Re: Vegetable Gardens on Septic Fields?

**"Lon J. Rombough" l*@hevanet.com**

Having had several septic tanks, it is partly a judgement call.  For one
thing, the material from the tank doesn't move upward unless the drain lines
back up and the area floods.  For another, it depends on how deep the tank
is buried.  In cold climates, the tank is apt to be deep enough that
vegetable roots wouldn't get even close to the tank.
The soil over a septic tank may also be poor subsoil, brought up in the
process of burying the tank.  Also, most tanks have to be dug open and
pumped every year or two, which means sewage and poor soil are going to be
mixed into the soil over the top of the tank.
    Conclusion, forget it, or put everything in pots.

If you mean the drain field, they have to be a minimum of three feet deep
here, where the soil never freezes more than a few inches, and most have a
barrier over the top of the drain tiles.  I can't see any problems with
vegetables getting roots down even close to that deep.
-Lon Rombough
Grapes, writing, consulting, more, plus word on my grape book at
http://www.bunchgrapes.com

> From: "e.merge" <hanna@direct.ca>
> Reply-To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
> Date: Fri, 09 Aug 2002 10:22:41 -0700
> To: gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [GWL] Vegetable Gardens on Septic Fields?
> 
> Dear Gardenwriters and other Experts:
> 
> I have a question for anyone on the list who might have experience with
> planting a vegetable garden above a septic field. Instinctively, I find the
> idea repugnant, but it wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong. What can
> I say? I guess these folks don't want to "waste" space.
> 
> Thankyou. If you think it is appropriate to reply off-list, please do so.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Sharon H. Hanna
> Writer & Urban Agriculturist
> Member, Garden Writers Assoc. of America
> (604) 736 1889
> 
> "Just Say No" to Chilean Sea Bass - an endangered species, harvested
> illegally.  
> 
> Sharon's catalogue writing/recipes:
> http://www.kitchengardenseeds.com
> 
> Xeriscaping/water-wise gardening article on Canadian Wildlife Federation
> site, July 2002:
> 
> http://www.wildaboutgardening.org/en/whats_new/ten_commandments/hold_water.htm
> 
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