Syracuse's community gardens are tainted with lead and arsenic

Syracuse, NY -- A dedicated band of gardeners have been tilling Syracuse's soil as a way of building community and providing fresh fruits and vegetables to their families. But the plots they have been eating from and others they have been working to develop are contaminated with toxic metals.

In at least some cases, Syracuse city workers were likely the ones who laid down the polluted dirt.

A recent study of six local community gardens by scientists at the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry showed that all but one of the plots contained elevated levels of lead, according to preliminary results. Samples from one garden in development -- the Isabella Street Community Garden -- exceeded health standards set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The normal level of lead in soil is between 40 and 50 parts per million. The Syracuse gardens have lead levels that range from 46 to 820 parts per million.

Moreover, arsenic levels in all of the plots except for one were off the charts, said ESF professor Venera Jouraeva, who led the study.

Jouraeva said the results need to be confirmed through additional tests. She said more information should be available next week.

The EPA generally warns against planting in soil with arsenic readings above 0.4 parts per million. Measures in all of the Syracuse community gardens except for the Avery Avenue garden landed between 8 and 17 parts per million.

"Avery was the only one suitable for gardening," Jouraeva said.

Why be concerned?

Lead: Lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage in infants and toddlers and lead to reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and problems in school. Pregnant women can pass lead onto their fetuses. Lead in the soil is especially a problem for growing root vegetables and leafy greens. You can also pick up lead by inhaling contaminated dirt.

Arsenic: You can die by ingesting very high levels of arsenic. Exposure to lower levels can cause vomiting, abnormal heart rhythm and damage to blood vessels. Ingesting arsenic can increase the risk of skin cancer and cancers of the liver, bladder and lungs, studies show.

The news has unsettled local gardeners. While most of the plots tested are gardens just now being developed, sites such as the West Newell Street garden have fed people for a decade.

"The people who have gone out of their way to supplement their diet with healthy food, now they're faced with food that's contaminated," said Jessi Lyons, an ESF student and member of Syracuse Grows, a local group dedicated to promoting and supporting community gardens.

Jouraeva and the gardeners say people can still plant foods in the contaminated plots if they take precautions. Most of the sites need only minor adjustments, such as bringing in new top soil and planting crops in raised beds.

High levels of lead at the Isabella Street garden require more extreme mitigation, but that, too, is under way.

"I think that contaminants in the soil when gardening can always be a concern," said Inga Back, program coordinator for the Onondaga County Health Department's Lead Poisoning Control Program. "But if you put a liner down and the plants don't have access to the soil underneath, and you put clean soil in, it should be fine."

The findings worry Mable Wilson, founder of the West Newell Street Community Garden.

"We've been eating here for 10 years," she said.

Many of the community gardens sit on the city's North and South sides, where grocery stores are scarce, buses are infrequent and most residents can't afford to buy organic produce. Community members say they started growing food as a safe and affordable alternative. The gardens have also helped bring people together and develop a stronger sense of community.

Gardeners from West Newell Street had planned to donate some of their harvest to the food pantry at the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ. But that can't happen now that lead and arsenic has been uncovered in the soil.

"We can't give the food pantry the food," Wilson said. "We're taking a chance on ourselves."

Back said people shouldn't worry if they ate in the past from gardens with high readings. Lead stays in the body only a short time, she said, so "if you had an exposure five years ago and that's it ... it would be gone from your blood."

Still, all children ages 1 and 2 should be tested for lead, Back said.

In fact, it's a state requirement. Children facing ongoing lead risks should be tested until age 6.

Wilson said her grandchildren are periodically tested for lead because years ago, as toddlers, they lived in an apartment building where they were exposed to lead. The family moved before Wilson started gardening, but the grandchildren have eaten from the West Newell Street garden in the years since.

"They have no lead in their systems," Wilson said.

Jouraeva said it's common for urban soil to be contaminated, and other parts of the city test even higher.

The lead in the gardens likely came from several sources, researchers said.

Most of the plots once contained homes, so chips of paint with lead easily could have entered the ground and contaminated it, scientists said.

A third possible source is the city of Syracuse itself. Syracuse Parks Commissioner Pat Driscoll said workers truck in topsoil to re-grade sites, such as the community gardens, where homes have been demolished. The topsoil is typically of a low quality because it's considered a temporary solution, Driscoll said.

"That could certainly be the cause of it," Driscoll said. "The soil that is used may have particles of lead in it."

The topsoil comes from yard waste and debris that city workers collect, Driscoll said. Because it's makeup is unknown, it should not be used to grow food, he said.

"Planting a garden, whether it's fruits and vegetables or flowers, is certainly a lot different than putting in topsoil to fill a hole," Driscoll said. "If there are going to be fruits and vegetables, you want the greatest quality soil. The topsoil that's put in is definitely a Band-Aid, not a solution."

"That makes me angry," Wilson said. "We're doing a lot of work for nothing if they are bringing in soil with lead."

