Gardening close to the street. Lead danger?

[panda]

I'm working on my urban homestead here in Chicago. This past summer I had great adventures in my 4x20 foot veggie garden. I'm already starting to plan for next year, with one major concern:

The garden is about 30 feet from the street, with no real barrier in between (just sidewalk and lawn). The street isn't terribly large or busy, but I'm concerned about lead. I've read in some older books that lead from exhaust can be a problem in the soil and on produce. Does anyone know if that's still a problem with unleaded gas?

I was thinking about trying to make some kind of shield or hedge, but I'm not sure how that would work. I'd appreciate any advice.

[Chanley]

With unleaded gas I do not see a problem.

I think 30 feet is sufficient space to protect your garden from the passing vehicles.

[panda]

Thanks Chanley.

I hate to seem paranoid. I grew up on a farm in a rural area and it feels a bit strange growing veggies in the city. Strange and wonderful. Thanks again.

[rsps]

30 feet is fine. My lot isn't even 30 feet wide!

I think I read you should be 10+ feet back. That said, my garden is right up against our driveway (the herbs are spilling over onto the concrete) Irationalize this by saying well it's only our car, and we only drive in and out 1-2 time a day . I probably should have the soil tested though just to make sure.

[katja]

Maybe have your soil tested, Panda. I'm curious--we are gardening with the same situation here in Chicago. (on a very busy street, 1 1/2 blocks from a lead-contaminated brownfield.) We are going with raised beds and hoping for the best. If you find out anything, let us all know. I don't think lead has been used in gasoline for a long time. Well, not long enough, and I think it does stick around. I've been curious about whether vegetables grown in lead-contaminated soil contain lead as well.

[farmer mama]

I agree that it is probably be a good idea to get the soil tested. Veggies in lead-contaminated soil can have high levels of lead, but I think container gardening or raised beds would be helpful. Off topic but right on for urban homesteading. It is so important to be doing these things in urban areas.

[kira]

About ten years ago, at the organic farmer's market in San Francisco, a farmer told me that plants ( I don't remember if they were herbs, vegetables, or both) grown in a city were found to have high lead levels in them - too high. I had been thinking of trying to grow a few vegetables in windowboxes, but I nixed that idea.

[Daffodil]

Here are some links that might be helpful:

http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2281.htm

http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-1805-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

http://www.cce.cornell.edu/programs/...cgandlead.html

http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/gard..._elements.html

[gardenmom]

Today's gasoline is lead free, except antique cars still need 'lead additive' put into their tanks. It kills the engine if you don't add it.

I'd have the soil tested just for curiosity's sake...more than just the veggies, but bare soil with lead is a hazard for kids too...

[darkstar]

panda, do yo rent or own your home. If you do rent your landlord has to by law give you lead test info. Only if you are pregnant or have a child. My landlord gave this to me when I moved in. We have lead all around the house and the backyard. I would most defintley used raised beds, with new soil, not from the ground around your house. Chicago does have one of the highest lead amounts in the country. I would be very careful. I am not sure how I feel about growing veggies in the city. I know there is a coperative of farms in southern wisconsin that you can go and work on and get veggies and fruit in exchange. I dont want to scare you, but I dont want you to eat veggies full of lead either.

darkstar

[katja]

Thanks, all, for making me so darn nervous about the lead. (Kidding) I just built my square foot garden and planted my vegs this past week. Well, maybe I'll get my soil tested just to know for sure...after all, my beds are about 20 ft from California ave. We just had DD tested for lead, and her levels are elevated, so we've been spending more time outside, I guess because I am pretty sure we have old lead paint inside our windows. Just had our back door dip-stripped too. I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle in this dirty town of ours. (Hence the vegetable garden) Did you all know that lead paint was banned in France starting in the 1870s? There used to be a lead paint factory a block over from us. Now it is a brownfield where kids play soccer. DH, please, can't we move away?

By the way, Darkstar, how are your kids lead levels? Maybe you can tell my by pm or something how you've kept it all under control. You too, Panda.

Regards,

[gardenmom]

Here's another lead thread that I've been posting to, in case anyone wants to read more on the issue:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=145097

[WitherB]

Katja, I'm in the same boat with you. We're here in Chicago and just bought our first house last September. At the time, I was worried about lead, but certainly not as knowledgable. I really didn't think about it being in the soil, which is very frustrating, since part of the reason we bought a house (opposed to a condo) was so I could garden.

Now, I've got all these little organic seedlings growing, and I've been worrying about putting them in the ground. We did have a lead tester come last month, but he didn't even bother with the soil -- he said all of Chicago is elevated. So, I'm just going to dig off the first 6 inches or so of topsoil and add some bagged topsoil mixed with peatmoss. I'm only growing "fruiting" plants which don't take in as much lead anyway. I'm also keeping the garden away from our garage and porch which unfortunately are covered in lead paint (that has been painted over).

Ezra's lead level was tested in November and at level four was elevated but not too high. I'm trying to raise his iron level, give him plenty of calcium, wash his hands often, and take our shoes off when we come inside. At the same time, I don't want to stress too much, since it seems like environmental hazards are something we've all grown up with ~ and sometimes I feel like there's always one more thing to worry about. Even so, I plan to have E tested again soon, since we are outside more and I'd like to know if it's effecting him.

Thanks to everyone else for the links -- I had a hard time finding any info on lead in regards to vegetable gardening, but I see there's plenty out there!