Allegheny County Conservation District, Grow Pittsburgh Offer Gardeners Free Soil Lead Screening

The Allegheny County Conservation District is hosting its biannual free soil lead screening in partnership with Grow Pittsburgh from October 11 to 15. Soil samples will be accepted at five locations.  

Interest in backyard gardening is surging in Allegheny County, as well as initiatives to revitalize vacant lots into community greenspace and urban gardens. 

Contaminants are common in urban soils and can be hazardous to health when inhaled or ingested. Soil testing is the first step to reduce risk of exposure.   

All participants must pre-register online.

ACCD will contact you to confirm your registration with detailed instructions on how to collect, label and drop off your soil samples.  

Drop-Off Locations 

Once you collect and label your soil samples, drop off at any of the locations below during open hours between October 11 and 15-- 

-- EAST END: Garden Resource Center, 147 Putnam St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (Wednesday and Friday from 3 PM- 6 PM; Saturday from 9 AM- 3 PM)

-- SOUTH SIDE: Soil Sisters Plant Nursery, 123 Beltzhoover Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 (Wednesday -Friday from 5 PM- 8 PM, Saturday- Sunday from 11 AM- 5 PM)

-- WEST END: Farmer Girl Eb Shop, 1 Noblestown Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15220 (Wednesday - Friday from 11 AM- 7 PM; Saturday from 9 AM- 5 PM)

-- NORTHSIDE: Allegheny Commons Community Garden, 300 Stockton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 (Wednesday - Sunday from 9 AM- 7 PM)

Results will be sent to you within approximately two weeks, along with information to help you understand and act on your results.  

Direct questions to Natural Resource Outreach Educator Hayly Hoch at hhoch@accdpa.org or call 412-241-7645 ext. 8009.

Visit the Allegheny County Conservation District website for more information on services and educational opportunities available through the District.

[Find out about your conservation district by visiting the PA Association of Conservation Districts website.]

Related Articles This Week:

-- House Committee Hears Benefits Of Forested Stream Buffers-- Increasing Property Values, Water Quality Improvements, Reduced Impacts From Flooding; Builders, Republican Chair Worried About A ‘Taking’ Of Property  [PaEN]

-- WeConservePA: 633 Acres Of Drake's Creek Watershed In Carbon County Preserved By Lehigh Valley's Wildlands Conservancy  [PaEN]

-- Allegheny County Conservation District, Grow Pittsburgh Offer Gardeners Free Soil Lead Screening  [PaEN]

-- Pike County Conservation District: What Is The Conservation Districts' Role?  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 2, 2023]  PA Environment Digest