Much has been written about the benefits of creating an edible garden. It’s good for your health, your wallet, and for the environment. But as this recent article in the New York Times points out, urban gardeners really need to be aware of what’s in the soil they are using to grow their vegetables and fruits. (See our post on testing your soil.)

Information collected since 2003 shows that in many big cities there are hazardous amounts of lead in backyard and community gardens.

This is putting gardeners at risk of double exposure to lead poisoning  – initially during the gardening process and later when consuming the fruits  (and vegetables) of their labour.

While any area is potential tainted with lead, it is primarily the older housing areas (pre-1978), areas close to old orchards and areas near heavily trafficked roadways that are at greatest risk of high levels of lead in the soil.

What’s a concerned urban gardener to do?

Find out how to get the soil tested for lead levels by contacting your local city council or government department.

Minimize the lead risk by following these good gardening practices recommended by the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences at the University of Massachusetts:

1. Locate gardens away from old painted structures and heavily-travelled roads.
2. Give planting preferences to fruiting crops (tomatoes, squash, peas, sunflowers, corn, etc.).
3. Incorporate organic materials such as finished compost, humus and peat moss.
4. Lime soil as recommended by soil test (pH 6.5 minimizes lead availability).
5. Discard old and outer leaves before eating leafy vegetables. Peel root crops. Wash all produce.
6. Keep dust to a minimum by maintaining a mulched and/or moist soil surface.

Image: jfeuchter