Lol i like sunflowers, so feel free to plant them, tho we don’t have radioactive iodine rich soil.
It’s probably worth noting my original thoughts was to have most of the plants potted or in above ground planter boxes using new soil. This is easier to do and we can change the appearance of the tar and concrete section. And add some seating and pots to the grass area. We might need to look into starting a mowing schedule again to get that part all pretty 
I’m really keen to see if the mosquito repelling plants would be an option, as those little bloodsuckers are one of the biggest problems with hanging around the space chatting in the evening. I’m also a big fan of the idea of planter boxes. If we build them strong enough then its fairly simple to include a couple of channels into the base, making it super easy to rearrange using a pallet jack or fork truck later on.
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I just love the idea of plants all around the hackerspace, provided they dont die, rot, smell, breed bugs etc
So keen to see this happen 
(also yeah, no food guys. not only is it not safe due to industrial chems but I believe we’re not zoned for it and landlord isnt keen. No big loss anyhow)
Planter box made of 50mm sleepers
2400x600x600
9 sleepers at 25kg each (assuming no base)
potting mix / soil at about 1000kg / 1m3
Each box would be close to 600 kg each. Possibly more. I think I’m under gustimating the soil.
Not sure how the pallet jack would take it.
at work we need 2-3 people to move an 800kg pallet
No base means you could not move it anyway. You need the base to hold the soil in.
So add about another 75kg
Soil is about 1,400 up to 1,600 if compacted. So its about 1.5 tons for the complete box and base. On the other hand I’ve moved that weight on a pallet jack by myself heaps of times before (although 1 person pushing, one steering is easier), I respect your yard isn’t shop floor flat or smooth, but if you broom it first then a bunch of people (like 5) should have no big deal. Also if we ever get a fork truck it should have no issues. The one thing to be careful of is if the drainage is not good and the soil becomes flooded, then it can be as much as 800-900kg heavier, as the water sits in the air gaps in the soil, so it needs to be designed to handle ~2.5 ton and drain well or it’ll fail or be impossible to move.
I like the idea of potentially movable planterboxes. This could really improve the layout arrangement and the future usability of that space!
Ive been thinking about dealing with drainage. It would be nice to have low profile gravel trays the drainage could pass through over the ground. This would minimise trip hazzards from pipes and reduce dirty puddles. Open to any ideas.
Personally, I have moved >1.5tonns on pallet jacks this week without issue