2. Merrimac-Ondawa association This soil association is found on terraces and floodplains in narrow, steep-sided valleys along the major, fast-flowing streams. These soils develop atop deep glacial deposits of sand and gravel. The Merrimac and Ondawa soils are well-drained to somewhat excessively well-drained, which is typical of sandy soils, and could thus require greater irrigation for agriculture where soils retain water only briefly before it drains away. The Soil Survey provides little information as to the suitability of the soil types in Shelburne Falls for agriculture. At the time of the Soil Survey in 1967, dairy farms and orchards were the primary form of agriculture in the area, with limited production of maple products. This minimal information provides few details to forecast the success of growing crops in Shelburne Falls, so testing and amending soil may be necessary where fruits and vegetables are grown.
LEAD AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS Lead contamination in soils should be of concern to all citizens, not solely those who grow edibles in their gardens. Lead contamination may occur for a variety of reasons, the most common being the chipping and weathering of lead-based paint from older buildings (the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned paint containing more than 600ppm of lead in 1978) and the former use of lead in gasoline and in certain insecticides used in fruit orchards. While lead is now known to be hazardous to human health and has thus been banned from widespread use, it persists in soils for many hundreds of years and remains a concern. Lead in soils becomes a health risk when ingested (including fruit and vegetables that may have accumulated lead while growing) or when breathed in as dust. Lead levels are measured in parts per million (ppm) and lead is naturally present in soils in the range of 15 to 40ppm, according to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory. Lead is frequently found in more concentrated levels nearer to buildings with a history of lead-based
Plastic bag(s) Soil sample(s) from your yard Envelope and form
What you need to know: Contact your local soil testing facility to find out the steps to having your soil tested (in western Massachusetts, see http://www. umass.edu/plsoils/soiltest/). Collect soil samples from your yard, as instructed, and mail them to the soil testing facility along with any required fees The soil testing facility will return to you a report of your soil samples, including pH, nutrient, and lead levels. They may also provide information on how to improve the quality of your soil If contaminants such as lead are found in your soil, remediation may be required before you can safely grow edible plants.
IMMEDIATE ACTION IDEA
Get your soil tested! What you need:
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UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE: INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS