ba-ləst: a heavy substance (such as rocks or water) placed in such a way as to improve the stability and control (as of a ship).
After learning that New York City’s FDR Drive — a major thoroughfare — was built on ballast comprised of rubble from Bristol, England (and what a story that is!), I found out that there are structures built on ballast all over the world.
Moreover, seeds can last up to 100 years in ballast that is dumped out of the ships, causing non-native plants to sprout up unexpectedly.
I want to find out what’s been built where on top of ballast and where that ballast originated — and what non-native plants have sprouted due to such overseas travels.
