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soil

Plastic in soil

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Hi! I left probably 30 bags of Happy Frog with the old soil in them for about 3 years in the sun. The plastic degraded and broke off in many very small pieces and now I want to put raised beds all over. Is there any way to remediate this situation? Is it possible zeolite or something else could help?

Anne Miller

steward

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Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Welcome to the forum!

Maybe sift the plastic out? Then plant mushrooms.

Not much will remediate plastic except meal worms:

https://permies.com/t/103412/Superworms-bioremediation-polystyrene-ideas-extending

https://permies.com/t/272434/composting/Plastic-agnostic-composting-Bio-degradation

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

Nancy Reading

steward and tree herder

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Location: Isle of Skye, Scotland. Nearly 70 inches rain a year

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Welcome to permies Nicole! I'm not sure what happy frog is, but I've had the same thing happen with bulk bags that I used as a temporary compost bin (lesson learnt there!)
Ary had a similar issue here: https://permies.com/t/207966/Shattered-Plastics-Soil and there are various suggestions given for cleaning up the soil and separating out the plastic. I think removing as much as you can will be a worthwhile first step.

How Permies works: https://permies.com/wiki/34193/permies-works-links-threads
My projects on Skye: The tree field, Growing and landracing, perennial polycultures, "Don't dream it - be it! "

C. Letellier

pollinator

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Location: Greybull WY north central WY zone 4 bordering on 3

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Does this particular plastic float? Some do.

Country oriented nerd with primary interests in alternate energy in particular solar. Dabble in gardening, trees, cob, soil building and a host of others.

Olivia Nicole

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posted 3 weeks ago

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Thank you for the replies. I am trying to remove what I can. I think this plastic would float but it is too much soil to put in tubs to try to get the plastic out that way.

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