Test your soil this year...don't be a cheapskate!

We have had a couple of years with significant run-off from rain and snow, and even ifyo are happy with your garden (and rotating plants) it is always a good idea to test your garden soil, hopefully after adding your compost.  The price always seems to be $12.00 for a kit, but all kits are not the same.  Some are for one test.  Other say they are for 10 tests, but that gets divided by four.  Others are for truely 10 X 4 tests.  If you want the real thing get a kit from PSU http://extension.psu.edu/allegheny/news/spotlight/penn-state-analytical-laboratories-test-your-soil-... and in all cases try to take a proper sample, let the soil mix and settle before testing, and then certainly follow up your test by adding compostable materials or ground limestone as is appropriate.