LAKEPORT Three years in the making, the garden to show Lake County residents what will grow in our asbestos-laden soils, is now complete and was dedicated Thursday.
A joint effort between the Lake County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Master Gardeners of Lake County, the serpentine landscape demonstration garden has been completed.
“Lake County is one of the counties who have done something about serpentine soils,” said Bob Reynolds, air pollution control officer for the AQMD. After an introduction by Rachel Elkins, UCCE county director, Reynolds explained why serpentine soils can be challenging.
Asbestos is a general name for a group of rock-forming minerals which consist of extremely strong and durable fibers, Reynolds explained and serpentine rocks and soils are a part of the Lake County landscape.
“Asbestos has been a wonderful product,” Reynolds said and explained that it is in roofing, paint, insulation even in vermiculite, a popular garden additive among others, and poses a serious health threat. “If you breathe it, your body can”t handle it,” he said.
Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases generally do not appear for 20 years or longer after first exposure, Reynolds explained.
Asbestos becomes airborne when serpentine soils and rocks, which are commonly found in Lake County, are disturbed.
In order to mitigate the health problems airborne asbestos causes, AQMD and UCCE have compiled information for Lake County residents on their Web sites, as well as planting a demonstration garden on a serpentine outcropping at the Agricultural Center in Lakeport.
Julie Frazell, UCCE program representative, compiled information on serpentine soils and asbestos, as well as sent a mailer out to everyone in Lake County who lives on serpentine soils.
“There”s ways to mitigate and reduce your exposure to asbestos to zero,” Frazell said before outlining some of the ways. One way, for example, would be to avoid certain activities, such as using a blower or driving on unpaved roads or driveways, when the soil is dry.
To find out more information about serpentine soils in Lake County and how to mitigate your exposure to asbestos, visit www.lcaqmd.net or http://celake.ucdavis.edu; call the Lake County AQMD, 263-7000 or the UCCE, 263-6838; or visit the garden at the Agricultural Center, 885 Lakeport Blvd. in Lakeport.
Contact Terre Logsdon at tlogsdon@record-bee.com.
