Got Dirt? Get It Tested. Saturday April 20. It's Smart, Free & Easy

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 Saturday, 4/20, 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 soon to have your samples packaged and ready for delivery on that 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 sluiceways, this is a real and ongoing danger. Soil Testing can reduce these risks by fostering smart fertilizing practices based on proven science.

This year’s format has been again modified to ensure the event is covid-safe by limiting personal interaction. Participants are requested to download and print Sampling Instructions now posted to the CLA website, and then proceed to draw, package and label their soil samples for hand-off at any of three Soil Sampling Drop-off Sites the morning of April 20. The website -- candlewoodlakeauthority.org/news -- may be accessed, and samples drawn at any time in advance of the 20th, ideally when the soil is dry.

All Drop-off Sites will be open from 8 AM to noon to receive your soil samples. Balloons and traffic cones will mark these Site locations: in New Fairfield, by Veterans Park/Old Rte 37; in Sherman, at the Sherman Green towards the rear parking area; and for those on the Lake’s eastern flank, in New Milford at the parking area of Scott’s Nursery & Landscaping, 322 Kent Rd (Rte 7). 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 quart-size, zip-lock or similar plastic baggies, delivering them to a Drop-off 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 one of our garden center sponsors – Dom’s Garden Center in Danbury, Meadowbrook Gardens, and Scott’s Nursery & Landscaping, both of New Milford -- 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 please note the date, and draw and package your samples in anticipation of hand-off on Saturday the 20th.

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 to be celebrated two days later to raise awareness of the need to protect and conserve our global resources, the timing and theme of Soil Testing Day coincide nicely. Please plan to participate for your property’s, your neighbors’ and our lakes’ sake.