What's in your dirt? Although the most immediate answer might be something like "chives... lemon balm... zucchini... tomatoes.. eggplant..." that isn't exactly what we're asking (although we would love to hear about that too!). What we mean is, what components make up your garden soil? Most gardeners check their soil for its PH or add things like compost and manure to enrich it, but have you ever tested your soil for lead? If you live in an urban area or in a house built before 1978 (when lead paint was taken off the marked), you might want to do a quick check. Lead in the soil can be common in these areas but even if you find it, it doesn't have to be the end of your backyard gardening. According to this article you can either replace the soil, plant in raised beds, or alkalinize it by adding lime or compost, which makes plants less likely to absorb lead. Since many fruiting crops don't readily accumulate lead, your tomatoes, squash, eggplant, corn and beans are most likely healthy, but herbs, leafy greens and root vegetables are a little more at risk and perhaps worth planting in a raised bed. Nothing beats beautiful veggies fresh from the garden, especially when you know the soil they came from is healthy! A few resources: The Environmental Protection Agency's lead hot line is 1-800-424-5323. They can refer callers to health departments, which will either do soil testing or provide names of local certified labs. County extension services can be found through the website of the Department of Agriculture's Cooperative State Research. They often do testing or can provide referrals to universities, colleges or private companies that do. Just click on your state to see all of the offices in your area. More information available at Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry More on lead in the environment can be found at the EPA website