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 the risk of exposure to heavy metals in urban soils.
Registration is required. All participants must pre-register for this event. ACCD will contact you to confirm your registration with detailed instructions on how to collect, label and drop off your samples.
Drop Off Locations
Once you collect and label your soil samples, drop off at any location listed below during open hours between Wednesday, April 3 and Sunday, April 7--
-- EAST END: Grow Pittsburgh Garden Resource Center, 147 Putnam St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (Wednesdays & Fridays from 3 PM- 6 PM; Saturdays from 9
AM- 3 PM)
-- SOUTH SIDE: Soil Sisters Plant Nursery, 123 Beltzhoover Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15210 (Wednesdays- Fridays 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) ·
-- CENTRAL: Peace and Friendship Farm, 678 Somers St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 (Wednesday- Sunday from 9 AM- 7 PM)
Results will be sent to you within approximately three weeks, along with information to help you understand and act on your results.
In 2023, ACCD analyzed 953 soil samples for lead using an X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) machine. Traditional laboratory testing is a time-consuming and expensive endeavor, costing an average of $30 or more for soil lead results. ACCD’s free service provided an estimated $28,590 of services to the Allegheny County community.
“ACCD's Urban Soils Program empowers our community to safely steward urban greenspaces. Through soil screening and site visits, we provide essential knowledge and practical
support for projects, cultivating healthier communities from the ground up,” said Hayly Hoch, Natural Resources Outreach Educator.
Questions should be directed to Hayly Hoch at hhoch@accdpa.org or call 412-241-7645 ext. 8009 for questions and more information.
Click Here for more information and to register.
The Allegheny County Conservation District is an urban conservation district that engages and leads through partnerships, innovation and implementation to conserve, promote and improve Allegheny County’s natural resources.
[Posted: April 2, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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