Updates for Spring
This article was originally published in May 2019
Dirt alert
Preparing home garden beds for a good harvest? Keep in mind that compost and other soil amendments are not necessarily approved for organic food production even when labeled “organic.” On these products, use of the term “organic” means only that the product is carbon-based. PCC requires all soil amendments carried by our stores to satisfy the additional requirements needed for use in organic food production.
Generally, to see if products contain any of the nine heavy metals monitored by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), visit the fertilizer product database and search by product name or company name.
For a list of soil amendments approved for organic food production, see the WSDA list of items by brand (Brand Name Material List). For more background on the issue see The Scoop on Organic Fertilizer.
Protecting pollinators
Sustainable food systems depend on bees and other pollinators, who are facing a global crisis. Spring gardening season is a good time to take both individual and collective actions to help protect the pollinators. Useful steps include choosing pollinator-friendly flowers and shrubs, as well as planting organic seeds that have not been pre-treated with neonicotinoid insecticides. More information and a list of pollinator plants for the Maritime Northwest is available through the nonprofit Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Ask your garden center or nursery to be sure their “pollinator-friendly” garden plants aren’t treated with pesticides.
Happy birthday Burien PCC
Burien PCC turns one on May 23! We are thrilled to celebrate the anniversary and delighted to be a part of the Burien community.
Mark your calendar
PCC’s annual trustees election will begin June 1. Watch for voting specifics and full information on candidates in June’s Sound Consumer. Meanwhile, click here for the latest news on PCC Bylaws and Standards.