Regional soil contamination context, county extension drop-off offices, and affordable mail-in laboratory options.
Detroit has a vibrant urban agriculture and vacant-lot gardening community, but legacy industrial deposition and older housing stock make soil testing essential. Keep Growing Detroit and local conservation organizations advise all urban growers to test for lead and heavy metals.
MSU Extension offers soil test self-mailers for nutrients; for total elemental lead and heavy metals, Detroit growers routinely mail samples to Midwest Laboratories or UMaine Soil Testing Service.
📍 1360 Oakman Blvd, Detroit, MI 44238
📞 Phone: (313) 494-4920
Because soil testing is completed by mail, residents in Detroit, MI are not restricted to local providers. You can mail samples directly to accredited university laboratories for $17–$30:
Lead Scan (Nitric Acid Extraction) • Turnaround: 10-14 business days