POISON! That's the ticket. Unfortunately it is a slow acting chemical that will result in baby rat birth defects and learning deficits that will make it harder for the rats to find the vegetables in the Ingalls garden necessary for a well rounded diet.
What magic chemical will have this effect? It is not magic really or even a compound, it's elemental actually. Actually it's an element: LEAD. Earlier soil tests indicated a TOXIC level of lead. The FOOD PROJECT was so concerned that in 2005 they brought in enough topsoil to provide an eighteen inch seal over at least certain parts of the garden.
I'll take it on faith that that solution worked for that time being. However since then we have had erosion and rain. Since then there is a good possibility that the dirt brought in as a "seal" has been contaminated. The contaminated soil contaminates the groundwater, the water could then be drawn up into the plants, which could be ingested by the rats or whoever eats the vegetables.
I am not some one who puts a lot of faith in trumped up delusions like gardens are responsible for drawing vermin or any other pseudo-science used to justify stopping what could be a worthwhile venture.
BUT...
The answer lies at the root of the problem or in this case vegetable, the SOIL. Tests were conducted but when Mrs. Puleo tried to get copies under the Freedom of Information Act some years were missing. Seems kind of suspicious to me. All I know is an environmental group, STRIKE FORCE is involved so I would predict some litigation in the future. If it were up to me, I would suggest an immediate independent soil test, heck I would even test the vegetables. I watch CSI, all we need is the evidence, SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE.
If there are actual lead problems at the garden sight then swift action needs to be taken before further potential damage can be done. It is a liability issue, a HUGE liability issue. It's more than that. No amount of any award can make things right. Our children's future is at stake.
My understanding is that the Food Project regular soil testing. They also add top soil every year to the garden. The reason they did not give Puleo the soil test is that they have no legal obligation to do so. They have showed them to the city and that is all they have to do. Non-profit corperations (like any other corperation) have no legal obligation to show those types of records. Freedom of information request relate only to government organizations which the Food Project is not.
ReplyDeleteActually they did give some years soil tests and not others. I am not sure of all the legal stuff, that's for people who make a lot more than me. It just seems to me if science is on your side, why hide. I mean the "rat" argument was ridiculous and that's why it was so easily repudiated.
ReplyDeleteIn the blog world there is something called "don't feed the trolls". Puleo is a pain in the ass who will never go away. They win nothing by engaging with her. I would not give her anything either. The city asks for soil samples and they give it to them. Instead of trusting Puleo on this alone you should go directly to the Food Project themselves and ask your questions.
ReplyDeleteI have seen documents.
ReplyDelete