Starting seeds at home is an easy way to diversify your garden with plant varieties that not everyone in the neighborhood has. Its an inexpensive and efficient way to fill your garden with plants.

Often, gardeners make a few standard mistakes when attempting to start seed, and give up when the seeds dont germinate or die as seedlings. This article will help you avoid the common mistakes, and allow seed starting to be a productive and easy way to grow.

These are not sure-fire methods to getting your desired critter to come to your yard, but they are techniques and tools that many backyard wildlife watchers have used successfully. Sometimes certain species may not have access to your urban oasis, and others may not be native or only travel through our area, or are active during certain seasons. Some critters may be already there, but hide well, or are only active a time that you are not observing.Read more →

Below is a general guide for controlling common insect pests organically in the New Orleans area. These charts can be referred to after you positively identify your insect. Using the wrong method or pesticide can invite in more pests, by destroying a beneficial insect that may keep the pest insects in check. There are many visual references online and in gardening books, as well as agents from the local extension service that will help you identify your bug. If in doubt, don't kill it until you can definitively link it to your plant damage. Not every bug is bad!

Yard waste and green food scraps make up over 30% of the curbside waste collected in New Orleans. This waste is then taken to landfills that are quickly reaching capacity. Other yard debris is often moved by leaf-blowers into the street where it clogs storm drains and causes flooding.

Composting is a simple, clean and efficient way to convert this waste into a beautiful top-mulch or soil additive to stimulate the health of plants. When compost is used in this way it saves money and reduces the need for applications of dangerous synthetic fertilizers and pest controls.

What is Compost?

Composting is a way to turn organic waste into a free garden amendment. Compost will help improve the quality of the soil, add nutrients, and it improves the soils water holding capacity. Every plant loves it!

What do I need to get started composting?

All you need is an area in your yard to place a pile (minimum 4 ft .x 4 ft.), or a compost bin. Bins come in many styles, like a rolling bin, a wire ring, or a cinder block structure. Each yard and garden is different, so you will have to find one that provides enough compost, and suits your space. In addition, you will need a shovel to turn your compost.

The New Orleans Food & Farm Network and its members, employees, collaborating organizations, affiliates and their employees are not liable for the effectiveness of any products or methods listed below.

Soil Testing

The first step to learning about soil and plant nutrition is to get your garden soil tested for the basic plant nutrients and pH levels. If you were flooded post-Katrina, it is a good idea to get your soil tested for potential contaminates. You can get your soil tested for a small fee at the LSU AgCenter or call the local Cooperative Extension Service for info. The website address for the LSU AgCenter is listed in our website section Is My Flooded Dirt Toxic? along with other remediation info.

The New Orleans Food & Farm Network and its members, employees, collaborating organizations, affiliates and their employees are not liable for the effectiveness of any products or methods listed below.

Before you plant your post-flooded yard with ornamentals or edibles, know your soils contamination statistics and your options for remediation. Here are several options for finding out about and dealing with your potentially contaminated soil. The New Orleans Food & Farm Network encourages citizens to use sustainable practices when possible, but each individual must make their own decisions based on their needs. We will continue to update this page as new resources appear.

The Environmental Protection Agencys official websites regional page is a good place to start: http://www.epa.gov/region6/index.htm . The EPA went neighborhood to neighborhood taking soil and other samples to check levels of several harmful toxins in the post-K (thats the big K-Hurricane Katrina) environment. Read more →