How close can a garden be to a railway without having the risk of the vegetables being contaminated.
2007-03-20 07:25:17 · 4 answers · asked by miss bean 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
My main concern is ground contamination.
2007-03-20 09:01:13 · update #1
If you look at the side of the railroad you will see where all the sediment from all the smoke and exhaust settle. Also if you live close to the railroad you will see where the exhaust start to stain all the houses in the neighborhood. I would say you should live at least a mile away before you start eating anything out of the ground. The engines the railroads use are usually pretty old. I'm talking 20-30 years old, with multiple millions of miles put on them. After that long and that much wear, I wouldn't be surprised if they spit up a barrel of oil along the way to its destination. Not only that, they could be leaking diesel, and any of the cars trailing behind the engines could be carrying hazmat. You definitely do not want that in your system! Please take my advice and do not plant a vege garden. If I were you plant a lot of pretty flowers! Besides they are nicer for us to look at as we are rolling down the railroad.
2007-03-20 07:38:06 · answer #1 · answered by Screaminfiero 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A garden near a railroad should be a wonderful site for persons on the train as they pass by. at least 300 yd away. to allow the fresh air and sun to grow your veg without contaminating them.
2007-03-20 14:32:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think that the answer is contingent on direction the wind blows. If the garden is on the north side of the tracks and you have a predominately south wind....then you would want the garden farther away then you would if it was on the south side of the tracks. At any rate...the farther away the better as the diesel that trains burn has been linked to cancer, MS, and Parkinson's!
2007-03-20 14:37:40 · answer #3 · answered by toothacres 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
trains are notorious for spitting oil all over the place. this will damage your plants if it gets on them
i'd keep them back atleast a couple of feet if you don't want any railroad workers tip-toeing through your tulips :)
if you want them closer try planting some inexpensive wild flowers there first to see if the trains kill them
2007-03-20 15:49:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