This blog serves as a bit of a journal about my journey to create my own little, sustainable piece of paradise in the hopes that it might support and encourage others to do the same. Right now, I'm in the purchase phase of this enterprise. The seller and I are working our way through the contingencies to (hopefully) close the deal at the end of the summer.
This particular piece of property had a house on it once upon a time. The house burned down about eight years ago. On the one hand, there are some benefits to the soil that can come from having a burn. On the other hand, it really depends on what actually burned there. Fortunately, the area where I am buying is noted for a focus on lots of wooden structures and emphasizing a woodsy aesthetic. From what I've been told by the seller, who is also the neighbor, the old house was mostly natural wood. That said, it is still a good idea to have the soil tested for lead since the house was old enough to have lead paint and was right next to the road. I'm really not expecting bad news, but I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially since I would like to reclaim that space for food plants.
I reached out to the local permaculture community for advice. As a result, I was able to find the Safe Urban Gardening Initiative that has agreed to test the soil for free. Along with the test results will be remediation tips, if necessary. If you do not have a local community to reach out to, I recommend contacting your local health department or soil conservation or extension center for advice on soil testing for lead and other toxic materials.
Here are some links to some additional information if you are interested in this topic:
First, an article about the work being done to make gardening safe in the Indianapolis area.
This article is from the EPA regarding attempts to use certain crops and soil amendments to remediate lead.
This excellent guide went a long way toward arresting my concerns about lead remediation on my future homesite.
Enjoy!
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