Take the Food Safe Vegetable Garden Quiz

How safe is the food you grow in your vegetable garden? Take this food safety quiz to find out.

The recent outbreak of E. coli from polluted romaine lettuce lettuce is another reason why vegetable gardeners plant and grow their own lettuce , spinach plant and other leafy greens . But just like James Leonard Farmer , dwelling house gardeners postulate to work on intellectual nourishment prophylactic . The key is to reduce the risk of harmful taint while growing and harvesting habitation - grown green groceries .

Here are some top considerations when it comes to growing a nutrient - safe vegetable garden . Rate your garden ’s wellness with this quiz by answering yes or no :

My garden is in a protect grow site .

It ’s important that veg gardens are unprocurable to pets and wildlife . Animals should n’t be earmark into the garden where they can contaminate dirt or veggie plants . The web site should also be protect from polluted water runoff from rainwater gutters , streams , compost wads , animal pens and chicken coops , and other expanse of possible pollutants .

I ’ve built my garden with food - safe edifice material .

ensure no railroad ties , pressure treated lumber or vitriolic metallic element are used to create set up bed for vegetable gardens . Use heavy plastic liners to reduce possible risk from these materials .

I ’ve had the garden soil analyzed and use the results .

A dirt sample is an of import first step to know whether the territory is fertile and free of contaminants like tip . If you ’re unsure of your garden dirt and its health , take asoil sampleand send it to an commissioned lab for a comprehensive study .

All the water I use in the vegetable garden is from a safe water source .

Most treated water system is dependable to use on vegetable gardens ; however gardener should take precautions with other water sources , such aswater collected in rain barrelful . Best practice for using rain in veggie garden is to make certain the barrel is cleaned with blanching agent on a regular fundament , that H2O does n’t touch the plant ’s leaves or fruit and to invalidate harvest home right after watering .

I expend only food - good fertilizers in my vegetable garden .

To prevent contamination from fertilizer , use only well - aged manure ( 6 months or more ) or compost manure . Never use fresh manure in the vegetable bottom .

I always employ safe intellectual nourishment handling practice when harvesting and put in my home - grow green groceries .

It ’s important to keep food safety front of nous to preclude contaminant and cross - contamination while harvest home and storing fruits and veg . nutrient safe is peculiarly important for any produce that is eaten raw . Be sure to use clean equipment to clip produce from industrial plant . bucketful and other containers should be kept clean and sanitized , as well as any solid food contact surfaces . wash out hand frequently with easy lay and water before put on glove and after work in the garden . Wash bring forth well before preparing .

Quiz Results

If you answer “ no ” to any of the food safe quiz interrogation , those are the area for betterment in your garden this season . For more food safety advice , contact your county ’s Extension office .

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Prevent contamination by planting vegetables in a safe and protected area.Photo/Illustration: Jodi Torpey

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