Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
those found naturally in agricultural regions. It is common knowledge that high concentrations of lead
are toxic to humans, and exposure to lead by ingesting contaminated soil or dust is a danger.
Lead has the property of moving very little in soil, and it can be persistent over a long period of time.
The highest concentrations of lead in urban settings occur most often in areas around building founda-
tions and in proximity to busy streets. It is a continuing concern.
Though vegetable and fruit crops do not generally absorb or accumulate lead from soil, leafy veget-
ables such as lettuce can contain lead, and it may also be found in root crops, such as carrots. The risk
of this contamination occurs on the surface of the plants rather than from the uptake within the plant.
Laws and regulations on remediating contaminated soil vary between regions and municipalities,
and public and private lands, but mitigation is almost always expensive and time-consuming.
My advice is to use common sense when evaluating potential garden properties—a site that was
once a chemical plant or a gas station is probably not a wise option (unless remediation has already oc-
curred). You can also test the soil of any prospective property that you suspect might contain toxins;
contact your local extension service or a similar agency and ask for assistance.
If for some reason you find yourself needing to pursue mitigation options, contact the agency in your
area that governs such action.
Municipal and county land Many cities and towns nationwide have, or are developing, programs where
citizens can secure unused city property, for short- or long-term use, for purposes that benefits the com-
munity. Finding the agency to talk to in your city can be tricky, as the land could be owned or managed
by a variety of entities—for example, the Department of Water (areas around bodies of water or rivers),
Department of Transportation (rights-of-way near freeways, around bus stations, or similar), Depart-
ment of Housing and Urban Development (land that is earmarked for use in long-term planning), and
others. You really need to do your homework to determine the local government entity that oversees
the property, and what permissions are needed for its use. Most cities have an office of urban planning,
which is a good place to start. A different office will most likely work with you on the lease agreement
for the property. Generally speaking, municipal land is relatively free or inexpensive to use. For tech-
nical reasons, a lease may require a minimal annual fee, which is sometimes as little as one dollar.
Working with a park district can be an easy path to identifying available land. Recreational and
green space areas are often marked and easily identified, so it should be relatively simple to determine
who needs to be contacted about potential land use. However, a park district's own mission may in-
fluence your intended garden in ways other city departments might not. For example, in Chicago, the
park district has a mandate that there are to be no fences (except for security purposes near buildings or
swimming pools), so all Chicago residents have equal access to all parks, at all times. This is a worthy
goal. But if you want to grow food on park district land, you can't fence it, and theft becomes an issue.
In New York City, parks allow fences, but community gardens must be open a certain number of hours
per day so the public can enjoy them.
What makes this scenario work? Government organizations need to see the benefits of having
community gardens on land in their control. Good press can often be a motivator for city organizations
partnering with community groups. Many cities and municipalities are under pressure to create garden-
ing programs, so your organization could help solve a burning issue on their to-do list.
Water
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