Knowing the level of lead in your soil is essential for gardeners in urban areas like Providence. This Wednesday, Southside Community Land Trust—in collaboration with the Urban Agriculture Task Force and the Plant Providence initiative—is offering a free, hands-on demonstration of how to determine your potential lead exposure by conducting a soil test in your backyard or community garden. Leo Pollock, Southside’s director of education, will show you how to take representative samples of dirt and send them to be analyzed by the UMass Soil Lab for heavy metal, mineral, and nutrient content. You’ll be able to see what actual test results look like and find out about methods for avoiding contamination in your homegrown fruits and vegetables, allowing you and your family and friends to enjoy produce that is safe and healthy to eat. The workshop will be held at 3:00 p.m. at 4 Theresa Ct. at Willow Street near Armory Park on the west side of Providence. Hope you can join us.
P.S. If you can’t attend the workshop, be sure to check out the soil testing how-to on our website at www.southsideclt.org/soiltesting.
From Seed to Fruit 