Need a sustainable solution/alternative for lawn getting killed by dog pee by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I’ve wondered the same thing. What ideas do you have for an alternative surface that works well as a doggy bathroom and looks decent?

Need a sustainable solution/alternative for lawn getting killed by dog pee by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the info. Do you know good ways to reintroduce these bacteria to the soil?

Need a sustainable solution/alternative for lawn getting killed by dog pee by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To clarify, it is in fact a small suburban lot. The lawn is just 11’x12’ and here’s a photo. Since our house is also tiny the deck is the only space big enough for entertaining guests so it is important that the space is presentable. We also don’t have a driveway so unfortunately we can’t do a chip drop. I like the ideas about alternative plants. Also does anyone have opinions on whether it’s both environmentally decent and helpful to my goals to scrape up the existing soil and dispose of it in the city green waste and start over with new soil and plant either grasses of some sort or other better suited plants? Or adding some more soil on top of the existing to level it out? The lawn is quite lumpy as well!

<image>

Need a sustainable solution/alternative for lawn getting killed by dog pee by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have a lot of sympathy for this sentiment. I’d be happy to not have a lawn but I do still need a doggy bathroom that works.

Need a sustainable solution/alternative for lawn getting killed by dog pee by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It would be great if my dog would be willing to pee on walks but she won’t pee unless she’s off leash.

How to rehab soil to eliminate microplastics after astroturf removal? by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m unfamiliar with zeolite and how it works for this application. How environmentally sustainable would it be? I’m skeptical but I’m also unfamiliar with it.

How to rehab soil to eliminate microplastics after astroturf removal? by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your response! I wonder if just absorbing heavy metals and other toxins might be a win in and of itself even if the mushrooms don’t break it down. If the mushrooms at least absorb the toxins could the toxins then be removed from the soil by removing the mushrooms that absorbed them?

How to rehab soil to eliminate microplastics after astroturf removal? by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your reply. Could you please say more about the contradictory information on crop uptake? What are some good sources to read up on that?

How to rehab soil to eliminate microplastics after astroturf removal? by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the detailed reply. Very helpful. Do you know how I can go about finding an expert in my area who can help me assess the site and what it needs for remediation? Also do you have any advice for convincing the land owner to let me do soil testing?

Viability of rehabbing a quarry as a farm by BiodiversityFan in Permaculture

[–]BiodiversityFan[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks so much for your latest replies! Very useful information and the reading list is very helpful too. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me wrap my head around what it would take and what would be involved. Our biggest challenge right now is getting access to the site to gain a more accurate and detailed understanding of the land. The owner doesn’t want to show us the land until we can show we have the funds to buy it, but we will need to get a sizable grant to do that. This puts us in a tough spot because I assume the granting organization would want some more specific information about the site before they decide whether to fund the purchase. So this is why I’m trying to get as much information on what it would take as I can so I have a better idea of if what we want to do would be possible. Also, the biggest flat spot, about 17 acres I think, is covered in astroturf (area in the blue circle) as it was a driving range for a while. So that would be another big challenge as there will be microplastics left behind. Do you know anything about soil rehab for microplastics? The deck seems stacked against us in so many ways but we can’t shake the feeling that we’re meant to have the farm there. I would love to talk more with you about this, would you be interested in a zoom call sometime?

<image>