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Keeping Soil Clean:

Selecting Fields Carefully

If you are buying or leasing a piece of land that you do not know intimately – i.e. knowing what has been grown, applied, or dumped on the land prior to your interest, it is important that you talk to the owner and get a written history of the land for the previous 10 years. This is important because undesirable chemical residues applied years ago might still be active in the soil column and tilling them up may cause them to come in contact with fresh produce. Furthermore, chemical run-off could contaminate water sources. So, get to know a piece of land before you set up a farm.

Land History

Review the land history for prior applications of chemicals, municipal sludge, or animal manure. To obtain the land history, check the county courthouse for property records about farm owners and zoning.

The EPA Web site is also a good resource to help you find environmental information about your community; for example, any chemical concerns in the area's soil, air, or water.
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/whereyoulive.htm

For an index of State Environmental Agencies:
http://www.epa.gov/epahome/state.htm

Location of Field

Do not graze livestock near produce fields or water sources. Exclude domestic and wild animals from production fields to reduce the risk of contamination from animal waste products.

Plant only in produce fields that are uphill and/or well separated from animal housing and grazing operations as the crops can be contaminated by runoff. If necessary, consider building physical barriers to control runoff such as ditches, grassed berms, or grassways.

For more information on berms visit the Web site Fact Sheet: Use of Earthen Berms for Erosion Control.
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/

Restrict access of domestic pets, wild animals, and pests to production areas (including processing areas and transportation vehicles) using fences, screens, doors, berms, and other physical barriers. These animals can spread pathogens from their excrement and from their feet.