[Community_garden] growing potatoes in old tires

[Wade Zawalski]

Hi Everyone,

Our community garden (www.growregina.ca) is in the process of rebuilding
after we lost our previous 11 acre 275 plot community garden site.  The new
3.4 acre site has been made available to us on a permanent basis in a city
park.  The site is smaller but we have been fortunate to have recieved
significant corporate sponsorship.  As result we have some money to spend on
a nice clean garden design.  The new design is based around 60 - 40 x 40
foot square plots (with 4 - 6 gardens each) and this will require
approximately 2 miles of garden edging to separate the 40 foot blocks from
the gravel pathways.  We are in discussion with a tire recycling company who
may be able to manufacture rubber garden edging from recycled tires.  The
goal is to produce a very durable 1" x 6" garden edging for approximately
$1.00 linear foot.  We are also eligible for a matching $5000 grant from the
agency that collects recycle fees on every tire sold in our province of
Saskatchewan.
Ok.  So here is my question.  According to the EPA recycled rubber products
are permissible for garden mulch and edging...  does anyone have any
valuable information concerning the safety of recycled tire edging in a
garden.  We are not interested in opinions based on rumour and inuendo but
factual information that might give us guidance on the suitablility of
recycled tire garden edging.  Unless you can quote real scientific data that
links to health risks save your trouble.  We are seeking fact (documented
and reliable) not opinion which will be ignored.  Thank you in advance for
your assistance.  Presently we are going with the EPA assesment unless
anyone can make a convincing case (this means scientific papers,
measurements, etc.).

Cheers,

W.

On Fri, Mar 21, 2008 at 9:07 AM, Linda Casto <lindacasto7430 at sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

> A member on a garden website I belong to is recommending growing potatoes
> in old tires.
>
>  I know there are contaminants that come from old tires but I don't
> remember what. (This was in a discussion in the last week or so).
>
>  I'd like to be able to post something in response to this recommendation
> letting folks know what kind of contaminants they are turning loose in their
> gardens.
>
>  Thanks
>
>  Linda Casto
>  Glenwood UMC community garden
>  Columbus, Ohio
>
>
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