Ahh but these parasites, if they exist, will survive how long exposed to the elements? Plus this assumes that no parasites already exist normally with in soil. They do. tapeworms, whipworms, roundworm, hookworms, misc. protoza, to name just a few. Not to mention all the bacteria and fungi. As mentioned "Gardens grow in dirt" and it will never be a sterile process, nor would it work if it was. Thus the "wash your hands and wash your food" guideline in gardening. While pregnant women are advised to avoid dealing with litter boxes due to the possibility of toxoplasmosis they are also advised not to raise chickens or other fowl or be exposed to manures while pregnant due to histoplasmosis, not to work with garden chemicals, and many other things. But we aren't talking about pregnant women and the OP has already pointed out that they are not growing root vegetables or other low growing crops. So scare warnings about unrelated issues serve no point. Dave

I also read that about sunflower seeds. I use all sunflower seeds and my feeder had 2 "fairy rose " bushes and many day lilies around it and they did great. However, I planted two different Clem's there and they never took off. They were 3 feet tall , max for 3 years! I didn't know if the roses shaded them too much and they never had a chance or what. So maybe that compound leaching was to blame? Here's a pic of the feeder and the plants that did well around it. Also ,A big perk to the very thorny rose bush, was the neighbors cat didn't mess with the birds there and the squirrels had to make lots of effort to jump up there.

I think it would be fun to do that. We don't use pesticides on any plants - DH has lost most of the grass in the back yard because I wouldn't let him spray for chinch bugs this summer! What are the requirements? I have host plants for about a dozen species and usually raise (bring in) at least half of those sometime during the season. I don't do much for the Polydamas and GFs since they do well on there own unless it is early in the season. I do bring in the Pipevine Swallowtails, Eastern Blacks, Giant Swallowtails, Sulphurs when I find them, Spicebush, Monarchs, Queens, and of course the Zebra Longwings. ZLWs are supposedly on the decline due to lose of wintering areas in South Florida, that is why I try so hard to raise all I can of the species. I was really concerned when they didn't show up until July of this year. I never have many hang around even when I release large numbers. I assume they disperse to other areas, even though I have read that they come together to roost at night. I emailed the head of the Butterfly Conservatory at UF about this but he never responded. I always wondered how far the ones who left went and if they and the ones that hang around here roost together at night. You know they are pollen collectors as well as nectarers and that is why they can live several months. I have a neat picture with the proboscis just cover with yellow pollen. I also have the Longtail Skippers laying on my Pea Vine. The cats are so tiny but often when I check the little guys are no longer in the fold of the leaf. I think the wasps carry them off. I tried bringing in cuttings of the pea vine but it wilts so easily. Maybe I will grow some in a pot to use as a feeding plant as I do the Milkweed for the Monarchs and Tomentosa Pipevine for the Pipevine Swallowtails. These I keep inside my pool screen area and it seems to work well. Manature - you are the one with all the beautiful birds, right? I just loved the bluebirds that you posted about. Felix - thanks- you should check out the Butterfly Forum - its full of great people so willing to share information. If either of you are interested, I have lots of plants to share.

Stephanie, you got a good thread going. And let me put in my 20 cents. Having been a pet owner for all of my life, and now having lived in the city for the last 20 yrs I have seen how careless people can be with pets. Sometimes to train an animal one has to use measures that might seem extreme to others. The soft BB's worked and it was his pet that he was training. I doubt he is that bad of a shot that he would miss a rump. And, it worked with little harm to the dog. And the neighbors garden is the winner. I have put rags soaked in a vinegar solution in areas that I want to protect from the countless stray cats that wander thru my yard/garden. We have indoor cats and two of them spend time outdoors on a leash. They are happy to lounge in the sun and watch me work. Or they explore in my jungle of plants/rocks/and garden junk. My illiterate neighbors (they are such, believe me, and from the number of 'guests' either they are very popular or do some kind of selling business. To keep their younguns happy they got them a kitten for Christmas a year and a half ago. Once the kitten got old enough to fight back against the mauling, it was soon let outdoors for longer and longer periods. Now, it is a pest. But they probably don't care. Last year I was friendly towards it and felt sorry for it and even set out food for it (and still do). But it has become an unwelcome guest and will even come up and fight with my leashed neutered cats. So, now I keep a spray bottle with a 10% vinegar solution. The first time I got it wet and even a bit the second time. Now, all I have to do is hold the bottle and it turns tail. Same thing happened with training one of my indoor cats from bad behavior. All I do now is make a 'swish' sound holding my hand out and it knows to stop doing something. There are rules that they must follow. Now in the garden where I don't want that neighbors cat at night (and to all the other countless feral cats around) I place a small piece of rag soaked in that vinegar solution from the bottle. I have noticed that they avoid this area. I can't stop this cat or the others from 'cruising' my yard but I seem to have been able to prevent them from lingering in the front or in newly planted areas. The back I don't care about. And in the alley is where I put some food occassionally. (My elderly neighbor has been doing this for years, especially in the winter). I have noticed a lack of birds this year. And my favorite cat got out a torn screen once and spent 3 days 'lost'. He came back the third morning while I was out (late eve's and early a.m.) searching the neighborhood. I never knew there were that many B&W cats (Tuxedos I guess) around this area. My guess is that many started from the playful kitten that soon got let out or outright abandoned. They bred and there is enough abandoned sheds, garages,etc for them to breed more litters. Probably keeps the mice and rat population in check but they also kill birds and other mammals. Such is city life for them and me. Flinging the liter over the fence makes about as much sense as me flinging the occassional beer can back over. It don't work so now I add them to the recycle bin but I still fling the bottle back. The worst offenders moved a year ago so this hasn't been much of a problem since. And, I found that giving tomatoes to the top dog (The big Mamma) kinda keeps the peace. She's ok but her kids are rather feral themselves. BTW, the ones that moved left their beloved pet kitten (then a cat), behind to fend for itself. It disappeared a few weeks after they abandoned it. I don't know why, perhaps it lost a fight? Animal control don't patrol for feral cats. There are too many. What progess have you made? If you are still flinging the poop over the fence, I would add that if you would add it to some clay cat litter and place it (perhaps in the dead of night) in one location near your property line, the cat might start to believe that this is where it is supposed to go. Then just keep dropping the poop there, no need for more litter. It might just get the hint that probably escapes the humans.