permaculture

[rick valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

>comfrey spreads in
>> >her garden and takes over

She probably does not use comfrey as a major element of fertility. 
If she also tills- that's the #1 way to propagate it!
I have had rodents take root cuttings & store them, and then they grow- 
presto! comfrey pops up in odd places. But I plant comfrey along wire 
fences- much easier to manage than weedy grasses, and a wonderful green 
manure.

>I am having trouble getting comfrey established due too frequent
>tillage near/over their beds. 

If you can't do it any other way, start it in pots- a 2 inch piece of 
root will do; but i usually dibble crown divisions in to the area and 
then mulch with fresh manure & pee on it frequently the first season. If 
there are chickens in the area, mulch sticks under the manure. To keep 
tillers away, use scrap steel.
-Rick

PS, big points to Akiva for remaining civil and communicative!