Spinach gardens are being used as a weapon here against lead contamination. Unsafe levels of lead have been found in some homeowners’ yards in the city’s Bayside neighborhood. The amount of lead varied widely from yard to yard, and even within each yard. Soil scientist Samantha Langley-Turnbaugh of the University of Southern Maine planted three spinach gardens over the summer to see if the plants could help clean up contaminated soil. Leafy plants like spinach absorb lead from the soil as they grow.
