Union Square Might Kill You (Really)

Residents of Union Square in Somerville are rightly freaking out over reported correlations between contaminated soil and high cancer rates. It turns out that recent soil testing has shown that Union Square's soil contains "arsenic, lead and other metal contamination." Officials "are not sure if it comes from the Miller’s River that once ran through or from the Kiley Barrel factory site, where paints were once blasted off recycled barrels." Whatever the cause, eating vegetables planted anywhere near Union Square is not a good idea. All hope is not lost for burgeoning Union Square gardeners, however. Container gardening and raised bed gardening both allow you to garden without planting in contaminated soil. For a fee, Somerville's Green City Growers will even set you up with a raised bed plot, or you can stop by the Boston Green Fest in August for a tutorial. [Somerville Journal]