Ans: The simple answer is maybe. There are some risks associated with using garden soil. Some pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses) can survive in the soil if it was used to grow fruits or vegetables that are still edible. But keep in mind that these risks can be minimized if you know how to balance risk and reward. In general, it's not going to do you any harm if you keep your exposures to certain pathogens low. It's all a matter of choosing which risks are acceptable and which are not. When it comes to buying potting soil, be sure to research what kinds of things will be growing in the garden where it was acquired from, as well as what kind of fertilizer was used on those plants. Keep these things in mind and you should be fine!