Lead in soil can make people sick if they inhale dirt while digging, swallow dust that clings to their hands or eat foods grown in polluted ground. Root vegetables and leafy greens are most susceptible.

Lead poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage in infants and toddlers. Symptoms include reduced attention spans, hyperactivity and problems in school. Children exposed to lead face high risk of brain damage and developmental disabilities. Pregnant women can pass lead to their fetuses.

"There's really no safe level of lead in our bodies," Back said.

Arsenic can be even more harmful. Ingesting very high levels of arsenic can result in death, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Exposure to lower levels can cause vomiting, abnormal heart rhythm and damage to blood vessels. Several studies have shown that ingesting arsenic can increase the risk of skin cancer and cancers of the liver, bladder and lungs.

Jouraeva suspects the arsenic made its way into the soil from pressure-treated wood and pesticides used on the properties.

The Avery Avenue garden is much cleaner because it always was an empty lot and never had a house on it, Jouraeva said.

Community members are trying to figure out what they can do to keep gardening and keep themselves and their children safe. Each garden is taking a slightly different remediation approach, Wilson said.

Most have installed raised planting beds and shipped in new soil to prevent their crops from taking root in the polluted soil.

At the Isabella Street Community Garden, workers laid down bed liners and brought in wood chips to cover the ground around the plant beds.

Wilson said that the West Newell Street Garden will be off-limits to children under 6, and children under the age of 2 won't be fed the food grown there.

That saddens Wilson, she said, but she'd rather be safe than sorry.

"It feels like environmental discrimination," Wilson said. "This is our community. You are tearing it down. At least put down good soil."


by Delen Goldberg / The Post-Standard
Friday May 08, 2009, 6:18 AM

Springtail Sorrow

I have a tidbit of news that might be of use to your master gardeners who are manning the hotline. Yesterday at our local community garden in Grandview, I noticed massive numbers of the garden springtail all over most seedling veg crops and all over the soil, both in plots with straw mulch and without. There were many on spinach, swiss chard, basil, ground cherry, eggplant, pepper, kale, and lettuce. Not many on tomato or onion.

I met this pest for the first time in 2005 and have tried searching for info on it, but not a lot is known about it.

To the naked eye, it looks very much like an aphid in size and shape, but it jumps when disturbed.

It has chewing mouthparts and chews on seedlings. It has caused serious problems on sugarbeet in Michigan over the past few years. In Ohio a year or two ago I heard from on commercial cabbage farmer who lost a field to it. I think it usually disappears as suddenly as it appears, but I do not know how long we can expect it to be around.

It is not listed on any insecticide labels but we think that any broad spectrum product would kill it. I did a small unreplicated trial yesterday to see how pyrethrins+PBO, pyrethrins+oil, spinsosad, and acetamiprid work; I will check it later today to see if there is any observable result. I am curious if you hear about it from other gardeners.

Celeste Welty, Ph.D.
Extension Entomologist
& Associate Professor of Entomology

Deer Info!

From Cory at the OSU MG extension:

Roxanne Male-Brune, MGV in Athens County, has spent a lot of time studying deer and plants – arghhh!

She has an excellent website that includes a deer resistance table based on her studies in Athens county (deer country for sure).

http://www.gardeningindeercountry.com/

Her list is based on a wide variety of plants in her garden and whether or not they are deer browsed.

In addition, she is interested in hearing from other Master Gardener volunteer and their experiences with deer browsing. This could also turn into a research project for MGV’s across the state.

The Cornell Formula for Powdery Mildew

On the ACGA listserv, a local CG from City Farms and the Garden of CAYNDness asked about powdery mildew. People answered from all around the states to suggest the Cornell Formula, a natural, baking-soda based spray developed at that University that has shown success against even black spot. Here it is:

In one gallon of water, mix and repeatedly shake:

1 tablespoon baking soda.

2 drops dishwashing liquid or insecticidal soap.

1 tablespoon oil. You can use vegetable oil, but 'horticultural oil' will work better, especially one of the new lighter-weight "summer oils". (Cowboy Gardeners: Do NOT use motor oil or WD-40 or any other such foolish thing.)

I wasn't sure what these oils were about, but I found these commercial brands at Colorado State Extension (SunsprayR, ScalecideR, VolckR), as well as a detailed explanation.

Striped Cucumber Beetle

Grrr...my garden is taking a beating this year.

This will definitely take some reflection on my part.

In the meantime, I have discovered what is getting after my cucumbers. It is the Striped Cucumber Beetle. They are having a grand time on my plants.

I originally thought it was the Squash Vine Borer, but when I dissected the stem for larvae, there weren't any.

By the way, dissecting my stem meant cutting it off at the base. It really didn't matter anyway because the plant was completely withered and brown and dying anyway.
Click on the link to see the photos of the likely beetle eggs and withered cucumbers.

I have a bad feeling I will have to refer to this website often to figure out which pest is bothering which plant, but at least it is a good site.

