OK, I found the hose-end filter I used and plan to use again. Anyone who thinks that what comes out of a hose is hte same as what comes out of a sink needs to read what hoses are made of, how toxic many plastics, etc. are (and remember that cheap hoses are often made with recycled materials of unknown origin) and SMELL or TASTE The water that comes out of our 200 feet of hose. I learned in college organic chemistry (I was in pre-veterinary) that if you can smell or taste something, IT'S THERE. Particles of the substance are what causes smells and tastes. Anyway, here is the URL: http://www.pacificsands.biz/html/hose_filter.html --- a plastic hater ;-) (Have a look at this... not my site:) http://www.culturechange.org/e-letter-plastics.html Here is a link that might be useful: Pacific Sands hose end filter

Dj...I'm so glad you're going ahead with a garden. Maybe you can get other neighbors and community members involved! I do agree that probably planting anything helps negate some pollution. I imagine planting air purifying plants (like the spider fern) would also be beneficial...maybe around the edges of the garden so much pollution gets taken up by the non-edibles? I've also thought maybe something like Tulsi (Holy Basil) would be a good idea as it can do things like remove fluoride from water and detox radiation. The community garden I started at my apartment complex uses railroad ties as its surroundings (not my choice, but still grateful for anything). I noticed any leaves touching the railroad ties would become dry, brittle and eaten away...so the carcinogens definitely affect plants and they are taking up that toxin. However, I was never able to find if the toxins stopped before the fruits/vegetables or if those toxins also leaked into the food I'm eating. Either way - hopefully all the holy basil and fresh, nutrient-dense foods I grow/eat will help combat any negatives of planting within railroad ties.

You might try corn gluten meal, as a grass killer. Lay it early as a pre-emergent, and reapply if you get sprouts. Not supposed to be poison for animals or birds, since it is almost regular corn meal. Garden sounds interesting, lots of fun for the cats. Geraniums might be of interest, not poison. They come in many sizes of tiny to large. Huge selection in flower colors, scented leaves and leaf shapes. Apple, rose, lemon, orange are scents that I have smelled. Put them where you will brush against them to release the scent. Bloom almost all the time in full sun. Pergoliam is the Latin, I think, which they might be listed under. They were real popular in Colonial times for scented leaves used in potpourri, flavoring food. Mine are floral, but the cat here does enjoy biting the leaves at times, sitting in front of the french doors in the sun. She also likes the Rosemary plant topiary! Nasturtiams are edible though not my favorite flower on food. Kind of a peppery taste when we ate them in a salad. Flowers are pretty, bright colors, like the sun. Martha Stewart sold seeds for a climbing variety, but mine missed the fence, just crawled around. Foliage is cute too, round leaves. Chrysanthemums are edible, very popular in Asian food. Japanese or Chinese, can't remember. They sprinkle the petals in soup, salads. Should be OK for a cat to chew on. Many shapes, heights, colors to choose from. They flower better with pinching tips back until 4th of July. You get more blooms on sturdy, shorter stems. They are perennials, can return each spring. Mine tend to be shorter lived, but other folks plants live for long times. Two of the flowers I named are annuals. Geraniums can be saved as plants over winter, dry in the dark basement or potted in front of windows over winter. Nasturtiams are available by seed in spring or you might be able to save seeds from this years plants.

That has long been a favorite quote, I only wish more people would learn it. I feel it is important to live by example, as much as possible, and to educate others. People seem to need natural beauty but only at minimal inconvience and cost. (Makes sense!) What we have to get folks to understand is that more water, fertilizer, lawn, toxins is NOT better. The message is getting through and changes are happening! It took a year to convince my own mother, a fanatical gardener, to change her ways. She was reluctant because of all the "experts" that said to spray this, fertilize with that, and use X,Y, and Z toxins to have a lush, green lawn. (growl) It wasn't until she developed a big brown patch in her backyard and I dug down to get a soil sample that she listened. (Of course, the results from the A&M soil lab helped!) She finally fired ChemLawn and took matters into her own hands. Her St. Augustine is lush, her gorgeous yard is full of life and folks in the neighborhood come to "the garden lady" for advice. That's how we make a change - one person at a time.