[Community_garden] Another look at the landfill garden

[cordalie.benoit at aya.yale.edu]

I heard a speaker when I was at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental 
Studies who was working on reclaiming capped land fills and these sites are 
not always as scary as they seem.  There had always been a fear of planting 
trees because of the danger of roots disturbing the caps.  But it was 
determined that trees are not such a big danger.

The speaker was connected with plans to close the Fishkills, Staten Island 
landfill.  What was discussed was what is the best practice and what uses 
could this highest point in New York City be put too after it was capped and 
closed.

(This landfills closure was postponed because of the debris from 9/11.)

Of course the issues are specific to you site.   When was it closed?   How 
well was it capped?   What is there now.  Is ground water leaching a 
problem?

The CT Community Gardening Association is working on setting a protocol 
which would be used to establish and maintain safe gardens.   Maybe when we 
get it together it can be applied in a situation like this one, probably the 
most extreme location.

Be cautious, but don't rule it out.  Best, Cordalie

PS  To the question,  "What are they testing for?"   In this case it had 
better be, if you can name it, it could be there and it should be tested 
for.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike McGrath" <MikeMcG at PTD.net>
To: "Alliums" <garlicgrower at green-logic.com>; 
<community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 1:09 PM
Subject: [Community_garden] The gift horse has no teeth


>I agree with Doreen; this may even be an attempt by the authorities to make
> the site look a lot safer than it can ever be made.
>                                ---Mike McG
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Alliums" <garlicgrower at green-logic.com>
> To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 12:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Community gardens on landfills
>
>
>> Hi, Folks!
>>
>> I can't imagine that this is a good idea.  If you're putting on the clay
>> cap, I would think this would be better suited as a ball field than a
>> garden.
>>
>> Maybe you could get away with re-creating a native ecosystem/bird
>> sanctuary
>> (this was done here in Phoenixville on a coal silt basin), but growing
>> food
>> for humans -- especially children?  I'd take a pass.
>>
>> Dorene
>>
>> Dorene Pasekoff, Coordinator
>> St. John's United Church of Christ Organic Community Garden and Labyrinth
>>
>> A mission of
>> St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville, PA
>> 19460
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org
>> [mailto:community_garden-bounces at list.communitygarden.org] On Behalf Of
>> Janet Parker
>> Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 11:56 AM
>> To: community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
>> Subject: [Community_garden] Community gardens on landfills
>>
>> Hi again ACGA members,
>>
>>
>>
>> A group in Madison, Wisconsin is considering starting a new community
>> garden over an old capped landfill.  Our city engineering department and
>> DNR are taking soil samples now.  The possibilities being discussed
>> include bringing in 4 feet of clean topsoil to build up from the clay
>> cap.
>>
>>
>>
>> Does anyone have experience with gardening over landfills?  Any
>> resources that you can recommend we read?  Places where gardens have
>> been successful on the top of old landfills?
>>
>>
>>
>> Many thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Janet Parker
>>
>> Community Gardens - CAC Food & Gardens
>>
>> 1717 N. Stoughton Road
>>
>> Madison, WI 53704
>>
>> janetp at cacscw.org
>>
>> 608-246-4730 ext. 218
>>
>> www.cacscw.org/gardens
>>
>>
>>
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>> _______________________________________________
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>> to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>>
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>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of 
> ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and 
> to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>
> To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden at list.communitygarden.org
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