Wrong Wrong Wrong

Previously, I thought my squash plants were suffering from powdery mildew. And maybe they were, but that was an after effect of being weakened by something else. That something else: the disgusting, awful, sickening Squash Vine Borer. YUCK.

Hey there he is. OH! And he brought along a friend. How nice. They sure do look fat and happy. Hmmm? What's that? It is because they have been tunneling up and down inside my plants eating as they go? Oh, no wonder they look so pleased with themselves.

Here are some sign to look for:

sawdust material

eggs? (maybe-I am inferring with this one)
plants/fruits that look sucked dry

I discovered this by reading The Backyard Gardening Blog. He has some great suggestions on how to treat them, and the entomology behind the grubs.

Got Mildew? Get Milk!

My wonderful neighbor, Stephanie, just sent me this article and link because I am having horrible powdery mildew problems with my zuchinni & yellow & acorn squash. It seems to reek havoc on the plants: it turns the leaves yellow, creates disgusting spots, zaps the plant's productivity, and withers any growing veggies. Not good times.

Gardeners are supposed to mound the soil for their squash plants to avoid this, but I wonder about how sun factors into all of this. I have also noticed that my squash plant that is in an area with less sun, but plenty of room, no irrigation, and a bit of insulation from the fence does not have this issue at all.

As a first resort, I have been cutting off the worst of the leaves, and surprisingly, new leaves and veggies have started to grow! I suspect that the mildew will continue to spread regardless of this small triumph, and I am only getting my hopes up for nothing. We will see.

So here is another method you can try: MILK!

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/tv-mildew.html

Got Mildew? Get Milk!
By: Arzeena Hamir

Less than 3 years ago, researchers in South America discovered a new alternative to controlling powdery mildew. Wagner Bettiol, a scientist from Brazil, found that weekly sprays of milk controlled powdery mildew in zucchini just as effectively as synthetic fungicides such as fenarimol or benomyl. Not only was milk found to be effective at controlling the disease, it also acted as a foliar fertilizer, boosting the plant's immune system.

Powdery mildew in the cucurbit family is caused by the organism Sphaerotheca fuliginea. It is a serious disease that occurs worldwide. For decades, organic gardeners had to rely on making a spray from baking soda to control the disease. Now, instead of measuring out the baking soda and combining it with a surfactant (a "sticking" substance) of either oil or soap, gardeners need only head for their refrigerators.In his experiments with zucchini plants, Bettiol found that a weekly spray of milk at a concentration of at least 10% (1 part milk to 9 parts water) significantly reduced the severity of powdery mildew infection on the plants by 90%. While some gardeners may be tempted to increase the concentration of milk for more control, Bettiol found that once concentrations rose above 30%, an innoccuous fungus began to grow on the plants.

How does milk control powdery mildew?

Scientist aren't 100% sure how milk works to control this disease. It seems that milk is a natural germicide. In addition, it contains several naturally occurring salts and amino acids that are taken up by the plant. From previous experiments using sodium bicarbonate, potassium phosphate, and other salts, researchers have found that the disease is sensitive to these salts. It is possible then, that milk boosts the plant's immune system to prevent the disease.

Milk used around the world

The benefits of using milk to control powdery mildew haven't been isolated to Brazil. Melon growers in New Zealand are saving thousands of dollars every year by spraying their crops with milk instead of synthetic fungicides. The melon growers in New Zealand have been so successful that the wine industry is taking notice and beginning experiments using milk to control powdery mildew in grapes.

What kind of milk should be used?

In Bettiol's original experiment, fresh milk was used, straight from the cow. However, this is obviously not feasible to most home gardeners. The research work in New Zealand actually found that using skim milk was just as effective. Not only was it cheaper, but the fact that the milk had no fat content meant that there was less chance of any odours.

Wagner Bettiol's original article was published in the journal Crop Science (Vol. 18, 1999, pp. 489-92). It can be found on-line at: http://147.46.94.112/journal/sej/full/c12_199908_180801.pdf

The Author© Copyright Arzeena HamirArzeena is an agronomist and garden writer with Organic Living Newsletter. Subscribe to this free e-newsletter at http://www.tvorganics.com/

Grrr..Japanese Beetles!

I think I have planted enough in my small garden to share with some birds and bugs, but I still find it frustrating to find Japanese beetles munching on my green beans and rhubarb leaves. My grandmother says they also like her roses. They seem to leave the other plants alone.

I have seen those traps/bags here and there, but have heard that they fill extremely quickly (which means they need changed very often) and actually attract JB from all around, instead of just one's personal garden area. My mother's neighbor has said that they literally swarm his arm as he goes to change the bags. YUCK.

My grandmother catches them a jar with a lid, which I think is a great idea. I found some more ideas from this website and the Ohio State Extension service. I have found that they come out in the morning and evening, so you have to be on top of them during those times if you are going use the jar method.

Also, as I was working in the garden this spring, I noticed a gazillion grubs. YUCK again. I am just realizing that those were most likely JB grubs.