Gardening in WA, choosing a new hometown (Port Orchard, Palouse: how much, safe area)

[HaroldBartley]

Dirt Alert!

Did you know that if you live in the Tacoma Smelter Plume, which is throughout Pierce, King, and Thurston Counties, your dirt could contain Arsenic, Lead, and other Chemicals that can harm you and your children?


https://dirtalert.info/

[Dreams2Plans]

Originally Posted by HaroldBartley

Dirt Alert!
Did you know that if you live in the Tacoma Smelter Plume, which is throughout Pierce, King, and Thurston Counties, your dirt could contain Arsenic, Lead, and other Chemicals that can harm you and your children?

What, that's great to know, thanks!

[sll3454]

Originally Posted by HappyNewMe

Hmm, haven't thought of that one, thanks!
Only 30 minutes to the airport, weather seems about right (32-81 winter-summer). Judging by the CL index, might be a little pricey, but otherwise definitely worth considering! (If, for instance, a foreclosed property or a piece of land suddenly came up for sale - there is always that chance!)


P.S.: also, as somebody else mentioned in another thread, this general area has "the best of both worlds" - no income tax in WA and no sales tax in OR nearby!

There may soon be a toll to cross into Oregon.

Are you also considering Oregon? The Willamette Valley is as good as it gets for gardening.

[Hemlock140]

Port Orchard is not close to an hour from Seattle or any other big city if you take the ferry, and if you drive around, much longer with nasty traffic around Tacoma. You can grow tomatoes anywhere in WA. We are at 600’ elevation with a lot of tall trees, and with a greenhouse placed in the one sunny spot we get lots of them. Look at Sequim for low prices and lots of sun, about an hour to Silverdale and 15 minutes longer to Bremerton.Look also at Marysville, cheaper and close to Everett.

[StealthRabbit]

Woodland WA is a great PNW garden spot (river delta), and in AFFORDABLE Cowlitz County (far less restrictive than urban Clark County (Ridgefield). Check out Holland bulb company and other commercial growers in Woodland, WA (<40 min to PDX / many great markets + Vancouver https://www.vancouverfarmersmarket.com/

Kalama / Carrolls is a favorite region if I were to choose a nice neighborhood, close to I-5 with good growing options.

The County Extension service in WA can get you soils maps and micro climate data (precip and temps) for very localized (sq mile blocks)

I Spent 15+ yrs in and around Port Orchard (attending to my disabled vet dad @ Retsil). I like Manchester / Southworth area, but it will not be CHEAP and not sure of soils and micro climate for gardening. Probably pretty nice!.

you want GOOD light (south facing slopes, far away from forest (shade and air trap) + good draining soils (due to 100+ inches of rain in places in We_tern WA) and plan to augment the soils (especially lime !!!) as the high rainfall leaches out nutrients. Join Master Gardeners as soon as you arrive (study before coming). The lessons learned, mentors, and learning and connection opportunities are very valuable. There are many gardening groups and conferences. Growing is FUN and fruitful IF you pay attention to local conditions and natural plantings.

[margaretBartle]

The Asarco Smelter spewed arsenic, lead, cadmium and other toxic metals around PUget Sound for decades. I remember when it shut down, how remarkably clear the air was. No mention was made of it in the media, but all my friends and co-workers commented on what a difference it made.

To this day, soil contamination is still an issue.

Here's a map. Anyone interested in gardening food should know take this into consideration when scouting a location:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/smeltersearch/


"The plume is a 1,000 square mile area of arsenic and lead soil contamination from the former Asarco smelter in Tacoma. "
https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/hea...scription.aspx

[Dreams2Plans]

Thank you!!

[jjinak]

Agree with Diana that Lewis County area can be great and affordable. Avoid the flood plains. Doesn't fit the criteria for night life though lol Excellent gardening though.

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by HappyNewMe

Looks absolutely awesome!! Too bad I was mostly hoping for about half of that price (apparently, the area around Port Orchard and overall 1-1.5 hours away from Seattle/Olympia is a bit more affordable than this awesome combination of what both states have to offer))

So, "affordability" would be $230-50k for a 3/2 house on 1+ acre?

Hard to find this anywhere within 1 1/2 hours from a metropolis in western Wash. This, however, is less than an hour from Olympia:

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...?fullpage=true

or (1 1/2 hours?)

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1...?fullpage=true

[509]

Gardening is growing food.

How much food does western Washington grow???

If you want to garden in western Washington.....buy a greenhouse. That works.