Soil Testing - Ask Extension
Hello- I live in Portland and am preparing to purchase land for an urban flower farm, but I would like to know more about what types of soil testing I...
Knowledgebase
Soil Testing #923796
Asked January 20, 2026, 3:38 PM EST
Hello- I live in Portland and am preparing to purchase land for an urban flower farm, but I would like to know more about what types of soil testing I should have completed as part of my due diligence process- and help interpreting the results! Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Look through this publication for information on collecting the sample: A Guide to Collecting Soil Samples for Farms and Gardens https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/ec628
Soils in Urban Agriculture: Testing, Remediation and
Best Management Practices for California Community Gardens, School Gardens, and Urban Farms contains information specifically for Urban sites: https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-11/273302.pdf
Depending on the history of land you might also want to test for pesticide residue. The Oregon Health Authority has a list of accredited labs you can search through for testing. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/LABORATORYSERVICES/ENVIRONMENTALLABORATORYACCREDITATION/Pages/TNI-LAMS.aspx
You can reach out to Heidi Noordijk for support interpreting the results.
Soils in Urban Agriculture: Testing, Remediation and
Best Management Practices for California Community Gardens, School Gardens, and Urban Farms contains information specifically for Urban sites: https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2017-11/273302.pdf
Depending on the history of land you might also want to test for pesticide residue. The Oregon Health Authority has a list of accredited labs you can search through for testing. https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/LABORATORYSERVICES/ENVIRONMENTALLABORATORYACCREDITATION/Pages/TNI-LAMS.aspx
You can reach out to Heidi Noordijk for support interpreting the results.
