Today was my first time attending a work party at the Beacon Food Forest, and it was such an inspiring experience! It was wonderful to meet community members who are passionate about environmental stewardship and sustainability. A few kind folks even approached me to chat about Sunflower Seedlings Preschool, sharing supportive words and well wishes for the program. Hearing from others who care about outdoor learning and its impact on young children gave me so much hope for both our preschool and the future generation of learners.

I sat in on a discussion about soil health. I learned so much about the ways we can protect and improve our soil, and I wanted to share some key takeaways:

Ways to Address Soil Contamination

• Planting Sunflowers: Did you know sunflowers can help prevent contaminants from entering the soil? They’re like nature’s clean-up crew, helping to mitigate toxins.

• Hyperaccumulating Plants: Plants like chards and collards can absorb toxins such as heavy metals. While this helps detoxify the soil, being mindful that they can accumulate heavy metals themselves.

• Wildflowers and Mushrooms: Wildflowers can help offset compost contamination, and certain mushrooms are great at binding heavy metals, making them less harmful.

• Fish Bone Meal: Applying fish bone meal (around 3 lbs per square foot) can transform lead into a less toxic, non-soluble form, reducing its impact on plants and the environment.

$30 Soil Testing in King County

If you live in King County, you can access to soil testing services for relatively cheap! It’s an amazing resource for anyone looking to assess soil health for gardens or green spaces. Be sure to check the specifics of what contaminants are tested—some tests may require an additional fee for specific analyses. 

Link: https://kingcd.org/programs/better-soils/healthy-soil/ 

Plants that Help with Soil Remediation

• Willows: They are excellent for absorbing contaminants from the soil. They’re also considered a symbol of grieving in Ashani culture, adding a deeper connection to the process of healing the land.

• Fruits and Contaminants: Did you know that fruit plants generally absorb fewer contaminants than other types of crops? However, always consider your specific environment. For instance, areas near industrial zones or urban centers (like Beacon Hill) may have specific soil challenges.

It was truly incredible to learn so much and see firsthand how our community is coming together to care for the land. I left feeling inspired and excited to integrate some of these practices into our children’s garden at Sunflower Seedlings.

Have you tried any of these soil health techniques in your own garden? I’d love to hear about your experiences!

#BeaconFoodForest #SoilHealth #EnvironmentalStewardship #SunflowerSeedlingsPreschool #Sustainability #OutdoorLearning #CommunityConnections