Re: need advice on site with high lead

Told ya so. Sorry, but that sadly seems to be the norm for urban DC soil.
You might not have much choice--I believe that's legally at the toxic waste level. Even if no one makes you do it, I would have it removed down to at least six inches, properly disposed of and start over with a bulk delivery of something like half topsoil and half mushroom soil....
---Mike McG
----- Original Message ----- From: <Grow19@aol.com>
To: <community_garden@mallorn.com>
Sent: Monday, May 09, 2005 3:55 PM
Subject: [cg] need advice on site with high lead


Hi, I'm organizing a vacant lot community garden in Washington DC (size
60'x70'). Unfortunately, the soil test results came back from UMass with the
following lead levels: extracted lead=151ppm, estimated total lead=1146 ppm. We
need advice on how to approach gardening in this lot. A couple of garden in
the area with high lead (don't know how high) chose to create raised beds,
about 1" deep and use new soil. They didn't seal off the bottom. And I don't
think they've tested their food. I don't have enough technical knowledge to
know if this is a safe approach. Whole thing is making me plenty nervous.

We would like to use phyto-remediation to make it possible to safely grow
food in the lot before resorting to sealed raised beds. I would welcome all of
your advice and ask if there are research scientists in the Washington DC
metro area that we could contact directly for additional help.
Sincerely,
Judy Tiger

FYI, here is the remaining info from soil test results:
- soil pH 7.6
- buffer pH 7.4
- nitrogen N03-N=4ppm
- nitrogen NH4-N=1ppm
- organic matter: 6.6% (desirable range 4-10%)
- phosphorus - 11 ppm
- potassium - 151 ppm
- calcium - 5689 ppm
- magnesium - 117 ppm
- cation exchange capacity 30.6 meg/100g
- percent base saturation K=1.3, Mg=3.2, Ca=95.6
- micronutrient levels all normal
- extractable aluminum 27 ppm


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