SOIL MUST BE TESTED FIRST
According to spokesmen for the Local Food Production Initiative (click) -- the proposed community garden site on city property behind the K-1 School on Summit St. needs to be tested for soil contaminants (heavy metals) because the area was used at one time as a landfill for old cars, tires, vegetative debris, etc.
The group said they have obtained a $10,000 grant for the project, but will seek an additional $3,300 from the city to provide water to the site, fencing, and needed drainage work (if the soil tests are satisfactory).
Production Committee Chairman Snyder-Conn: "Given the city's financial problems we've scaled it down . . . the full $5,900 (requested last year) is not feasible."
Vice President Gary Gover described the property as 150' long, triangular, built over an old dump: "The new design (for 20 raised beds along Summit St.) is scaled back . . . cuts down on amount of work needed . . . less fencing, drainage work . . . looking at only $3,300 start-up."
Gover: "Because its a dump site, 2-11 feet of porous soil had been put on top to cap it. We need to test that to 3' . . . to see if any toxic chemicals are there. What we find could be a show-stopper. Hoping it comes up clean."
Councilman Ford: "I don't never remember it being a dump . . . don't want that in the paper." Old junked cars and such had been dumped further down the nearby gully, he added.
Snyder-Conn said they needed to get going because the $10K grant runs out this September. The soil testing is to be done this week, but it may take a while to learn the results, she said.
Council President Mixon advised them to proceed with the soil test (at their cost), and stay in contact with the Mayor.
The Initiative already operates one such garden behind The Homestead Village retirement community.
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| Summit @ St. James St. |
According to spokesmen for the Local Food Production Initiative (click) -- the proposed community garden site on city property behind the K-1 School on Summit St. needs to be tested for soil contaminants (heavy metals) because the area was used at one time as a landfill for old cars, tires, vegetative debris, etc.
The group said they have obtained a $10,000 grant for the project, but will seek an additional $3,300 from the city to provide water to the site, fencing, and needed drainage work (if the soil tests are satisfactory).
Production Committee Chairman Snyder-Conn: "Given the city's financial problems we've scaled it down . . . the full $5,900 (requested last year) is not feasible."
Vice President Gary Gover described the property as 150' long, triangular, built over an old dump: "The new design (for 20 raised beds along Summit St.) is scaled back . . . cuts down on amount of work needed . . . less fencing, drainage work . . . looking at only $3,300 start-up."
Gover: "Because its a dump site, 2-11 feet of porous soil had been put on top to cap it. We need to test that to 3' . . . to see if any toxic chemicals are there. What we find could be a show-stopper. Hoping it comes up clean."
Councilman Ford: "I don't never remember it being a dump . . . don't want that in the paper." Old junked cars and such had been dumped further down the nearby gully, he added.
Snyder-Conn said they needed to get going because the $10K grant runs out this September. The soil testing is to be done this week, but it may take a while to learn the results, she said.
Council President Mixon advised them to proceed with the soil test (at their cost), and stay in contact with the Mayor.
The Initiative already operates one such garden behind The Homestead Village retirement community.
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