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Local Soil and Soil Amendment Suppliers
Other Soil Building Resources and Tools
Soil Testing
Healthy, high quality soil is arguably the most important ingredient in developing a productive garden.
Soil tests provide information in two important areas of soil health: soil fertility and soil contamination.
- Soil fertility describes the composition of important soil elements the promote plant production and health. Common elements found in soil include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and pH level
- Soil Contamination: Know your enemy! Here’s a basic overview of common soil contaminants.
- Heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and more
- The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that community garden lead levels remain below 400 PPM (parts per million). Review the GreenNet Lead Contamination Guide to learn more about the range of lead PPM levels.
- Gases or solvents like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
- Review the U of I extension fact sheet for more info on how vegetable-producing plants become contaminated
- For information on exposure to other contaminants, review the NC State Extension Soil Fact Sheet
- Heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and more
Local Soil Testing Labs
- Stat Analysis Corp
2255 W Harrison, Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 733-0551
Soil tests for an affordable $18
- Northern FS, Inc., Soil Testing Laboratory
20048 Webster Rd., DeKalb, IL 60115
(815) 756-2739
Soil fertility tests only (no testing for heavy metals or toxins)
- Soiltech, Inc.
22256-3375 East St., Arlington, IL 61312
(815) 638-2522
- Mowers Soil Testing Plus, Inc.
117 E. Main, P. O. Box 540, Toulon, IL 61483
(309) 286-2761 - A&L Great Lakes Laboratories, Inc.
3505 Conestoga Dr., Fort Wayne, IN 46008
(219) 483-4759
Local Soil and Soil Amendment Suppliers
North
- Midwest Organics Recycling
29353 N. Darrell Rd, McHenry, IL 60051
(847) 493-9116
- Lurvey Landscape Supply
2550 East Dempster Street, Des Plaines, IL 60016
(847) 824-7411
- Gethsemene
5739 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 878-5915
- Farmers Market Garden Center
4110 N. Elston, Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 539-1200
- Old Town Gardens
1500 N. Wells, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 266-3245
West
- Lake Street Landscape Supply – with a helpful cubic yard calculator
1810 W Lake St Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 226-0760
- Christy Webber Farm and Garden
220 W. Grand, Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 829-8200
- Sprout Home
745 N. Damen, Chicago, IL 60612
(312) 226- 5950
- City Escape
3022 W. Lake, Chicago IL 60612
(773) 916-3898
- Adam’s and Sons
1057 N. California, Chicago IL 60622
(773) 235-0991
South
- Ace Landscape
2700 E. 95th, Chicago, IL 60617
(773) 721-0768
- Land and Lakes– compost pick up only
1258 East 138th Street, Chicago, IL 60827
(773) 264-8508
- Edsel Ammon Nursery
549 E 76th St, Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 651-5518
- Long’s Garden Center
11226 S. Halsted, Chicago, IL 60628
(773) 785-4233
Other Soil Building Resources and Tools
On the Web
USDA NRCS Healthy Soil Checklist
Harvard Yard Soil Restoration Project
Biological Farming (Gardening)
Sustainable Studies Institute
University of Illinois Hort Corner
Worm Woman:
In Print
Teaming With Microbes by Jeff Lowenfels & Wayne Lewis
Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
ISBN: 13: 978-0-88192-777-1
Soil Biology Primer published by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
Revised 2000 – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Worms Eat My Garbage by Mary Appelhof
ISBN: 0-942256-10-7
Secrets to Great Soil by Elizabeth P. Stell
Storey Publishing
ISBN: 1-58017-009-9
The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food
by Tanya l. K. Denckla; Storey Publishing
ISBN: 987-1-58017-370-4
Lawn Related:
The Organic Lawn Care Manual by Paul Tukey
Storey Publishing, ISBN:13: 978-1-58017-649-1