What you don't know ...might hurt you.... As our 30 year old Mandella com garden site in sacramento has recently found out:
"some areas with higher than acceptable levels of Lead, DDT, and PAH'S(polyaromatic Hydrocarbons left from the incomplete burning of gas, coal, etc) were found." The levels of lead that sacramento county deems acceptable is under 200 parts per million (some professionals say 80 is the highest lead should be)... this site had 500 to 1300 parts per million....plus other toxins the site had older homes from the 1860's on it before it was torn down back in the 1960's the garden started in the 1970's....apparently no testing was done.... As I understand it...the complete palette of soil tests (lead, heavy metals, PCB's, PAH's, etc, etc) costs $700 per sample (many sites would require 12 or more samples.... Question 1: are there any places that will do all these tests for free or low cost for us community gardeners? Question 2: How many urban gardens have had their soil tested for lead and other toxins? and what levels did they find? this will be a big issue in the sacramento area and will be the first HIGH hurdle for each new com garden in the area. (we have approx 6 CG's proposed in various stages in the long approval process) In the mean time.... Each garden should ask itself: was the lot built on before? Answer: Your local USDA office will have old aerial photos of your area back to the 1930's and other photos taken every 10 years or so to the present... Article was in oct 2 issue of the sacramento bee http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/4631378p-5649671c.html ---------------------------------------------This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. This communication represents the originator's personal views and opinions, which do not necessarily reflect those of Wood-Rodgers, Inc.. If you are not the original recipient or the person responsible for delivering the email to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error, and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you received this email in error, please immediately notify [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden