This past April, in conjunction with AVillage and the New York State Department of Health, Radix hosted the second SoilSHOP South End Earth Day event in Albany.  The day began with volunteer work parties cleaning up neighborhood gardens.  At SoilSHOP, community members brought in soil samples from their backyards or community garden plots and have them screened for lead at no cost.  DOH and ATSDR technicians and volunteers used portable X-Ray fluorescence instruments to screen soil for lead. Post-screening followup counseling was provided to advise participants about safer gardening activities.  The entire event was run from a very pro-gardening standpoint, and had free food, fun activities for kids, Zumba dance, and a public health fair.  And our tulips, grown from bulbs provided by the Albany Visitor’s Center – bloomed in perfect time!!