Organic gardening, or ecological gardening, is not new as it has been practiced for many years throughout the world. In fact, before gardeners relied on the relatively recent practices of using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic gardening was the norm. Organic gardening is popular in the United States and there is increasing interest in Louisiana. In organic gardening, particular garden practices are encouraged that utilize natural biological cycles, enhance diversity, and are ecologically sound. A major difference between "conventional" and organic gardening is that the later uses natural materials such as compost rather than synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, with a goal to make the garden sustainable.