Step 2: Maintaining the Garden
Water Safety
Gardens require water to grow. Make sure the water you use in the garden is coming from a safe source. Clean hoses, keep pesticides away from water sources, and use only potable water to wash/rinse vegetables.
Animal Safety
An important part of maintaining a garden is keeping out animals, including domestic pets as well as wild animals like woodchucks, rodents, and birds. If allowed in the garden, animals can leave droppings, fecal matter, that can lead to contamination and illness, especially from E. coli. Exclusionary techniques, scarecrows and other scare tactics, and trapping are some of the ways you can help keep animals out and your food safe.