Clawson Community Garden Project Postponed after City Finds Lead in Soil
City officials hope to construct an elevated garden next year in the same lot.
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Clawson's plans to produce fresh vegetables in a community garden will be postponed after tests revealed lead contamination in the soil.
Soil scientists conducted tests in May and June in the half acre of land next to the Department of Public Works building on West Elmwood.
City Attorney John Kingsepp said the results showed concentrations of lead and organizers decided not to plant in the soil out of consideration for residents and consumers.
"It was enough to concern us and say we oughta not to plant here," Kingsepp said.
Kingsepp said the vacant lot was used as a dump in the early 1900s. Residents or passerby would dump waste such as metal or chemical components in the lot. Over the years, Kingsepp said, Clawson expanded and the area was covered with layers of soil.
"That’s not uncommon with many of the south Oakland communties," Kingsepp said.
Many gardeners believe lead contamination lasts forever, and without corrective measures, lead levels will not return to normal, according to an article by the University of Rhode Island Island Landscape Horticulture Program. The article also states that if fruits and vegetables are consumed from a contaminated garden, there are health risks.
Plans for next year
Mayor Penny Luebs said once the testing was finished it was too late in the summer to move ahead with alternative plans. The city had initially planned to begin planting in May after the DPW tilled the land.
"We are out of time to regroup," Luebs said. "The general consensus was to wait until the new year."
Kingsepp said the designated land remains ideal for a community garden because it receives direct sunlight and provides ample space for planting.
City officials are exploring the idea of creating an elevated garden next spring. Gardeners would build planters above ground and grow the fruits and vegetables out of them.
"We will want to be certain that it is suitable to allow a healthy product to grow for consumers," Kingsepp said.
Lisa
10:38 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
booooo
canseeallsides
5:57 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
Soil samples THEN start spending taxes next time, eh. How much did it cost to till and now fix/replant the grass? And the most important question, who was responsible for starting work BEFORE soil was tested?
Lead concerns out-weigh "good sunlight" in my health book, find a new spot and test FIRST. Seriously? A good thing turned into wasted money. Can we get some feedback from a group better at planning!? SIMPLE LOGISTICS FAIL that was totally avoidable with detection. (Shakes head and walks away.)
Terri B
7:15 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Yes lead in soil means no garden this year or next! Too bad the City did not think before they acted and spent all the workers being pain by our tax dollars, time and distroyed the field by tilling it up, cutting beautiful trees down only to discover no one could plant a garden there. Spend time on research first before you dig. How about find a clean plot of land, test it FIRST and fix the lot you have dug up. Raised gardens, unless they are totally closed off from the ground below still will not be acceptable on that soil for fruits or vegetables. TRY AGAIN!!! Still wondering who had the idea to dig, cut and then test?
pjay225
9:39 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
First of all, I think the people in the city should have known about what was going to happen. It seems pretty sneaky the way it was done. Then the soil should have been tested. If evrything was done in that order, we would still have a beautiful tree and nice grass to look at. Who is paying for this Mistake?
John P. Morse
10:00 am on Sunday, July 29, 2012
Right On !!!! Above comments
However, Leaded Veggies would be good after a nuclear strike :)
concernedneighbor
2:04 pm on Thursday, December 6, 2012
I believe the farmers are City Farms. They are organized by and partnering with the same group running the Royal Oak Community Farm and the Clawson Community Farm. I wouldn't want to feed my family veggies grown on or above ground that was contaminated with lead. Maybe it would be a better site for a cemetery?