Garden Pests

This morning when I woke up I dug out my seed catalogs again for the up tenth time :) I am soo ready for spring, we are ordering 10 fruit trees and 2 grape vines this week so since one thing leads to another, I thought today I would talk about our garden insects. The lists of pests is extensive, and they vary in size and shape as well as how they attack the plants. A few of the more common ones (to us)  that I have had experience with are  Japanese Beetles, Cutworms, Cucumber Beetles, White flies, Yellow Jackets, Tomato Horn worms, Cabbage Loopers, Corn Earworms. I do not use insecticides (never have narrowed down the one/ones that make my tongue swell) so I am always on the look out for organic ways to keep my gardens safe. There are the good bugs that help and are beneficial, as such I do not want to harm them just to kill the bad bugs. A few of the good bugs that I know of are the Spined soldier beetle, praying mantis, ground beetles, lady bugs and green lacewings, Again I know there are more that's just the ones I am familiar with.
Over the last 3 years I have tried different organic sprays some I purchased and some I have made, they did not seem to work very well, or as well as I had hoped. I did try last year a spray that had only two ingredients and it was cheap to make. Mix in a spray container (I made sure to label it) about 1/2 cup of alcohol (rubbing), to 1 quart of water with a few drops of liquid hand soap. I sprayed around the ground every 3 to 4 days for a couple of weeks. After each application I also sprayed plain water over the leaves of the plants in case I got any on the leaves. It is my understanding that this is good for mealy bugs, but its good for others as well. This I did in one garden and the other garden I just planted the plants that are supposed to attract the good bugs (caraway, cilantro etc) and the garden with the plants around did fair better last year, so I may just go with that unless someone has a better idea?
I have also planted in the past Mint plants around a few areas where I have problems with ants.This summer I intend to try another method I have been told is beneficial, planting Basil close to tomatoes, it is supposed to make them a better flavored tomato as well as protect against a variety of pests, has anyone else heard of this?
I have also heard Mint planted around the house (outside) will deter mice, it worked last year with ants so I think I will try this, living in the woods we do find a few mice (mostly in the barn). May be able to get rid of mice and ants at the same time!
If anyone out there has tried earth friendly products that have worked, please let me know I would love to try them!

We had a few really cold nights last week, but so far so good!