Hi all,
My local community garden had some soil delivered by the city, but
there is some concern about the potential that the soil is not safe to
grow edible plants.

Is there any reliable way to test if soil is appropriate to grow
edibles? My local extension school offers lots of nutrient and
biomass tests, but I don't see anything about testing for
contaminants.

I realize that the pool of potential contaminants in soil is
inexhaustible. However, what would people recommend as basic
precautions.

Thanks,
Tim

In article , Charlie wrote:

On Wed, 21 May 2008 11:59:39 -0700 (PDT), TimK
wrote:

Hi all,
My local community garden had some soil delivered by the city, but
there is some concern about the potential that the soil is not safe to
grow edible plants.

Is there any reliable way to test if soil is appropriate to grow
edibles? My local extension school offers lots of nutrient and
biomass tests, but I don't see anything about testing for
contaminants.

I realize that the pool of potential contaminants in soil is
inexhaustible. However, what would people recommend as basic
precautions.

Thanks,
Tim

Hi Tim,

At a minimun, I would test for heavy metals and organophosphates.

Here is a site I found, not looked at closely, that describes some
tests and offers services. I have no knowledge of or association with
this testing service. I am sure there are many more, perhaps your
County Extension Service can help.

Care
Charlie

Check heavy metals for sure. Seems that we were just talking about
something that pulled heavy metals (arsenic in particular) out of
the soil and then the problem became what to do with their leaves.!??
(Clay lined landfill, if I remember correctly)
The organophosphates, if present, would break down fairly quickly
and don't represent a long term problem, unless you drink it. The
it definitely becomes a long term problem. Drinking organophosphates
has become a major cause of death to indebted Indian farmers who
follow the Monsanto approach to farming.
--

Billy
Bush Behind Bars
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related

"TimK" wrote in message
...
Hi all,
My local community garden had some soil delivered by the city, but
there is some concern about the potential that the soil is not safe to
grow edible plants.

Is there any reliable way to test if soil is appropriate to grow
edibles? My local extension school offers lots of nutrient and
biomass tests, but I don't see anything about testing for
contaminants.

I realize that the pool of potential contaminants in soil is
inexhaustible. However, what would people recommend as basic
precautions.

Thanks,
Tim

I am not sure that shotgun testing is going to help much or be cost effective.
Does this soil have no provenance? Can you follow it back to its origin and
determine the risk of contaimination? Even if you identify that there is some
risk it will focus your testing down to something practical and affordable.

David

On May 21, 2:59*pm, TimK wrote:
Hi all,
My local community garden had some soil delivered by the city, but
there is some concern about the potential that the soil is not safe to
grow edible plants.

Is there any reliable way to test if soil is appropriate to grow
edibles? *My local extension school offers lots of nutrient and
biomass tests, but I don't see anything about testing for
contaminants.

I realize that the pool of potential contaminants in soil is
inexhaustible. *However, what would people recommend as basic
precautions.

Thanks,
Tim

one thing that comes to mind is testing for stuff leaching out of
pressure treated wood, which our state ag station does for free.