I'm so embarrassed to ask this, but here goes.

So I have some raised beds in my back yard. They're covered with hardware cloth to keep the dogs from digging in them. I have a beautiful crop of lettuce that I want to start harvesting...

It occurred to me a few days ago that although they don't usually urinate there, what if the dogs have peed on my lettuce!!

Is it safe to eat? Can I wash it with anything other than water to ensure my safety? Or do I just admire it from afar this time and look forward to the next crop?

I did some web surfing and found lots of info on why not to use dog/cat feces for composting, garden beds, etc. That's not really my case though...

For general washing I found one group that suggested soaking greens and herbs in a 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water bath for a few minutes, then washing well with cold water. Another group that says use 1 tsp bleach in 1 quart water, and yet another group that says just wash with cold water well.

Next time I'm putting up a fence around the beds

Hope somebody got a laugh out of my post I sure would have. I hope more that somebody has an answer for me!!

Well I can't really answer your question. But I would much rather eat well-washed lettuce that a dog might have peed on than well-washed lettuce that was sprayed several times with pesticides. LOL - just me.

Do you guys have RID over there? (Vegetable washing stuff)

I'm pretty sure urine is sterile - I'd wash/rinse it, but I wouldn't worry too much.
(Of course, since I let Luc carry his raw food around the house, I'm afraid I'm probably the slob of the forum)

Ummm...me too...slob that is.

And, yes, wash the lettuce and spin dry or shake dry, then rinse again. We had a garden while growing up and mom would not waste food. She thought if we could put manure on the plants to make them grow, then a little pee didn't hurt a thing.

You know the term "farm dogs"? And what about rabbits, gophers, and deer?

Think about it. Do you think that there is any lettuce grown in the ground that is guaranteed never to have been peed on?

Urine is sterile, and washing produce is good. I only wish that E. coli and a few of the insecticides that permeate the produce's outer cells would wash off the way pee will.

yeah, i wouldn't worry about it.
also, i would think that if they had peed on it, you would definately notice a discolouration on the lettuce itself just like when they pee on the lawn. Vegetation is vegetation and I think the urine would be pretty acidic and cause blemishes on the lettuce.

Mostly too I'm just trying not be jealous that you are able to harvest vegetables right now.

LOL all very good points. I have a pretty brown thumb, so imagine how excited I was that my lettuce was actually growing Then imagine my dismay when I thought I might not want to eat it...

I guess I'll have a nice big salad tonight!

Thanks~

eta: Jennifer- I feel pretty lucky that we are getting ready to set out tomatoes in a two or three weeks, too! Just remind yourself that by the time June gets here we will all be miserable and hiding in the a/c most of the day, and you'll be enjoying that beautiful summer weather

When I was a kid we spent a summer in Africa due to my father's naval career. At the local "fresh market" we would walk up and down stands filled with every type of butchered animal you could imagine (no refrigeration mind you) and a mediocre selection of fresh veggies. The local folks were very kind and polite to us and would TURN AWAY FROM US AND PEE ON THE VEGGIES if they saw us coming!! We learned to dip/soak ANYTHING purchased off base in a diluted bleach bath... I can't same I'm the brightest light bulb in the pack but I'm not the most dim either, so it must not have killed too many brain cells. I sure do miss that goat's butter... it was the BEST tasting butter!!

I am a little jealous too Carolyn. My garden is still under two feet of snow. Enjoy the salad tonight.