Coal Region Gardening (abandoned/reclaimed mine areas)

I'm wondering if there are special considerations for gardening and landscaping in areas that were disturbed from mining; even if there may be some hidden advantages for some plants. I live in the former Anthracite Coal region of Northeast PA. In most of my area there are abandoned mines and pillars about 40 feet underground and frequent black culm banks. Much of the area is reclaimed, but our native soil in unknown. I know in my yard there was a lot of topsoil brought up from by the river. The soil tends to be orange from the acid mine runoff (iron oxide) which colors most of the rivers and streams here. Many of the slag piles are covered with birch, poplars and sumacs (frontier vegetation), but the ones that aren't I read somewhere that they can get up to 150F on a hot summer day. The microclimates seems odd in my area. As a kid I can remember areas where the snow would melt fast and steam would rise. Nowadays people just take the environment for granted and not think anything of it. I have noticed wild black raspberries seem to like the abandoned mine areas. Most younger local residents would think I'm a nerd for even bringing this up. I do have a friend who works for a mine reclaimation project, but I'm not sure if they deal with home landscaping issues. Does anyone know if having abandoned mines way underground can affect soil temperature or microclimate or if hot culm banks can affect a broader area? As for the soil, much of what is built on is called "fill" what they mean by fill or where it comes from I don't know but there is a lot of rock and slate in it. I have used a lot of Mycorrhizae products in the past few years thinking this is the type of area which may need it. I do know there are some successful farms along the Susquehanna for generations despite the mine runoff and boreholes.

Hi LJinWBPA, Sorry you have a lot of hard work ahead (by work I mean research) to begin with, I would go get a couple of CHEAP soil testing kits, you can get them for a couple of dollars from garden store, this testing will give you an idea as to what the soil OH is, test in different areas of the garden as here in my plot, there is variations between one area and another.

Depending on the readings from the test, this will give you an idea of what nutrients are needed to brig the soil to a sort of fertility for growing different type of plants.
It would be in your own interest to walk around your neighbourhood and look at other gardens, maybe also if you have parks where they grow shrubs, conifers, trees, fruit, flowers ect, as along at your government office too as they must have plans as to any poisons leaching from the soils after the mines were disbanded.

Immediate steps to take for now is, (if you have not already) set up a compost area, either build a wooden frame away from the house, add all household waste, kitchen waste is great, old newspaper IN small doses can be torn into strip's and added say 2 inch layer, as can the fluff from vacuum cleaners and tumble driers so long as the fluff are natural and NOT man made like plastic / nylons, these don't de-compose and can add strong poisons to the soil that cant be removed.

Start looking for anyone who keeps horses as they normally have a load of WELL ROTTED manure to give away FREE for the uplifting by you. this stuff is like liquid Gold to any gardener as it adds a lot of nutrients to the building up of soil, helps add air and helps any soil to hold onto moisture that many plants, shrubs or veg require especially in the hight of summer where a lot of soils go hard packed and ever watering by the hose is useless.
I wish I could say to you that in a few months you will have a very fertile garden but what I will say, with your determination, you could have one area ready to plant out this year depending on what you want to grow, UNTIL you have reports back from government and soil samples tested, I would keep away from maybe trying veg this year as you mention Iron Oxide and there maybe even others that could leech into the soil so food plants would be a no, no for now.

I am sounding very negative right now but please believe me I want to encourage you to make a garden I just want you to also take your time and prevent expensive mistakes later on especially with the conditions you have to deal with and also health hazards (MAYBE) if you eat from the untreated soil.

Let us know how you do re soil testing's and government reports if any come your way.
Very best regards and good luck, you will get there in the end.
WeeNel.