Hi Lynn, powdery mildew is very common especially in squash plants. Luckily there are some preventative measures you can take! The first one is practicing good spacing. Powdery mildew thrives in humid, crowded conditions. Prevent powdery mildew from spreading between plants by reducing overcrowding. Another tip is to water the soil and not the plant. Constantly damp leaves or splashing water from an already-infected plant encourages the growth and spread of powdery mildew.  If caught early enough the simple act of pruning off a few infected leaves can often halt or drastically slow the spread of powdery mildew to the rest of the plant. Just make sure you clean your tools afterwards (I use 1 part bleach and 10 parts water). You can also try spraying your plants with baking soda or potassium bicarbonate. Baking soda and potassium bicarbonate change the pH on the plant leaves, making conditions more alkaline and less hospitable for the fungus to thrive. Thoroughly mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda or potassium bicarbonate per 1 gallon of water. Also add 1 tablespoon of liquid castile soap, which will help the baking soda spread and stick to the leaves better. Spray the plant thoroughly, saturating both the tops and bottoms of leaves. You can also try diluting neem oil and spraying your plants, this will help slow down the growth of powdery mildew.  Neem oil and the baking soda and soap mixture can also help with your squash bug issue!  I would also recommend growing plants that deter the beetle. Nasturtium is a favorite and can act as a physical barrier to keep pests out of your veggie garden. Plants like onions, chives, mint, dill, garlic, and marigolds can act as good deterrent as well.

This is a great practice Malian! There are so many easy switches like this that can have a large impact. I recently read a study from 2022 that states that Americans use over 100 billion plastic sandwich bags a year. Glass containers are also better for your health because they don't risk leaching chemicals into your food!