FAQ
Here are some answers to what we believe to be common qu
estions about gardening.
General Questions
Is it safe to share my yard with strangers?
Sharing your yard is as safe and as dangerous as any interaction with the general public. We encourage potential hosts and volunteers to meet in a public place to discuss expectations and gauge one-another's character. We do not pre-screen volunteers or landholders. However it is our belief that popular media, alienation and our fast-paced modern lives make us much more afraid of other people than we need to be. Most strangers are honourable, likeable and trustworthy people. Make an effort to get to know your neigbours in Halifax and be smart about your safety, and you will probably be pleasantly surprised.
How can we start our own plants from seed? 
Starting your own plants from seed can be a money-saving and rewarding way to grow your vegetables.See the article about saving seeds in the toolbox, under "seeds" before trying to save seeds from your garden.
Make sure the seeds are not more than 2 years old. Plant them in a shallow container of soil, and keep the seedlings moist and don't let them dry out. I like to cover them with plastic wrap or keep a misting bottle next to the pot to mist them a couple times a day. Make sure they're not on a radiator. When the seedlings have their third leaf they are ready to transplant into deeper soil that needs to be watered less often.
When the plant is a couple inches high it can be hardened off. Hardening off is the process of toughening the plant to cooler outside temperatures and the drying effect of the wind. Start by leaving the plant out on warm calm days. After a week it is ready to spend a few nights outside, and then to be planted into the garden itself.
Some hardy plants can be planted from seed directly outside, like peas, beans and potato-eyes.
Seedlings that flop over suddenly have either been allowed to dry out and die of thirst, or have got a fungus called “damping-off disease". You can increase your seedling's chances of survival by only using sterile potting soil (it'll say on the bag) or if you have the equipment, steam-sterilizing it yourself. Use vinegar or other disinfectant to clean your pots and the area where they will be resting. Make sure to rinse the pots well afterwards with water. 
One way to cure fungal infections is by watering the infected plants with a mixture of cloves and water. Boil several cloves (1/2 tsp) in 1L of water for a few minutes. Leave the cloves in the water until it is cool. Water the seeds with this formula a couple of times and the cloves will kill the fungus, but not the plants.
How can we improve poor quality soil?
See the toolbox for info on building a compost box or a pile.
Folding in compost or manure is a good way to make more soil, and make the soil better.
You can get horse manure for free from the Junior Bengal Lancers. Some coffee roasters will allow you to collect bags of coffee "chaff". Ask around for sources of natural, organic materials
You can improve your soil with organic fertilizers such as green manure and mulches. Mulch reduces water loss and smothers weeds. Good mulches include straw, wood chips, brewer's waste, finished compost, or even cardboard boxes. Make sure to take tape, staples and plastic bits out of the boxes, and not to use boxes with coloured ink.
Check for contaminants like road salt or chlorine. Chlorine in tap water may kill plants. Try watering using rainwater or water that has been standing.
Circumstances have changed and we no longer have time to garden our plot.
Contact your landowner and inform them of your change of plans. We can find new people to take over the work, or who may share some of the tasks with you.
I am a landowner and I have an irreconcilable conflict with my gardening volunteers.
We encourage you to keep the lines of communication open. Often resolving a problem is as simple as informing the other party of how you feel, and possible solutions. We are available to mediate conflicts if both parties should desire to do so. If a conflict cannot be resolved you are not obliged to keep going with the same volunteers.
PESTS
How can we discourage slugs?
Slugs can be a problem in shadier gardens. Their numbers can be easily managed by killing them by hand in a bucket of soapy or salty water. Try making sure your leaf litter is well-rotted before spreading it on the garden, keep it in isolated piles. Control large weeds and prune tree branches to admit more light.
A slug trap can be made with a saucer of beer mixed with salt or soap. A circle of ashes, sand or diatomaceous earth around the garden is unpleasant on their bellies and may discourage them.
You can try to encourage toads, which prey on slugs, to take up residence in your garden by installing a toad house or an upside-down flowerpot.
If all else fails, you can always restrict your gardening to container gardens and window boxes, which slugs will typically not bother.
How can we discourage flies in our compost?
Make sure your compost is covered with a thick layer of leaves, straw or another dry, carbon-rich mulch.
How can we get rid of a fireant infestation?
This recent and virulent invader is becoming a problem in gardens around Halifax.
One non-chemical solution is to pour boiling water on their nest. Borax mixed with sugar is said to work but should not be used in an area shared with dogs or children. You can also try putting your garden in a non-infested part of the yard, which might be impossible. Try encouraging insect eating birds with birdhouses or a birdfeeder. The Museum of Natural History is accepting live or dead ants in order to study them and try to find other ways to control them.
How can we prevent cats digging up our garden?
Try to block their enterance to the yard. You might have luck with a plant called Plectranthus which is said to repell cats and dogs.
How can we keep crows from eating our plants?
Try stringing netting or strings about 1 foot above your crops. These tripwires tend to disrupt the flight of corvids. Scarecrows, balloons and little whirligigs also work.
HOSTING
I would like to host bees
Contact the Halifax Honey Bee Society for more information on this pilot beekeeping project and how to get involved and host your own beehive!
I would like to keep chickens
Keeping chickens in Halifax is not allowed under domestic zoning bylaws. Help us push for legislation and keep the issue on the agenda of council. Contact your local representative and the mayor to push for change, or contact fac(at)ecologyaction(dot)ca for more information
I would like to get more involved in landshare
We would love more help in promotions and administraton of Landshare. Drop us an e-mail!
If you have other questions or concerns, feel free to e-mail the gardener-on-call
Food Action Committee
Phone: (902) 442–1077
Fax: (902) 405-3716
We meet at the EAC on the third Monday of every month at 5:30. We need new members committed to a vision of sustainability. And there is lots to do: research, education, organizing, lobbying. Get involved today!
