Re: Compromise (was: I DO NOT AGREE)

From: "J.F. Hensler" <hensler@povn.com>



I agree that the safest method of getting rid of weeds is to pull or dig them and with most of our weeds it works just fine. 

But there are some instances where pulling can actually make the problem worse. The two biggest reasons to use Round-Up or the like.... quack grass & knot weed! Both of these will readily sprout from the smallest piece of root left in the soil. I wouldn't even consider throwing either of these monsters into my compost!

Because I don't like the idea of dealing with unknown side effects down the road (and because I can think of a lot of things more interesting to spend money on), I dig and sift for roots as thoroughtly as possible, then use as little as possible of the Round-Up to nail whatever has escaped. 

We've been experimenting with a number of alternative methods of keeping weeds at bay. The most effective so far, has been a thick layer of wood chip mulch. Most weed seeds never have a chance to sprout and both of our nastiest weeds run 3" to 4" under the surface, putting down a feeder root less often than not... mulch or soil makes no difference. (Because the larger chips allow moisture to run through while shading the ground, drainage is good and a bonus is that plants actually need less water.)   

Lifting roots out of loose wood chips beats digging any day.

Bug spray (usually pyrethrin) is used here only in the greenhouse and very sparingly for the same reasons as herbicides. The garden plants live by the rule of "survival of the fittest" and the fittest plants are those who have the healthiest soil to make use of. Weak plants tend to attract pests and are pulled immediately. 

Beneficial insects, birds, frogs, toads, even snakes are encouraged to stay in the garden. The impact they can have on the bug population is astounding. Herbicides and pesticides used with abandon can decrease their numbers to the point where pesticides MUST be used to simply keep up. 

My family has raised wheat for generations. The modern methods of edge-to-edge farming, minimum to no recycling, and mono-cropping REQUIRE the use of chemicals to keep the industry from toppling immediately.

As long as the home gardener or small farm has more choices available than agri-business will ever have, why not use every tool available in conjunction with the most important one... brain cells.    

Christy Hensler
Newport, WA z4b





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