Got Dirt? Get It Tested. This Saturday, 4/17

If you’ve got dirt, we have a way to make it more productive while protecting our shared environment. Soil Testing Day is set for this Saturday, 4/17, and it provides residents with the opportunity to deliver soil samples locally and have them tested by the CT Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven -- free of both expense and hassle ... but you will need to act quickly to have your samples packaged and ready for delivery on Saturday.

Soil Testing Day is built on a simple premise: understand your soil’s fertility when considering whether to fertilize … to avoid unnecessary, excessive, or inappropriate nutrient additions which could harm your plants and place our lakes, ponds and streams at risk. Excess nutrients abet the growth of algae, milfoil and other invasive aquatic plants if allowed to wash off into our waterways. Given the topography around Candlewood Lake in particular – and with Ball Pond Brook and Sawmill Brook also serving as sluice-ways, this is a real and present danger. Soil Testing can reduce these risks by fostering smart fertilizing practices based on proven science.

This year’s format is being modified in two ways to ensure the event is covid-safe by limiting human interaction: a) participants are requested to download and print Sampling Instructions posted to the CLA website, and then b) proceed to draw, package and label their soil samples for hand-off at one of two Sampling Sites on Saturday morning. The website -- candlewoodlakeauthority.org/soiltesting -- may be accessed, and samples drawn at any time in advance of Saturday, ideally when the soil is dry. Both Sampling Sites will be open from 9 AM to noon this Saturday to receive your soil samples. Balloons and traffic cones will mark Site locations: one is in New Fairfield at the lower parking lot behind Town Hall; the other in Sherman Green towards the rear parking area. Simply drive up to an awaiting volunteer and hand off your packaged soil samples that will then be delivered directly to the Soil Test Lab for expedited processing.

As described in the Sampling Instructions and Q&As posted online, Soil Testing simply involves scooping soil samples from representative portions of your lawn and/or garden, inserting them into zip-lock or similar plastic baggies, delivering them to a Soil Sampling Site, and then sitting back to receive your test results by mail from the CT Agricultural Experiment Station. Fertilizing tips and a discount coupon – to be redeemed at either of our garden center sponsors: Scott’s Landscaping and Nursery in New Milford, and Dom’s Garden Center in Danbury -- will be included with your report and can be applied once you decide how best to proceed. It’s a smart deal particularly for those concerned about their property’s health, that of their neighbors,’ and the well-being of our shared environment. So note the date, and draw and package your samples in anticipation of hand-off this Saturday.

This year’s event is sponsored by the Candlewood Watershed Initiative, Candlewood Lake Authority, Candlewood Voices, and Friends of Ball Pond in collaboration with the CT Agricultural Experiment Station – bound together with a common commitment to protect our vital Watershed resources. Given that Earth Day is soon to be celebrated on April 22 to raise awareness of the need to protect and conserve, the timing and theme of Soil Testing Day coincide nicely. Please plan to participate for your property’s, your neighbors’ and our lakes’ sake.