[Communications] Send us your questions for the CCGA Panel Discussion: Safety of Biosolids & PFAS from a Soil and Plant Perspective

Fri Feb 24 14:15:44 CST 2023

Hi,

Sorry but just one more question--will this event be recorded or is there
any chance it can be recorded? A lot of Evanston community gardeners would
like information on this topic but could not attend themselves and I think
it may be easier for them to get this information straight from the source
if possible.

Thanks again!

On Fri, Feb 24, 2023 at 11:07 AM Chicago Community Gardeners Association
CCGA <chicommgardeners at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Laura,
>
> Thank you for sending these questions! Others have also submitted
> questions about testing, remediation, and how to move forward. I also
> wonder about PFAS in our water and how that affects the soil. We'll
> definitely be addressing these concerns with the panel.
>
> See you tomorrow,
> Amy
>
> Gardener, Our Block Community Garden, Humboldt Park
> CCGA Communications team
>
> On Fri, Feb 24, 2023 at 9:42 AM Laura Nusekabel <
> lnusekabel at cityofevanston.org> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>> I am the Community Garden Coordinator for the City of Evanston and I have
>> a few questions on behalf of our community gardens who used the MWRD
>> compost in their garden plots.
>>
>> The most prevalent question is how to move forward, should they replace
>> the soil in their plots (many plots are in-ground, some raised beds)?
>> Are certain vegetables more affected from PFAS in the soil?
>> Is testing or remediation available for PFAS in soil?
>>
>> What I would like to know: How likely is it that our water (that we use
>> in the gardens) also contains PFAS and would that make soil
>> replacement/remediation efforts counterproductive?
>>
>>
>> Thanks! Looking forward to the panel.
>> Laura
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 23, 2023 at 11:30 AM Chicago Community Gardeners Association
>> CCGA <chicommgardeners at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> [image: PFAS Email reminder-art.png]
>>> Hello everyone!
>>>
>>> We're looking forward to spending time with you this Saturday. It looks
>>> like we'll have a full house and we're hopeful that this will be an
>>> informative, lively, and productive panel discussion.
>>>
>>> SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!
>>> We're collecting questions ahead of time for the panel and will also
>>> have an open Q & A as time permits. If you'd like to submit a question in
>>> advance, please reply to this email (chicommgardeners at gmail.com) no
>>> later than 12pm, tomorrow, Friday, February 24.
>>>
>>> EVENT INFO
>>>
>>>
>>>    - *The Hatchery Chicago* is located at 135 N. Kedzie, at the
>>>    southeast corner of Lake St. and Kedzie Ave, right at the Kedzie Green Line
>>>    station.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Checking in: Doors will open by 10am. Enter the front door to the
>>>    Hatchery building on Kedzie, and you'll see a CCGA check in table.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Parking: There are a limited number of parking spots in the
>>>    surface lot off of Albany between Lake St. and Washington Blvd. Free street
>>>    parking is also available on Lake St. or Washington Blvd.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Beverages & Snacks: We’ll have some coffee and tea available.
>>>    Please bring your own water or another beverage, as well as any snacks you
>>>    may need.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - *Agenda:* At 10:30, we'll start off with some introductions, then
>>>    each of the panelists will give a short presentation. Afterward, we will
>>>    start the Q&A session with the questions you've submitted, and then open
>>>    the floor for more questions and discussion.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - *Questions?* If you have any questions or need assistance, please
>>>    reply to this email (chicommgardeners at gmail.com)
>>>
>>>
>>> MEET THE PANELISTS
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Dr. Dominic Brose is a Senior Environmental Research Scientist at
>>>    the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD)
>>>    <https://mwrd.org/>. His specializations are in biosolids, soil
>>>    chemistry, statistics, and risk assessment. Prior to the MWRD, Dr. Brose
>>>    was with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and
>>>    ToxServices, LLC in Washington, D.C. Dr. Brose received his B.S. from
>>>    Purdue University and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Nance Klehm has been working in bioremediation for over 10 years
>>>    and has been an ecological systems designer, landscaper, horticultural
>>>    consultant, and agroecological grower for more than three decades. Her
>>>    approach is centered on instigating change by activating already existent
