'Marjory, something about this newest test video jiggled a memory from over ten years ago. At the time I was living in Madison WI quite close to the former site of a Rayovac facility. I was working with a group that was popularizing community gardens. It was good sized,and well served by public transportation. David Blume, an ecologist who was championing low impact production of ethanol gas as a fuel, was a familiar figure in Madison at the time. I asked his opinion. He commented that, since he knew that mercury had been an important element in the battery manufacturing process, the site would be contaminated with mercury and possibly other heavy metals. He added that it is possible to pull heavy metals like mercury out of soil with plants. He suggested that raised beds be installed and planted with a crop that would pull heavy metal out of the soil planted and then discarded, with subsequent crops probably being acceptable for consumption. I don't remember his comments really clearly anymore, but I think he mentioned sunflowers, and that cat-tails were suitable in a wet environment. It may be that adding this step would increase the removal of plastic residues that remain after the microbes and minerals go to work.
Ten or fifteen years ago we weren't quite as choked with plastics as we are now If you would like to check in with David, his website: https://www.alcoholcanbeagas.com/
And regarding the high cost of soil lab testing, maybe you could negotiate some kind of deal with a reliable lab. say a discount for Grow Network members on their tests, and a complimentary test for a reasonable number of member-paid lab tests? We all, including soil chemists would like to find a way to clean up our home grown planetary plastic karma. Thank God for champions like you, Marhory!"
I live in an apartment complex for senior citizens. I use containers on everything I grow, so I don't need that much, I guess. I wish I had 5 acres to clean out soil so I could grow a lot more,so I don't need a regular "kit" it seems. What about for those of us that just have containers and maybe community garden at apartments?
God bless you for all of your efforts and tireless dedication. Living in Arizona, I always have to supplement the soil before planting anything. I'm hoping the Dr. Earth and Whitney Farms soils I've recently been buying are truly organic like they say they are. Even so, having a soil detox kit will help provide peace of mind knowing air and water contaminants are being eliminated.
'Marjory, something about this newest test video jiggled a memory from over ten years ago. At the time I was living in Madison WI quite close to the former site of a Rayovac facility. I was working with a group that was popularizing community gardens. It was good sized,and well served by public transportation. David Blume, an ecologist who was championing low impact production of ethanol gas as a fuel, was a familiar figure in Madison at the time. I asked his opinion. He commented that, since he knew that mercury had been an important element in the battery manufacturing process, the site would be contaminated with mercury and possibly other heavy metals. He added that it is possible to pull heavy metals like mercury out of soil with plants. He suggested that raised beds be installed and planted with a crop that would pull heavy metal out of the soil planted and then discarded, with subsequent crops probably being acceptable for consumption. I don't remember his comments really clearly anymore, but I think he mentioned sunflowers, and that cat-tails were suitable in a wet environment. It may be that adding this step would increase the removal of plastic residues that remain after the microbes and minerals go to work.
Ten or fifteen years ago we weren't quite as choked with plastics as we are now If you would like to check in with David, his website: https://www.alcoholcanbeagas.com/
And regarding the high cost of soil lab testing, maybe you could negotiate some kind of deal with a reliable lab. say a discount for Grow Network members on their tests, and a complimentary test for a reasonable number of member-paid lab tests? We all, including soil chemists would like to find a way to clean up our home grown planetary plastic karma. Thank God for champions like you, Marhory!"
I live in an apartment complex for senior citizens. I use containers on everything I grow, so I don't need that much, I guess. I wish I had 5 acres to clean out soil so I could grow a lot more,so I don't need a regular "kit" it seems. What about for those of us that just have containers and maybe community garden at apartments?
God bless you for all of your efforts and tireless dedication. Living in Arizona, I always have to supplement the soil before planting anything. I'm hoping the Dr. Earth and Whitney Farms soils I've recently been buying are truly organic like they say they are. Even so, having a soil detox kit will help provide peace of mind knowing air and water contaminants are being eliminated.