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Lead, community gardens and food
We're just starting a community garden on (hopefully) two lots in Oakland,
CA. We got the lead-testing done, one lot is OK, at ~200 PPM, but the
other is pretty bad: ~4000 PPM. We took about a dozen samples from each
lot and made two composite samples for this first test...we plan to go
back to the bad one, and take several discrete samples, especially from
a couple of spots where the soil is noticeably different than the rest.
Total "abatement" by removing the soil (if the whole lot is affected)
is (financially) out of the question, but raised beds or other methods
can be accomplished.
But I'd like to learn a lot more about lead. And food, and what food plants
are affected, and how, and remediation. It's especially important because
we're going to have classes from 2 grade schools participating, as well
as a local Teen Center, Senior Center, Alcohol Recovery Program, and
just plain folks.
I know the local community gardening association has some info, but I
thought I'd ask the plant-science community. Online source especially
appreciated; as a non-academic, my access to really good libraries is
difficult (though still possible).