Garden Produce In Flooded Areas

Flooded area nearby in Oxford!

With all the flooding around the country in recent years, many people lost the gardens they worked so hard on. What happened after the flood waters went down? What if their gardens survived the flood water? But was the produce still safe to eat? Why or Why not?

Vegetables and fruits should not be eaten if flooded!

Many conditions after a flood of the area can affect the safety of the food growing in your garden. Flood waters can contain contaminants such as agricultural or other chemicals, as well as disease-causing organisms that come from the run off of agriculture land or septic systems. Many homes that were flooded could contain chemicals in their garages, basements, fuel tanks, etc. or businesses that use chemicals. All that gets into the flood waters.

Lettuce should be destroyed if flooded if contaminates are in the water!

After a flood, green leafy vegetables that are eaten fresh such as lettuce and cabbage are a high risk of contamination for 90 days. So they should be destroyed and not eaten. Greens that are cooked, such as kale, beet greens, etc., should be cut back and allow it to regrow before being eaten. They should be cooked thoroughly before eating. Now I know we don't like losing our produce in our gardens, but I wouldn't be risking my family's life by harvesting this food.

Raging waters can cause such destruction!

Well known food borne illnesses arise from garden produce that has been contaminated with floodwaters containing pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and viruses. Typical  pathogens involved in these particular situations include E. coli 0157:H7, Cryptosporidium parvum, Cyclospora, Giardia, Campylobacter, and Hepatitis A. Every single one of these diseases make people gravely sick and in some instances have long-term complications or may cause death.

Strawberry blossoms and fruit should be taken off!

Plants with blossoms or fruit, such as strawberries or tomatoes should be discarded. The stilt and contaminates become imbedded in leaves, petioles, stems, or other natural openings of fleshy structures. It is not possible to clean them, especially as most of them have a lot of ridges and crevices that would possibly contain contaminated silt and/or bacteria.

Root crops such as potatoes should be peeled and cooked!

Root crops would have to be peeled, including crops that were still underground. Such as potatoes, beets, carrots, etc. and cooked thoroughly before eating. Remember it is your family's health that is at risk! It depends on the level of contamination from the flood water on your garden. The pathogens eventually die out, but can remain present in your ground for several months. If you were flooded from a feedlot or septic overflow you shouldn't even consider using any produce for at least 90 days. Better to safe than sorry. You can have it tested if you are still uneasy about it. I would want to be sure myself.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2011  Kathleen G. Lupole



*All facts here were researched at the Dept. Of Horticulture, Cornell University

Raging Waters Around Us

 High Bridge Over Ludlow Creek

The last few days our area has been getting a lot of rain. It is a lot worse than Hurricane Irene did when she came through NY state. All I heard last night was the steady pouring of the rain. Hard pouring. I like a gentle rain. But this was anything but gentle. Constant.

Stressful night out in the rain all night!

At night my husband usually gives our horses their "night hay," which is their hay to eat during the night. They will usually have enough to eat most of the night. Last night because it was pouring so hard, he didn't give it all to them. He said he'd get up during the night sometime and take more out to them. Only thing is, he didn't wake up to do so. So our poor girls had to stand up all night in that downpour, and could not go into the barn since it was flooded. Not do much more either. Today, they are very appreciative of their morning meal.

Ludlow Creek This Morning!

On each side of us are two small towns. One is Greene and the other is Oxford. Both are along the Chenango River. The road that runs through them, which is a main route and traveled heavily is Route 12. It is a truck route to the small towns and cities along the way through our state. Both towns are flooded today and even though the rain appears to have stopped, the flooding can get worse this afternoon as the river crests.

High Bridge, Ludlow Creek State Forest

Most of our roads here in Chenango County and nearby, Broome County are closed due to flooding. So we are in state of emergency here in NY today. Schools and businesses are closed. People are being evacuated from their homes. The Susquehanna River is a big river that runs through Broome and Tioga counties in our area. When we have a lot of rain, flooding becomes a very real possibility nearby. In 2006, many people lost their homes due to flooding.

 

Down by the creek this morning!

Our little creek becomes a raging creek after storms like this. Kind of scary seeing it this way right now.Standing high above it on the bridge, I feel safe. I can only imagine how it is for people who are being evacuated out of their homes due to raging waters. Where we live, we are pretty safe and prepared for most disasters. In truth, I did not have any idea the extent of the rain, until I turned on the computer. One of my husband's Facebook friends made a comment about it. Two people very close to me had to be evacuated, and I am praying they will be okay, and still have homes to return to. In some parts of the country, people are being evacuated due to fires, and some to flooding............praying they will all be safely returned to their homes soon.

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011  Kathleen G. Lupole

Flood Watch In Oxford, NY!

Bridge In Oxford, NY

Yesterday, we had to go to Oxford to pick up our horses' feed and so I could mail some packages from some sales I had. So with all this rain and storms we have been getting, I was wondering if the river had flooded. It floods pretty often there, but I have never seen it over the road. I am sure it probably has gone over the road at some point in time, but not when I was driving through.

The Chenango River In Oxford, NY

As you can see the river is up pretty high. The current is strong. I saw a lot of tree branches floating by. With the winds we have been getting also, the trees are falling over, roots and all. So quite a bit of debris floating by.

Two ducks who lost their nest!

I don't know if you can see them or not, but in the middle of this photo are two ducks, who were swimming around near the other shore. I tried to crop it so I could get a better shot of them. They lost their nest when the water came up so high. Ever since, they have been looking for it. The people at the feed store pointed it out to me.

Farmer's cornfield flooded!

This cornfield is flooded pretty much every year. So I guess it doesn't make a difference. They grow corn here and make it into livestock feed and sell it right here in town.

A field between the road and the river!

This field is right next to the road. It is not the river. But it is next to the river. And you can see it looks like the river. Pretty full right now. This poor tree has survived the flooding many times over.

On the river bank!

This area is directly behind the convenience store where we buy our gas. I stood right on the bank snapping pictures. It looks pretty, but the river can be pretty deadly. It is not always so dirty. That is due to the rain stirring up the dirt on the bottom.

Rivers get muddy with so much rain!

 

 

Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole
All Photographs Copyright © 2011 Kathleen G. Lupole