permaculture

[Evan <kodama@riseup.net>]

I have been thinking recently that amaranth could prove to be the de-facto 
semi-wild grain of the future as corn/soy/cotton/milo fields in the southeast 
are left fallow and this very strong plant takes over. Given that certain 
species of amaranth have already proven to be "roundup-ready" and that plants 
of the amaranth family requires no mycorhizal association, I think this 
exists as a strong possibility. I think the major question are whether 
amaranth will accumulate the toxins left in the soil by the industrial-ag 
processes. Certainly nitrates pose a problem, but I do not know whether the 
seed would accumulate nitrates or pesticide residue.

Any thoughts?

Evan

On Nov 5, 2012, at 9:59 AM, John Wages wrote:

> The upcoming issue of the Permaculture Activist focuses on weeds ("Weeds to 
> the Rescue").  How are these exuberant plants best integrated into a 
> permaculture system?  How can we deal with the more problematic ones (think 
> rhizome-spreading Johnsongrass and bermudagrass)?  Articles on specific 
> edibles, systems for making weed-ferment compost tea, uses of specific 
> weeds in composting, weedy insectary plants, ways to deplete the weed seed 
> bank, systems that use pigs, chickens, ducks, and of course, weeder geese, 
> long-term weed control for broadscale farm management, novel applications 
> of mulch, living mulches, nitrogen-fixing or tap-rooted weeds for 
> regeneration of depleted soils, etc., are of interest...as well as more 
> imaginative definitions of "weeds" (animals, insects, parasites, perhaps 
> stretching the theme to invisible weedy structures).
> 
> If you have expertise, experience, or perspective, please consider writing 
> for this issue.  The deadline for submissions is Dec. 1.  Contact the 
> editor directly at wagesjm@gmail.com
> 
> John
> 
> John Wages
> Editor, Permaculture Activist
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