We have had great collaboration in REMOVING debris and segregating the organic material.

Now we need to address how that much needed organic material (in the form of mulch or compost) will get back to the tornado and cleanup-scarred land that has lost much of its topsoil (due to demolition and cleanup activities) that will be needed to sustain the growth of new trees and shrubs.

A collaboration of commercial, non-profit, and government organizations could focus on the full cycle from cleanup to returning organic nutrients to the soil where it is needed.

This would start with thinking about source material (storm debris from trees and brush, dredgings from Forest Lake, grass clippings collected by lawn services and nursuries, and other organic waste) to a special composting/mulching location(s) dedicated to tornado victims, etc.)

The logistics of getting this material back where it is needed should be addressed. Perhaps garden clubs, lawn services, the nursuries, the conservationists who are already thinking about tree replanting, the city debris removal department could collaborate on the logistics of creating/storing/returning compost or mulch to sites where it is needed.

The need for organic material and replanting will be huge if we want to see green in our neighborhoods again. This recovery will happen more quickly with collaboration if the storm victim re-building pioneers have an easy and economical way to restore the topsoil on their properties.

Help make the scar on our city green again!