Gardening Safely in the City...

Gardening in Chicago, or any urban setting for that matter, has unique problems and issues that should be considered. Debris, broken glass or other sharp objects may be in the ground and can cause injury. Underground utilities will be more common in a highly developed area such as a city, especially in areas near the road or in a parkway.

What can you do to be safe?

We recommend that you wear gloves when working in urban soils especially if you don’t know what history the site has. If you are digging any deeper than twelve inches, contact Digger (1-312-744-7000) to locate underground utilities (in the suburbs contact J.U.L.I.E., 1-800-892-0123). When you are finished, before you eat anything and especially if you have been perspiring, wash your hands and face well, and use soap!

Anything else?

Of course we just ask that you be aware of your surroundings. Don’t anger your neighbor by piling soil on their fence. Don’t stand in a busy street to plant in the parkway. Take frequent breaks for water and to cool down in the summer and to warm up with hot chocolate breaks in the winter. Keep your eye on children and pets so that they are safe in the garden as well.

Worried About Soil Contamination in Chicago’s Community Gardens?

One of the most important and insidious products of the industrial history and urban growth of Chicago is SOIL CONTAMINATION. GreenNet provides the following guides, presentations and web-links to educate and protect Chicago’s community gardeners.

Publications

• Presentation on Urban Soils, Plant Growth and Human Health by Dr. Wes Jarrell, U. of Illinois
• Handout on Gardening Safely in Lead Contaminated Soils by GreenNet Chicago
• Presentation and Research on Lead uptake by vegetables in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago by Molly Finster, Northwestern University
• Lead levels of edibles grown in contaminated residential soils: a field survey
• Honey Coop Community Garden sample lead study
• Chicago Garden Project Study Results and terms glossary by the Urban Soil Quality Innitiative- May 2009

Weblinks:

Chicago Resources

• A Resource Guide: Northwestern University’s site on Phytoremediation of Lead in Urban, Residential Soils
• City of Chicago’s Department of Public Health’s Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
• Illinois Department of Public Health’s Guide to Lead Poisoning Prevention

National Resources

• U.S. EPA’s Website on Lead Contamination
• Michigan’s Lead Safe Partnership program
• Ohio State University Extension’s page on lead contamination

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