Evan, I don't have all the answers to help you "clean-up" your soil but there is one arthropod that has been used successfully in Europe to eradicate DDT from the soil is our dear friend, the Springtail. I had a hands on experience with them when we had our wet and wild El Nino winter. We had so much rain coupled with the organic mulch we had on site, our populations increased to the point they where traveling over a 6 foot block wall and invading the neighbors homes. As a result, I had to learn everything I could about these creatures because the neighbors were ready to stone us. I know for a fact that we had hundreds going over the wall because I placed duct tape with Tanglefoot on the pieces and did daily counts. They ended up being in the hundreds each day on each piece of tape. Scary for us, but maybe helpful to you.
Maybe you can find out more about using Springtails as a means to refurbish your soil. Of course it would take some time. Enjoy the following article, Deborah Mills www.greencure.org The cool wet winter we are having creates the ideal environment for all growth. Since we are having excessive amounts of rain, vegetation is in abundance and effects the whole food chain, so to speak. An increase in weed and plant growth causes a rise in insect populations. The outcome? More reptiles, rodents, birds, and so on. Our gardens will not only be bursting with blooms they will be also bursting with bugs. Whether this is a benefit or nuisance depends on your point of view. One insect in particular, the tiny, wingless, primitive arthropod commonly referred to as the "Springtail" (which belongs to the order Collembola), can be considered a "good bug" by some people and a "bad bug" by others. Springtails are one of the most important elements in any soil ecosystem because they are good recyclers by reducing decayed vegetation to soil. They inhabit the surface layer of soil and abound in areas rich in plant litter, where they feed on a variety of things, including lichens, fungus spores, po llen, and plant debris. Some species also feed on nematodes and may partake in the natural control of these tiny worms. For the homeowners they can be alarming when seen outdoors in massive numbers, appearing as "piles of soot" in backyards, driveways, puddles of water, etc. Springtails are considered pests in the sense when they enter homes in abundance. They come in the home where dampness and humidity occur, such as bathrooms, drains, leaking pipes and sinks. They can also be found in the soil of over-watered houseplants. Springtails can become a nuisance but these tiny, leaping insects do not bit humans, spread disease or damage household furnishings. Springtails are about 1/16 to 1/8 inch in size and vary in an assortment of colors from white, gray, yellow, orange, metallic green, lavender to red with some being patterned or mottled. They get their name from the fact that they have an appendage (furcula) attached to the underside of the abdomen where they catapult themselves up to 100 times their body length. Lucky for them they have limited vision because they have absolutely no control over which way they go or where they land. There are over 700 species of springtails in North America alone and more than 6,000 worldwide. These ancient insects were found in fossil specimens dating back to the middle Devonian period about 380 million years ago. If you have a high population of springtails in or around your home keep in mind that they are commonly found where there are sources of moisture. Any means to provide a drying effect is very effective. Inside the home you can use a fan to keep the air moving or a dehumidifier may provide the necessary drying effect. Check and repair plumbing for leaks and dripping pipes. Outside the home keep ground-level entrances free of rotting leaves and debris. Damp organic material near the foundation walls of your home may need to be pulled back or removed. Prune shrubbery and ground cover around the foundation of your home to permit proper air circulation. By removing the moist habitat springtails require will eliminate the attractiveness of your home and normally they will dissipate within a day or two. Presently at this time there is no effective chemical treatment because some springtails are extremely resistant to insecticides. Even one specie, Folsoma candida is utilized in Europe to break down DDT in the soil. On occasion, springtail invasions may persist due to factors not in our control and for reasons unknown to science. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ms Save the Ron Mandella community Garden" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2002 2:12 PM Subject: [cg] leaning community garden soil > Hi > I am from a community garden in Sacramento. Our garden > is 30 years old and soil tresting just revealed that > there is lead, arsenic, DDT and PAH in the soil. The > state wants to destroy our garden to clean up the land > and then build condos on it. Does anyone know of ways > to clean thsose chemicals out of the soil (such as > using plants, diluting with multch, or using > microbes)that would not involve digging up the whole > garden and removing the dirt. If anyone could give me > specific information on this or ideas about to find > information I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks > Evan > > __________________________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Y! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your web site > http://webhosting.yahoo.com/ > > > ______________________________________________________ > 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 > ______________________________________________________ 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
