Dear Editor,
As the state’s environmental authority, EPA Victoria recently offered home gardeners a free-soil testing service as part of a research project designed to map soil conditions across the state.
More than 2,000 gardeners have taken up the offer, but most are in Melbourne, so I’m encouraging everyone who enjoys gardening in the Moorabool area to consider sending in soil samples from their garden.
They’ll be helping EPA’s science-based work and getting the soil from their garden scientifically assessed for trace elements and quality indicators, including soil texture, composition, nutrients, and organic carbon. The only cost to the gardener is the postage.
Anyone growing their own fruit or vegetables can find GardenSafe on the EPA website at www.epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/get-involved/citizen-science-program/gardensafe
Prof Mark Patrick Taylor
Chief Environmental Scientist
EPA Victoria
