[Community_garden] Another look at the landfill garden

[Mike McGrath]

There's a BIG difference between 'reclaiming' land and using it as a 
high-traffic, food-growing area. Establishing grasses and trees and such 
will protect the area from erosion and slowly begin to help the land seem 
more normal. Waste dumps--filled with lead and mercury and giving off large 
amounts of methane--are NOT a place for people to be digging and breathing 
for long periods of time and they're certainly not appropriate for food 
growing...
                                                                ---McG
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <cordalie.benoit at aya.yale.edu>
To: <community_garden at list.communitygarden.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2008 8:00 AM
Subject: Re: [Community_garden] Another look at the landfill garden


>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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>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of
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>> to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org
>>
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>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> 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
>
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