permaculture

[eric + michiko <emstorm@sonic.net>]

Hugh Lovel wrote:

> Controlling Johnson grass and wild mustard, and to a lesser extent
> Bermuda, crabgrass, pigweed, lamb's quarters and a number of other
> invasive, persistent annual and perenial weeds in working farm fields
> where grass/grain/bean crops need to be grown, is a serious issue for
> conventional farmers. Johnson grass, for example, is a huge problem if
> allowed to spread by seed or by rhizome as well. The seeds get in the 
> tractors and implements and get spread to other fields if not blown
> off with air or water hose.  These plants compete with crops for
> space, nutrients and water, but worse, if allowed to go to seed, get
> harvested, especially in hay, and get spread wherever the hay is 
> distributed; if out in the field for beef cattle, sheep or goats, then
> it will be there when that field is put/rotated from grazing to crop.
> The bottom line is to eradicate it mechanically and with cover crops
> before putting in grass/grain/bean crops or even use it for grazing.

I wonder what these plants, and many others species on the planet, think of
us.  They may be having the same conversations saying, "Those humans are so
invasive; they compete for space, nutrients and water, and worse, if
allowed to reproduce."

Eric Storm