What type of materials would be TOXIC to grow eatable plants in?

Question

I want to grow herbs and vegetables in my backyard, and am sick of paying for plastic containers which are inconveniently shaped. I intend to look around for things that can be converted for my needs. I know that treated wood is bad because of the chemicals used in the treatment. What else is bad? I read about people using old tires -- is this toxic? Also, some plastics often have stuff leaking into water, such as those popular Nalgene bottles that leak estrogen-imitating chemicals that are bad for humans -- would this mean that plastic is bad for growing plants intended for consumption?

Answer 1

Treated lumber used to have arsenic in the treatment that is why the area may be toxic. The biggest offender is lead. Many people have lead in their soil due to many products that contained lead before we knew how bad lead was. If you are beginning a veg. garden have a soil test done by USDA Agricultural extension. It costs about $12 to $20. The test will give you everything you need to know about your soil, including a lead test. The bad thing about lead is that certain veggies, like spinach, will suck up the lead and put it right back into you. Spinach can be grown on lead soils until the lead is out of the soil. Spinach just sucks that lead right up But you cannot dispose of this spinach in regular waste. You have to take the crop to a hazarous waste site. Plastic containers that held food are generally not toxic and last a long time before they degrade.

I use rotted logs from the woods to put my plants in. There is nothing toxic, the old logs and limbs are decorative and as they break down they add great mulch to the soil.

Answer 2

Believe it or not most free compost provided by communities/cities are dangerous. In Philadelphia we began a "sludge"plant. Great for general turf; bad for everything else. Nitrogen levels were all over the place. Metal contaminates the same.
Take a soil sample through your local County Extension Agent. Let them know what you are trying to grow. They will do a great job of discerning what your soil will need to grow your plants. In addition, they will give your recommendations as to the true additions/nutrients you need. Good Luck.