I've contacted the NSD International, the Maine Cooperative Extension, and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection to inquire about the safety of using CPVC/PVC gutters to grow edible and ornamental plants.

The other use I've seen for PVC (pipes sawn in half lengthwise,) is to make container gardens for starting vegetable seedlings at the desired spacing. When they are ready to transplant, they can be slid directly into the prepared row with minimal root disturbance. I suppose one could line the pipe with whatever inert material one feels content to use. One could experiment and report on results.

There is risk in everything. Many of us grew up in households with lead pipes or lead soldered pipes, polluted city water, unsafe well water, etc. We must each do our homework and make our best choices. It's nice when we pool information with one another.

Maeve