Rich with History
Parts of the United States that were once rather industrial can be a serious health risk for modern urban farmers. Many urban dwellers have started to grow their own plants within any soil that they can find, but this may not be the best idea.
As it turns out, those available urban spaces may be highly contaminated thanks to soil that has a past. Due to the fact that certain areas of the world were once highly industrial, the soil that remains may actually be somewhat dangerous.
The United Kingdom has warned its citizens to have their soil tested prior to growing any kind of edible crop. This warning also holds water when it comes to urban green spaces within the United States. Since there are many different laboratories available that will test soil, it just doesn’t make any sense to take a chance.
The good news is that growing edible food within a local green space doesn’t have to be impossible…even if the soil proves to be somewhat risky. Rather than plant vegetable crops directly into the ground, a better alternative would be to plant them inside of a large potting jug.
How Safe is Your Soil?
While the United States government has not issued a warning similar to the United Kingdom’s recent comments, the fact still remains that urban soil could be contaminated in some manner. No matter where you live, if you intend to grow your own crops be sure to have the soil tested first.
Vegetables that grow within large potting jars are just as good as those grown in the earth. In fact, in many cases contained plants may actually be easier to grow. Therefore, not knowing whether or not your soil is safe doesn’t have to be a guessing game.
Most local universities and colleges that have agricultural departments will test your soil for you. Simply contact your local school and ask about soil samples. The entire testing process generally takes just a few days to complete, and you can start planting your crops right away following the test results.
When it comes to your own diet and nutrition, nothing is as important as the foods that you eat. Still, those foods may not be good for your health if you aren’t growing them in safe soil. It’s a great idea to use up all of that urban space, just make sure that you are not harming your body in the process.