Group Examines Whether Soil in Urban Farms in Safe

Urban farming has caught on throughout New York City, but the question remains – is it safe to plant herbs and produce in city soil?

According to Metrofocus, that’s what Green Thumb – an organization of the Parks Department that helps educate gardeners and provide them with mulch and compost – wants to know.

A study into the city’s soil started in 2009, led by Green Thumb, the state Department of Health and Cornell University, and has already analyzed more than 900 soil samples from 44 gardens, says Metrofocus. The project is now examining whether toxicity in the soil is transferred to fruits and vegetables.

“This was an opportunity to take a closer look at our soil,” said Green Thumb Deputy Director Roland Chouloute.

Sixty-one percent of gardens tested had at least one sample that tested higher than a guidance level for contamination set by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. The most likely contaminates found in the gardens were lead and barium, says Metrofocus.

According to Cornell, most of New York City's gardens were found to have very low contamination levels. Ninety-two percent of the areas sampled had lead levels below the guidance level.