Sam Perin, an education specialist at the Clark County Solid Waste District said this is the first year they have invited residents to harvest sunflower seeds.
“It’s a chance to participate in natural recycling," Perin said.
In previous years, the sunflower field has naturally decomposed.
To harvest a sunflower, Perin explained that residents should cut off the heads of the sunflowers at their stems, rub their hand or a spoon over the seeded area to loosen the seeds, put the seeds in a bag and deliver them to the Clark County Solid Waste District, located at 1602 W. Main St. in Springfield.
Residents that participate in the Sunflower Recycling Program will have their name on a sign at the sunflower field next year, Perin said. Between 30 and 40 people have already donated seeds, he added.
The Clark County Sunflower Field project began in 2018 as a collaboration between Keep Clark County Beautiful, National Trail Parks and Recreation District, the city of Springfield, the Clark County Land Re-utilization Corp. and the Clark County Solid Waste District to plant a sunflower field at an abandoned industrial site.
“We were trying to get an attraction that would beautify Clark County and make people want to come to Clark County to see it,” Chuck Bauer, director of the Clark County Solid Waste District told the News-Sun previously.
Keep Clark County Beautiful President Carolyn Young said the sunflower field has created a place for families to take pictures and interact with their neighbors, which has “created and fostered community.”
The Clark County Solid Waste District will accept sunflower seeds until Oct. 30.
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