese Beetle Killer

Sunday is my garden day.  Yesterday I worked in my garden a LOT, but not weeding, like I usually do, harvesting!  I jammed my garden full of plants this year.  Last year I felt I had too much wasted space, you know, for actually being able to walk in the garden and get to the plants.  So this year I took care of that problem.  Now I can't walk in the garden, the peas are growing over the pepper plants, I can't even see what I've got growing in there and weed control is futile because I can't get in there to weed.  So I learned my lesson.  No being greedy next year.  Make paths.  So...harvesting.  I got SO MAY green beans!  I did a Google search and found how to freeze fresh beans and filled a gallon ziploc-with beans left over to eat fresh this week!  I'm going to have beans galore by the end of the summer!

As I was out digging in my garden to find my plants, I found something else that I didn't like.  A plastic softball.  Oh, and Japanese Beetles.  Not many, they're not a problem--yet.  I want to take care of it before it becomes a problem.  But I don't want to spray any toxic chemicals on my organic garden.  So what's an organic, kid and pet-safe way to kill Japanese Beetles?  I remember the bags that my grandma and my mom used to put out.  We used to dare each other as kids to squeeze the bag.  It was so gross!  If you read no farther, hear this--DON'T USE THE BAG!  It attracts and traps Japanese Beetles, but it attracts way more than would normally be in your garden, causing more harm than good.
 I read a few sites last night while I was nursing Olivia and what I found is the best way is just to pick them off and toss them in soapy water.  I think this might be a good job for my kids.  They love bugs.  Morning is the best time to get them.  I'm going to have to get them going in the front yard on my Hibiscus plants because the beetles make those leaves look like lace by the end of the summer.  The other suggestions I read weren't as quick and easy.  They did say that chickens are a great way to control Japanese Beetles, but I'm waiting for next year for that.  You can also plant some plants that are attractive but also toxic to the bugs, which I think I might do.  (One site I saw said white marigolds, the other just said marigolds so I might be doing all I can there.  Larkspur and Four O'Clocks are also suggestions)  You can also spray cedar oil on your plants to repel the pests.  Everything I read says the best thing to do is just to pick them off in the early morning or dusk, when they're sluggish.  Sounds like this one is all for the kids.  Maybe I'll let Ellie keep them in a jar, like the slug and moth she found.  She names them and carries them around on errands with her.  Last week she took a roly poly to the orthodontist with us.  I think word will get around the Japanese Beetle community pretty fast to stay away from our house.  Bugs hate going on errands too.