To be clear, zucchini and squash are easy to grow IF you can avoid the stem borer (they plant their eggs in the stem while the plant is young and kill it just as the plant begins to produce...and by the time you realize they are in there, it's too late). And the stink bug is more of a nuisance than anything. but they reproduce massively fast and can take over the garden. my garden is 30 yards or so from the house. would not want those things much closer to be sure they didn't come inside.
i don't know if you all have heard of surround:
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-7275-surround-wp-og-25-lb-.aspx
but it is an organic kaolin clay that forms a filmy (white color) barrier around your plants. it is an excellent aide for curcubit growth. i am also surprised that no one's real issue is the striped cucumber beetle:
those little shits have always been my main problem with cucurbits. surround does an okay job of helping prevent their damage.