Is there a place in Burlington, Vermont area that would test for free garden soil for poison?

Question

I’m in a low income apartment building; there are 11 7’x3′ garden boxes. Someone in box 8 planted and never came back. There was an off-white granular all over the top of the soil in the box until it rained now, the plants the people planted have all died. There are also some new pearl-size mushrooms. The soil turned a red/brown color. If it were up to me, I would trash the soil, mushrooms and put new soil in box 8. The responsibility belongs to the landlord/ manager not to me, so I would like to prove to the landlord there’s dangerous poison in box 8. Is there somewhere near Winooski Vermont where I can ask the soil tested ? I read on the internet, UVM will test the soil for $15.

Answer 1

Your best bet will be to contact your extension service in person for help. https://www.uvm.edu/extension

Here is a link for several articles about soil testing that may be helpful to you: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/search?q=soil%20test