Urban Farm Soil Test Interpretation
Sam Anderson, Urban Agriculture Specialist
Harvest New York
May 19, 2025
Cornell Cooperative Extension is researching best practices for managing soil health on urban farms. Whether on an urban or rural farm, we need healthy soil to grow healthy crops. Part of a successful strategy to reach this goal is regularly scheduled soil tests. This bulletin, Urban Farm Soil Test Interpretation, focuses on how we interpret fertility information from soil tests for urban soils to make informed management plans and troubleshoot challenges.
This work is supported by SoilNOW and funded by a USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant "Best Management Strategies for High Organic Soils in Urban and Rural Vegetable Production."
Upcoming Events
CRAFT Urban Farmer Meet up
June 23, 2026
5:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Long Island City, NY
Kick off the growing season with a networking event where growers can have conversations about plans for this year and discuss opportunities for collaboration. Members from the Harvest NY team will talk about the Urban Ag Labor Study. Food and seedlings will be provided. Urban Farming from the Ground Up
July 2, 2026
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Bronx, NY
Join CCE Harvest NY Specialist, Karen Guzman, to turn a community center into an urban farm! This is an open volunteer event, join us! Urban Agroforestry Summit
July 14, 2026
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
New York, NY
Learn and network with urban agroforestry practitioners, service providers and city government partners on ways to scale agroforestry in NYCJoin the Cornell Small Farms Program and Harvest New York for the first annual NYC Urban Agroforestry Summit. Begin the day by learning from invited speakers who will explore the evolution, current landscape, and future potential of agroforestry within New York City's food systems and urban forestry initiatives.
Announcements
Community Gardens Soil Testing Program Accepting Applications
Soil testing supports the growth and expansion of community gardens by protecting the health and safety of the food produced in these gardens. CCE Harvest NY, in partnership with the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets (AGM) and the Cornell Soil Health Lab, is offering eligible, food-producing gardens in New York State the opportunity to send soil samples for testing without charge.The soil test will analyze samples for heavy metals and nutrient levels. Test results help gardeners make appropriate plans to produce high quality fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Technical support and education for participating growers will be available from the CCE Harvest New York team. Learn more about the 2026 Community Gardens Soil Testing Program.