Vertical Interior Garden

How To Vegetable Garden

I would like to grow a vegetable garden, but...?

...I have a poison ivy problem. I live in the Mid-Atlantic.
First, how do I get rid of the poison ivy problem without harming the surrounding vegetation and soil?
Second, does the land need time in between the eradication of the poison ivy and propogation?
Third, should I use any composting material after eliminating the poison ivy or will this be irrelevant with regards to the poison ivy? And...
Fourth, how concerned should I be about this poison ivy problem in light of beginning a vegetable garden? After all, the vegetables are going to eventually go into the stomachs of my family and I am concerned for any poison ivy "residuals".

Please, only serious responses will be welcomed and professionals/educators are a bonus.

Thank you.

Poison ivy roots, in particular, contain high concentrations of urushiol. Urushiol does degrade over time but this is one plant that needs to be removed fairly thoroughly. One idea might be to sheet compost the area after the plants are removed. Til some fresh compostable material like manure into the soil. That will help heat up the site. Cover the area with clear plastic. This can bring soil temps over 100 F if there is a lot of sun like you need for a garden site.
Solarization instructions

http://ag.arizona.edu/gardening/news/articles/12.8.html

http://groups.ucanr.org/Soil/Statewide_Soil_Solarization_Ma/

This should degrade the poison but it will also kill off all the beneficial soil organisms. So will using glyphosate herbicides like Roundup nor does Roundup vanish as fast as advertised. Read this before using.

http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/actives/glyphosa.htm

"However, while glyphosate alone has low toxicity, the formulation of glyphosate with the surfactant polyoxyethylene amine (POEA), which is widely used, is significantly more toxic." "Some soil invertebrates including springtails, mites and isopods are also adversely affected by glyphosate. Of nine herbicides tested for their toxicity to soil microorganisms, glyphosate was found to be the second most toxic to a range of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and yeasts"

Poison plants Agri-Food Canada website:

http://res.agr.ca/brd/poisivy.html

Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins, by Isadora Stehlin, U.S. Food and Drug Administration website:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html; 4
Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Information Center website : http://poisonivy.aesir.com/.

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