wet spot

[annw]

I just built raised beds but they're continually gettling overwet from rain that runs off the road. The soil even has bits of flat green mossy looking stuff on the surface. I'm going to build a huge new garden out back for next year near the orchard but would like to keep this one as a snack garden for the kids and for salads since it is just outside the kitchen door. Are there any vegis that will like these conditions? There is 5-6 hours afternoon sun. Also, I just pulle dout our peas which did pretty well. Whatt can I plant in their space now? Thanks!

[Newt]

Hi Ann,
I don't want to sound like Scrouge here, but you might want to reconsider eating ANYTHING that comes out of the soil with water runoff from a road. It will contain heavy metals, oil and gasoline residue. If in doubt, have a soil test done at your local extension service for heavy metals and toxins. Children are more severly affected by toxins than adults. Your "bits of flat green mossy looking stuff on the surface" could even be toxic algae!
http://www.ceinfo.unh.edu/cesites.htm

Here's some articles you might want to read.
http://www.scdhec.net/water/html/npspage.html
http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2...War16dec02.htm
http://www.wisconsinrivers.org/clean...heet7~1~02.pdf
http://www.wisconsinrivers.org/clean...heet7~1~02.pdf


I am also hoping that you aren't using preservative treated lumber for your raised beds. If so, let me know and I'll get you some helpful info on that as well.

Newt

I think that depends on where you are (e.g. how much rain you get) and how much traffic there is one the road. In some areas the rain directly out of the air may carry most of the pollution.

I don't have problems with runoff water here (or with rain water, for that matter).

Maren

[Newt]

Hi Maren,
Are you saying that just one car with an oil leak wouldn't make much of a difference in the toxins that would wash into the soil? Would you eat veggies with oil residue in the water that the plants take up? Would you feed those veggies to your kids? To each their own I suppose. :)

Newt

Hi Newt,

I don't think any one runable car (unless parked in front of your vegie bed)
can create enough runoff to be taken up by (and ending up in the parts we eat)
any one plant to be harmful (unless you have plants that are selectively used
for taking up pollution - and those usually aren't eaten).

I live in a place where the population density overall is probably below 1 person/acre,
and surrounded by 2500 miles of mostly water with a few islands put in (averaging,
near home, 190" rain/year, I might add). I honestly think that around here the rain
runoff is cleaner than a lot of people's tap water. I'm more concerned about leptospirosis
than about oil (there are more rats than cars around here).

Maybe to each his own, but it really does depend on where you live.

Maren

[Newt]

Hi Maren,
I hear what you are saying and that it is NOT a problem for you in Hawaii, but when someone writes in that they have a veggie garden that gets water runoff from a road, that to me is serious, especially where children are involved. If you would look at this first link I gave, you will see what I am talking about, specific to Ann's situation. That site talks about using plants to absorb the toxins!

http://www.scdhec.net/water/html/npspage.html

Newt

[jstr11]

To be on the safe side replace the soil and make a barrier to keep possibly contaminated soil out. To go even farther use a pipe to redirect the road runoff.

jstr;)