Protecting families from contaminated food and water
All fields are required
Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on September 1, 2026
The heat of Summer is just about over in many places. September is here and we are looking past the delicious summer gardens and starting fall gardens any day now. Today we take a look at some Fall gardening safety tips.
No matter where your garden is located, it’s always wise to start out with a soil test that includes testing for contaminants such as lead and other heavy metals. Although this type of contamination is often associated with urban soils, it’s also possible for suburban and rural area soils to be contaminated by lead paint residues, pesticides, or car exhaust drift from the days of leaded gasoline. Contact your local Extension Service for information on soil testing, the cost of which is usually very reasonable.
Also, assess the garden site’s surroundings and take into consideration what might be carried into the garden along with water runoff from areas nearby, such as parking lots or agricultural fields or pastures.
Use a potable (drinking water safe) water source to irrigate your edible garden. Water provided by your municipality is generally a safe source. If the water you’re using comes from a private well or untreated surface water source such as a pond or river, have it tested regularly for bacterial and other types of contamination. Your local health department can provide you with information on water testing.
However, recent news about lead contamination of water supplies may have you wondering about the safety of your water supply. Even if the water delivered to your building doesn’t have excessive lead levels, the water coming out of a faucet may have high levels due to the building’s plumbing. So, it’s a good idea to test the water at the outlet that is used to provide water to the garden, especially if this outlet is also used to provide drinking water, such as filling jugs to provide drinking water to students out in the garden.
Water collected in rain barrels is not potable and may contain harmful bacteria and other contaminants, especially if it’s water collected from rooftops. The safest course is to use rain barrel water only for irrigating non-edible crops. If you decide to use water from rain barrels on edibles, have the water tested regularly and clean and sanitize the barrels frequently.
While animal manures are time-honored soil builders, they may also harbor human pathogens that can cause serious illness. Fresh raw manure is riskiest and should never be used in the school garden, even when plants are not present. Aged and composted manures, while safer, may still contain pathogenic organisms, so the safest course is to forgo their use as well, especially when gardening with children. If you do decide to use composted manure, we recommend only using commercially composted manure products (not home composted manure) from a reputable company whose label indicates that it has been treated to be pathogen-free. As an added precaution, consider applying commercially composted manures only in the fall after crops are harvested or at least 120 days before planting an edible crop. Dog, cat, pig, and human manure, even if composted, should never be used.
For more safe gardening tips please keep an eye on Make Food Safe.