Brian, The Canadian standards, in all frankness, are better than the US's because their process is more honest and less politically manipulated. While not perfect, I would accept Canadian national standards for heavy metals, etc, as being a good guideline for community gardeners.
That said, here are some local contacts that may be helpful for you in your knowledge search: I. First, to keep you from re-inventing the wheel, I'd contact your local Utah State agricultural extension: <A HREF="http://extension.usu.edu/cooperative/index.cfm/cid.246/";>Utah Ag Extension</A> The Salt Lake contact numbers are: Contact Information: 2001 South State Street #1200 Salt Lake City, UT 84190-2350 801-468-3170 County Website: <A HREF="http://www.usuextension.slco.org/";>www.usuextension.slco.org</A> Information via Utah Reach <A HREF="http://utahreach.org/salt%20lake/";>http://utahreach.org/salt%20lake/</A> II. The director of Utah's Organic Agriculture Program is listed below. I believe specific queries on soil testing and standards are best made to these folks in your area. If you have never been involved in soil testing, there is a learning curve, and talking to reputable experts is well worth your time. Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Organic Food Program Coordinator <A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]">Seth Winterton</A> Box 146500 Salt Lake City UT 84114-6500 Phone: 801-538-7141 Fax: 801-538-7126 Web page: <A HREF="http://ag.utah.gov/plantind/organic.html";>Utah Organic</A> Best wishes, Adam Honigman Volunteer, <A HREF="http://www.clintoncommunitygarden.org/";>Clinton Community Garden</A> > Subj: [cg] Interpreting Soil Tests > Date: 10/20/03 10:09:16 AM Eastern Daylight Time > From: <A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]">[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> > To: <A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]">[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> > Sent from the Internet > > > > Hello. My name is Brian Emerson. I have recently been hired as the > Community Garden Outreach Coordinator for Wasatch Community Gardens in > Salt Lake City. > > Each time I've worked with community members as they worked on starting > their own community gardens a question has emerged in my head. Where > can I find a chart listing the US Agricultural Soil Standards for > contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, etc.), so that I can interpret > the soil test results more easily? > > My search has thus far given me the "Canada and Quebec Agricultural Soil > Standards" chart, and a number of publication regarding Lead in soil > from various Extension Offices throughout the states. However, I have > found no comprehensive chart with normal and/or dangerous levels of > common soil contaminant for the U.S. > > The Canadian/Quebec chart is good but I was hoping to find a U.S. > equivalent to aid me in my interpretation of soil test results. I > realize that the Extension service is available for this task but I'd > like to be able to do it myself. > > If anyone has a suggestion on where I might find such a chart/document > I'd find it exceptionally helpful. > > Respectfully, > > Brian Emerson > Community Garden Outreach Coordinator > Wasatch Community Gardens > 345 East 400 South > S.L.C. UT 84111 > <A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]">[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> > <A HREF="http://www.wasatchgardens.org/";>www.wasatchgardens.org</A> > 801-359-2658 > >
