finding half burnt stuff

[janeyo]

While digging out for the new beds, I am finding lots of half burnt matter.

I am reliably informed by the neighbour that the chap who lived here before burnt all the wardrobes as we didn't want them and so refused to pay extra for them.

I am finding lumps of half burnt wood, loads of ash, metal hinges, screws etc.

I am now a bit worried it may harm us if any naughty stuff gets into the veggies.

I do not think the wardobes were made of 'real' wood, more like some kind of laminate stuff.

Any thoughts?

Thanks

[FionaH]

There was loads of half burnt bits and bobs on my patch. I dug in everything that looked a bit like wood and removed the metal bits. Now you've mentioned it I'm wondering what nasties i may have dug in!
Will let you know after we eat the spuds I am planning on putting there

[Two_Sheds]

Supermarket bagged lettuce is washed in bleach ... I wouldn't worry overmuch about your soil

[FionaH]

Supermarket bagged lettuce is washed in bleach ... I wouldn't worry overmuch about your soil

Fair point!

[bobleponge]

When digging out one bit in the garden it became clear that it used to be a bonfire area. There was all sorts of charred bits of "stuff" as well as melted glass, bits of metal, screws bolts etc. I then started pulling out about 2/3 of an old French scooter. I dug the bed over several times, each time pulling out more stuff, beer bottles, some form of laminate work surface covering, heaven only knows what else.
Now its my allium bed, and hasnt made me any worse than I was before.

[smallblueplanet]

...Now its my allium bed, and hasnt made me any worse than I was before.

You mean you've always glowed in the dark?!!

I think I'd find a way, maybe with green manures or some such, to 'cleanse' the soil. It does sound like there could be nasty chemicals in it.

[Joe]

Won't planting spuds take out bad stuff? Aren't they supposed to be good for cleaning the ground? Not sure FionaH should eat them after though.

[bobleponge]

Sorry I did forget to say, after I dug it all out and found no more alien objects in there, I left it fallow for a year (and forgot to claim my set aside subsidy, pah) and then dug it all back into the ground, before i turned it into my Allium bed.
I glow a sort of orange SBP, like a Ready Brek kid. Handy when I cant find the keyhole after many gallons of our favourite tipple.

[krazy_krok]

I Don't think that it'll hurt you just might prevent roots from growing/might make them fork. Plants have a membrane in the roots that only allows what the plant requires through. Thats why we can use manure on our crops and the plant will take only the things it requires from the manure and leaves out the nasties.

[smallblueplanet]

...thats why we can use manure on our crops and the plant will take only the things it requires from the manure and leaves out the nasties.

So how come this doesn't work with things like pesticides then? It'd make being organic a whole lot easier!

@bobleponge - Last time I glowed orange was from eating too many carrots when I was giving up smoking!!! (True!)

[Jenegade]

Supermarket bagged lettuce is washed in bleach ... I wouldn't worry overmuch about your soil

Really?! I never knew that!

[NOG]

turn the round over put a pallet on it pile all the stuff in it and burn it. then spread out the hot ash over the whole area that will kill anything.