I have heard about using rice, the snuggle bags that I had I bought from a friend and she uses field corn to fill them, and I didn't have a problem with bugs, or mice. Of course, in the winter I would go to bed with at least 4 of them in stragegic places. I had the poem, but lost it. I'll see if I can track it down for you. I think I saw a Martha Stewart show where she used buckwheat, but I'm not 100% sure.