How to regrow a wild, native field? (Jacksonville, University: university, disposing)

[JaxRemediation]

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[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]I work at a remediation site in the Jacksonville area. We have to regrow 8 acres by the time the project is complete. Since the site is a contamination site that is being cleaned, I can only plant seeds as most soil (potted plants, seedlings, etc.) contains small amounts of arsenic which are above our action levels. So I'm limited as to what I can use to repopulate the fields. We basically want to return to as natural a state as possible (i.e. wild field). Currently, all we're planting is grass in areas that have been backfilled, but I know that there are better/faster growing native weeds that would also help with erosion control, etc. Is there anyone you know of that sells native, north Florida weed seeds? Or is there such a thing? Or do we just let nature take its course?[/SIZE][/FONT]

[EricBoyd]

Have you contacted a hydroseed company, such as Florida Carter? Hydroseeding

[fsu813]

Sunflowers are an excellent natural bioremediator. And relatively cheap.



Using sunflowers to clean lead out of soil has become popular in activist gardener circles, thanks in part to widely-publicized efforts by Common Ground volunteers in post-Katrina New Orleans. This past fall I visited two current phytoremediation ("fido-ree-mee-diation") projects, and spoke with one of the founders of the 2006 Common Ground sunflower campaign. These activists are tackling soil toxicity head-on by growing sunflowers in lead-contaminated soil, harvesting them after the plants have sucked up some of the heavy metal, and disposing of them like hazardous waste. With every crop the soil gets cleaner.

LEWD PUNK RIOT!: Sunflowers love Heavy Metal

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The Orleans Renewal Garden was a City-sponsored environmental remediation and public outreach initiative that provided public training on soil bioremediation techniques at a garden on Oretha Castle Haley boulevard. This research program studied the potential of remediation of contaminated soil using sunflowers and other plants suitable for phyto-remediation. The office worked with diverse City partners to implement multiple remediation research sites.

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If you want to get technical:
Civil Engineering, The University of Akron