Interesting that the abstract for the New York rooftop garden paper suggests NOT composting used mulch or unmarketable portions of vegetables to return to the soil, as this could increase heavy metal build up. It would be interesting to know if other studies have concluded the same as, if so, this would be an important tip to get out urban gardens (many of which are probably composting onsite extensively).
Marilyn, yes. Although urban agriculture has been around for a long time, promoted by state and the the federal government as Liberty Gardens, Relief Gardens, and Victory Gardens during WWI, the Depression, and WWII. And the means to detect heavy metals has been around for along time, too. You would think that there would be a history of research on this topic, but that is not the case.
Interesting that the abstract for the New York rooftop garden paper suggests NOT composting used mulch or unmarketable portions of vegetables to return to the soil, as this could increase heavy metal build up. It would be interesting to know if other studies have concluded the same as, if so, this would be an important tip to get out urban gardens (many of which are probably composting onsite extensively).
Marilyn, yes. Although urban agriculture has been around for a long time, promoted by state and the the federal government as Liberty Gardens, Relief Gardens, and Victory Gardens during WWI, the Depression, and WWII. And the means to detect heavy metals has been around for along time, too. You would think that there would be a history of research on this topic, but that is not the case.