Food Gardening near salt water

[monkeybird]

As I'm back in Florlda, I need advise on gardening near saltwater. I live directly on a salt water bayou which leads directly out to a bay and then into the Gulf. My lot is 410' deep and 250' wide. The house sits dead center.

During the past incidents of hurricanes, salt water has covered up our dock and came over the sea wall and covered about 150 feet of the back yard.

I have over a hundred trees - oaks, cedar and pine. I have one absolutely hugh magnolia. There is one large spot free of trees and shade. It is in the backyard over the septic tank drain field. This area is probably the only space that gets a lot of sun.

Help from you experienced gardeners is needed.

1. Will the soil be ruined from nearness to the salt water?
2. If I use raised beds with store bought soil, will that work in the sunny area of the backyard?
3. Can I plant over a drain field?
4. Any suggestions will be APPRECIATED.

Thanks.

[Klayton]

410' x 250' in Florida??? ahhh man!!
congrats on the land monkeybird

[eeyore]

My 2 cents
1. You should be able to get it tested easily and get the answer.
2. Seems like the best solution and best long term
3. you don't want to compact that soil (or at least that is what i have been told)

[monkeybird]

Klaton - i purchased this home in 1999. The area was formerly Bob Jones Christian College. When the college failed, the land was sold at a minimum of 1 acre plots. That was in the 1950's. This area is a small enclave within a growing county and there are no public utilities except electricity. Aggressive development is not financially feasible because of existing covenants. My house was built in the early 1960's. Obviously, I've remodeled. Some of my more wealthier neighbors have torn the older home and built new ones. I discovered this area in the 1970's and decided right then and their I wanted to live here. So, when my husband retired, I bought this house. There are very few such spaces left. I thank the old covenants which have kept it like it is. There have been several challenges to the covenants by people wanting to subdivide their plots. I hope they continue to fail.

However, I still wonder if the bayou's brackish water, has contaminated the soil. If so, I worry about growing food. I've thought about the front yard, but I hate the thought of cutting down some of the trees. I also don't know how far salt contamination happens from the shore.