For Immediate Release: NYCCGC response to the New York Post November 16th 2014 article
“Root of all evil: Vegetables in NYC gardens are ‘toxic’” by Gary Buiso
Contact: Aziz Dehkan, Executive Director, New York City Community Garden Coalition (NYCCGC) -- 973-222-5413 aziz@nyccgc.org
In response to yet another Post article, it continues to be both irresponsible to our communities and inaccurate to make a blanket statement that the local produce grown in our community gardens is potentially hazardous due to soil contaminants. It would be more productive to focus on how community gardens and their allies are actively remediating our city's soils.
The article referenced a Cornell research project, Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities [available at http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/metals_nyc_gardens.pdf], is a Project Team that has been partnering with NYS Dept. of Health, GreenThumb, and others to help gardeners address soil contamination in NYC community gardens. The Healthy Soils research article that the Post based its article on has nothing to do with garden vegetables. The subject of the study was only garden soils. Therefore the Post's discussion about contaminants in garden vegetables is unsupported by the study.
As the Healthy Soils research states: “Urban community gardens are growing in popularity as a source of healthy, affordable, locally grown foods in neighborhoods where such foods may not otherwise be readily available. By our estimate, New York City (NYC) has around 1500 community gardens, including neighborhood, senior, public housing, and school gardens, and some reports suggest even greater numbers ([ACGA] American Community Gardening Association, 1998). These gardens, which are often located in areas with limited access to fresh food low rates of fresh vegetable consumption and relatively high rates of poverty, provide many benefits to communities. Community gardeners have been reported to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables than non-gardeners (Alaimo et al., 2008), and a diet rich in these foods can reduce risk for stroke, diabetes, heart disease, obesity and some types of cancer (Abdulla and Gruber, 2000). Community gardens also provide many other benefits associated with urban green space, opportunities for recreation and community building (Alaimo et al., 2010; Leake et al., 2009).”
The soil results discussed in the Post article were previously shared with gardeners after testing was completed; several years ago garden contacts received results for their own garden, along with a summary of overall results from all gardens. Further, GreenThumb, a member of the Healthy Soils project team and a reputable city program with the NYC Parks Department supports gardens by providing technical and programmatic assistance and, in this particular case, took proper measures to remedy the specific issues highlighted by these findings.
The Healthy Soils research tested over 500 soil samples. They learned some important things about NYC community garden soils. For instance, in general, levels of lead and other metals in the NYC community gardens were lower than those reported in other published studies of urban garden soils. Although most gardens in the study had at least one sample exceeding a health-based guidance value (most often for lead or barium), overall, fewer than a quarter of the samples tested exceeded any guidance values. Garden beds had lower levels of lead and other metals than non-growing areas, and raised beds had lower levels than beds planted directly in the ground. This means most of the gardens that were studied by the Cornell University researchers are already doing things – such as planting in raised beds and adding clean soil and compost to garden beds – that have a real benefit in reducing exposure to lead and other metals
NYCCGC President, Ray Figueroa, commented on the Healthy Soils, Healthy Communities initiative, saying: “…..The Healthy Soils team’s small numerical sample of gardens it actually studied nevertheless has implications for community gardens citywide. Indeed, that sample study was significant in that it helped inform the Healthy Soils team’ efforts to identify responsible, proactive management measures that community gardeners can implement immediately in order to maximize the benefits of community gardens while minimizing the risks.” The New York City Community Garden Coalition concurs with the Healthy Soils team in urging all urban gardeners to use raised beds if they are not already doing so, and to adopt the complement of healthy gardening practices recommended by the Healthy Soils team in its publication, What Gardeners Can Do: 10 Best Practices for Healthy Gardening [available at http://cwmi.css.cornell.edu/WhatGardenersCanDoEnglish.pdf].
Once again Mr. Buiso assumed an alarmist point of view in the Post article. There are also risks from eating conventional carrots grown on a rural farm that uses pesticides. High levels of exposure to some pesticides have been associated with adverse health outcomes. If Mr. Buiso and the NY Post wanted to inject truth into this story why did they not test the vegetables commonly found in supermarkets the same way they tested community garden vegetables. That comparison would reveal the real story they should be reporting. As before NYCCGC sees this report as a call to action citywide. Gardeners, GreenThumb, Cornell, and DOH are already engaged in mitigating the issue in community gardens, and not in any way concealing it.
The Healthy Soils project has helped bring attention to this important issue, and we support their continued efforts to provide science-based information that helps urban gardeners understand potential risks associated with soil contamination, and implementation strategies to reduce those risks.
Everyone involved in the study has been and continue to be available to answer questions about soil contaminants and urban gardening. NYCCGC has a long history of supporting community gardeners, and we are grateful to all the press and elected officials that are highlighting and defending the dedicated and nourishing work happening in urban gardens across our communities.
That would be far more productive than using scare tactics, distorting and portraying our community gardens in such an irresponsible manner.
