Controlling pesky caterpillars in the garden

Many varieties of very hungry caterpillars are eating up the late summer garden. They found the baby cabbage and collard plants almost as soon as I put them into the ground. They've transformed the sweet potato vines into lace. I've been smooshing them by hand, but the job is getting a little overwhelming. Yesterday, I dusted with bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt is one of the safest natural pesticides you can use to control caterpillar pests without harming beneficial insects. Read more about using Bt in this Mother Earth News article.