Scott County Purdue Extension Educator for Ag & Natural Resources, Tom Springstun, recently announced that the Scott County Master Gardeners have created the Scott County Soil Squad to begin offering a free service of taking soil samples for persons with a garden or small farm growing fruit/produce for their own use or to take to a Farmers Market. This free service program is not available for lawns/landscape or farm crops/pastures samples, but they can assist persons with info on taking those and sending off to a lab for a $25 fee.
“We are partnering with the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation District (IASWCD) and will provide resources, technical assistance and education to small scale farms and gardeners,” Springstun said. Once the sample(s) are taken and sent off to a lab to be tested and results sent back, the Soil Squad will do a follow-up visit with landowners to interpret soil sample test results, nutrient recommendations, best fit fertilizer, rate of determined fertilizer, &/or application times. They will also help review options for planning and implementation of soil health practices, if needed.”
If you are interested in having your garden or orchard soils tested by the Scott County Soil Squad, visit this website: https://extension.purdue.edu/county/scott/scott-county-anr-information.html for more information, or register at https://bit.ly/ScottCountySoilSquad, or contact Springstun at tsprings@purdue.edu.