State Department of Agriculture Announces 2024 New York State Community Gardens Soil Testing Program

NEW YORK STATE—Community garden managers across New York State now have the opportunity to have their garden soil tested once a year at no charge, thanks to the 2024 New York State Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, in partnership with Cornell Soil Health Lab, announced on March 18 that soil testing is available for community gardens through this program. The initiative was outlined in Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2023 State of the State plan as recommended by the Community Gardens Task Force in its 2023 Annual Report, and will allow eligible food-producing community garden members in New York State to have their soil tested annually for free.

“Community gardens are unique, valuable spaces that not only help provide accessible sources of fresh, local food to historically underserved areas, but also provide a space for residents to develop a personal relationship with agriculture while also connecting with their community,” Commissioner Ball said. “Ensuring the quality of good, rich soil through soil testing is an essential tool for anyone growing food, and making soil testing more accessible to those operating community gardens will only make these critical spaces even more valuable. I’m grateful to our partners at Cornell for their work on this initiative and encourage any eligible applicants to take advantage of this opportunity.”