>>>    communities, and her work demonstrates her lifelong commitment to
>>>    redefining the way human populations coexist with plant and animal systems
>>>    on this planet. She is the founder and director of operations of Social
>>>    Ecologies <https://socialecologies.net/social-ecologies/>, which
>>>    creates durational projects that aim to build healthy habitat and
>>>    interaction through direct engagement of place with those who dwell there.
>>>    She recently launched The Soil Keepers Community Training Program
>>>    <https://socialecologies.net/cms/social-ecologies/the-soil-keepers/>,
>>>    which endeavors to build a network of soil advocates who are equipped with
>>>    the knowledge and skills to create social ecologies that are resilient to
>>>    the challenges of the 21st century.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Dr. Andrew Margenot is an Assistant Professor in the University of
>>>    Illinois Crop Sciences <https://cropsciences.illinois.edu/>. His
>>>    research interests include urban agriculture and soil- organic matter and
>>>    enzymes. His team evaluates how human activities can enhance or compromise
>>>    soil services to human societies, with an emphasis on food security from
>>>    urban and rural agro-ecosystems in the U.S. Midwest and East Africa. His
>>>    work advances how we monitor and manage soils as natural capital.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Mariyana Spyropoulos was elected to the Metropolitan Water
>>>    Reclamation District <https://mwrd.org/> Board of Commissioners in
>>>    2010, serving as Board President from 2015-19. Mariyana emphasizes
>>>    community outreach and engagement by speaking to community groups
>>>    throughout Cook County about water, good government, and environmental
>>>    issues. In 2017, she received both the Illinois Water Environment
>>>    Association Public Official Award and the Spirit of the River Award from
>>>    Friends of the Chicago River.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - Jennifer Walling is the Executive Director at Illinois
>>>    Environmental Council <https://ilenviro.org/>, where she has served
>>>    since January of 2011. She oversees the strategic direction and management
>>>    of the organization and lobbies decision makers on environmental issues.
>>>    Jen is dedicated to building the power of Illinois’ environmental community
>>>    to secure policy outcomes that protect the environment.
>>>
>>>
>>>    - May Toy* (moderator) *is the President of the Skinner Park
>>>    Advisory Council <https://www.skinnerpark.org/> and a member of the
>>>    CCGA Advocacy & Outreach and Resources & Distributions teams. She has been
>>>    a community gardener for over 25 years. As president of the Skinner Park
>>>    Advisory Council, she led efforts to help build and restore three community
>>>    gardens: two in Skinner Park and another on a closed section of Loomis
>>>    Street. May is also active in her community and is an advocate of public
>>>    parks, open spaces, and community safety. She volunteers her time to serve
>>>    as Neighbors of West Loop’s Vice President and Chair of the Parks and Open
>>>    Space Committee to work on park issues and concerns in the West Loop as
>>>    well as on the 12th District’s Police Advisory Council.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> [image: PFAS-Diagram.png]
>>>
>>> A large variety of plant species can take up PFASs from the environment.
>>> Vegetables and grains are the most commonly investigated crops, with
>>> perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as
>>> the most studied PFASs. The potential sources of PFASs for plant uptake
>>> include industrial emissions, irrigation with contaminated water, land
>>> application of biosolids, leachates from landfill sites, and pesticide
>>> application. Image credit & Source
>>> <https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=31976b2ea9&e=042c64c038>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *La**ura Nusekabel*
>>
>> *Community Garden Coordinator*
>>
>> Parks and Recreation Department
>>
>> City of Evanston
>>
>> Ecology Center
>>
>> 2024 McCormick Blvd. | Evanston, IL 60201 | 847-448-8145
>> Lnusekabel at cityofevan <Lnusekabel at cityofevanston.org>ston.org
>> <Lnusekabel at cityofevanston.org> | cityofevanston.org
>>
>>
>> *2021 All-America City  |  2021 What Works Cities Silver Certified*
>>
>

-- 

*La**ura Nusekabel*

*Community Garden Coordinator*

Parks and Recreation Department

City of Evanston

Ecology Center

2024 McCormick Blvd. | Evanston, IL 60201 | 847-448-8145
Lnusekabel at cityofevan <Lnusekabel at cityofevanston.org>ston.org
<Lnusekabel at cityofevanston.org> | cityofevanston.org

*2021 All-America City  |  2021 What Works Cities Silver Certified*
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