Here what is happening in sacramento. Our oldest garden (30 years) the mandella com garden (on state land) is slated for relocation...due to a housing project (see more info at www.savethegarden.com <http://www.savethegarden.com> ...a portion of the garden will be saved for the new residents of the $250,000 - $300,000 homes or townhouses...will they use it?
CADA the city agency offered to find a replacement garden site. The first site selected about 5 blocks away was found to be extremely contaminated...that site was dumped and a new site was found about 10 blocks away. This site was purchased and soil samples taken...using a random method of taking soils samples (computer generated) high levels of arsenic and lead where found....the 18" to 34" of soil was removed from the 1 acre site (trucked to a site in Nevada) ...the site was retested...some hot spots were found with higher levels of lead then before....that soil was removed to Nevada also...the top soil fill dirt was tested before bringing it in...it tested fine...many loads of soil were brought to the sight over a 4 days grading operation...the site is now graded and awaiting transfer of title from CADA to the city of sacramento parks and rec dept...our first community garden in the city of sacramento parks system! The cost of the soils testing from a private company, (taking the samples, analysis - for everything possible - much more than U of Mass. Does - the full palette - hydrocarbons, petroleum by products, etc, writing reports on it, and meetings), soil removal, more soil testing and trucking to Nevada, testing of new soil, trucking to the new site, and final grading to the site (finished this week) . cost so far has been $600,000.... much more than expected...but the deal was made... and CADA followed thru with their commitment to find a replacement for the garden. I talked to the grading contractors at the site... they were "...amazed that big bucks where spent on a F#$%&#G garden! That with the freeway access this site should be a strip mall".... It will be a beautiful site....a little noisy as it is near the freeway...80-90 decibels (but that's another list serve question) The Mandella gardeners still move forward with trying to save the garden... a few months back Julia "butterfly" Hill (old growth Redwoods tree sitter - 800 days?) came to talk at a rally at the garden; them we marched thru the state capitol park to City Hall.... alternate plans exist from another developer that would save the entire garden and bring a housing element that would be more affordable ....but until the other developer backs out of the deal (which he still may) plans for the leveling of the mandella garden are scheduled for this winter....then the soils removal and testing will begin there to 30 year soil that was believed to be clean and healthy and was planned to be relocated to the new garden site.... If the mandella garden is saved (which it still can be) we will have gained another community garden in the process... I will keep you posted..... ---------------------------------------------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
