Free soil rests offer for home gardeners

Home gardeners in Baw Baw Shire have a chance to get their soils tested for free.
The offer has come from the Environment Protection Authority as part of a research project to map soil conditions across the state.
The only costs to gardeners will be postage to send a soil sample to the EPA.
Chief environment scientist with the EPA Professor Mark Patrick Taylor said more than 2000 people had so far taken up the offer but most lived in Melbourne and he would like more from rural.
He said the samples would be scientifically assessed for trace elements and quality indicators such as soil texture, composition, nutrients and organic carbon.
Fruit and vegetable growers can find more details and apply to take part at the GardenSafe section on the EPA website www.epa.vic.gov.au