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Title: Weeds Control Without Poisons
Source:
ACRES USA
URL Source: http://acresusa.com
Published: Jun 9, 2007
Author: Charles Walters
Post Date: 2007-06-09 17:59:53 by richard9151
Keywords: None
Views: 1238
Comments: 158
Charles Walters, founder and long-time editor of ACRES USA, the monthly journal of eco-agriculture, has revised and expanded his now classic text on the secrets that weeds reveal to us about our soil. For a thorough undersanding of the conditions that produce certain weeds, you simply can't find a better source than this one -- certainly not one as entertaining, as full of anecdotes and home-spun common sense. The book is a treasury of knowledge, exploring the workings of soil eco-systems through the findings of such giants as William A. Albrecht, C.J. Fenzau and Philip S. Callahan. It contains a lifetime of collected wisdom that teaches us how to udnerstand and thereby control the growth of countless weed species, as well as why there is an absolute necessity for a more holistic, eco-centered perspective in agricultrue today. In Weeds, Control Without Poisons, Walters explains what fifty years of deadly chemicals have done to our soils and our bodies, demonstrating once and for all that the stuff simply doen't workl in any long-term, coomon-sense agricultural system. He goes on to tell us what will work, and he tells it with precision and clarity in a book as full of human warmth as sound soil science. Charles Walters is the author of dozens of books and thousands of articles on the technologies of eco-agriculture. In this book learn; What do weeds tell us about the soil? What can you do about row-crop weeds? Is there any role for herbicides in agriculture? We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. Native American Proverb FOR THE RECORD The so-called conventional agricultural system of the United States is falling apart at the seams. Its intellectual advisers in the univesity hardly know what is going on in the countryside. Their advice has created extensive soil erosion, universal environmental contamination, and a degeneration of the health of almost every living species on this planet. Public outcry is growing in proportion to its awareness. Politicians are mocking their shared concern in order to sway votes. Legislation to curb or banish the current agricultrual system of toxic warfare on man and nature is becoming more plentiful. Caught in the middle of this political football is the farmer. One by one, his toxic crutches are being eliminated from the market. He is told that he must farm without these ''magic bullets'' which he has become so accustomed to using. This use has been sanctified by constant insistence of the USDA, land grant universities, and Extension personnel. Now, however, he is being told by the politicians that he cannot use these materials anymore, but is not being told by the lords of agriculture what to do or what to use in their place. The farmer feels lost and frustrated. And he is lost and frustrated until he realizes that the solution to his dilemma rests with his own intuition and common sense. Farming is not a desk job nor the work of a laboratory technician. It is a natural experience. It is an understanding and appreciation for all life on this planet. It is an attitude of living, of peaceful coexistence, not an atitude of kill or be killed or of constant conflict. The first step in builkding a system without toxic chemical war games with nature is to change your attitude. Become a farmer rather than a miner of the soil. Decide to leave the farm in a better condition when you depart than it was last year or when you started farming. Decide to accept responsibility for the health of this county, yourself, and your family. Weeds, Control Without Poisons is an original, even though it leans on the scholarship of many in the identification of weeds. It does not pretend to have all the answers, yet it has furnished a beginning in asking the right questions. Many minor weeds still have still to be evaluated, and there can be no doubt tat answers will be forthcoming. As far as the major crop weeds are concerned, this book hints, then sledgehammers the answers into place. Weed manuals since WWII have simply identified weeds, the implication or actual direction being that use of this or that poison is the only rational advice. Charles Walters questions this, and he has used most of his jounalistic career to gather in support for dealing with weeds without poisons. Hopefully, this little book will be a turning point away from our rush toward perdition. Arden Andersen, author of The Anatomy of Life and Energy in Agriculture and Science in Agriculture PREFACE Some few years ago, I tripped to Houston, Texas and environs for the purpose of visiting a rice producer who, once upon a time, knew my old mentor, William A. Albrecht, then emeritus professor, Department of Soils, University of Missouri. This rice grower had a small plane on his farm for the purpose of monitoring his crop -- and, not least, the weeds. He had a small laboratory on his farm because he had been trained to compound things like DDT, and -- also once upoin a time -- he chest-thumped this fact to the good professor Albrecht, adding that ''this stuff works.'' Albrecht responded, 'Yes, it works today and it will probably work ten years from now.' And with that Albrecht shot a finger into the rice grower's chest. 'But ten years from now you won't know where it is!' Much of the toxic genetic chemistry spilled into agriculture over the past several decades is still out there. I know where some of it is. Richard L. Penny is an Iowa scientist who spent several years at the U.S. South Pole station. He took the biopsy specimens that revealed DDT in the fatty tissue of all the examined penguins. Appartently this toxin has established itself in the migratory food chain that travels to the South Pole and back. ..... This is an excellent book, and I recommend it for everyone that has any interest in understanding food, and how it affects our lives. There can be no doubt, after you read it, that America has been on a very dangerous path for a long time, and, it is time to correct that path, RIGHT NOW! As an example of what this book shows; Redroot pigweed ... best possible laboratory analysis for phosphate availablility on a daily meal basis. ... quackgrass ... have herbal properties useful in treating urinary disorders. Decay systems are at fault when this weed appears. Excess aluminum also is a problem for the crop, albeit nor for quackgrass which can live with it. And on and on through countless different weeds, using them as a teaching tool to learn what the soil is lacking, or, has to much of. Amazing the knowledge that we should be using can be this simple..... And this book is much more than that as well. It is a look at farm life, and at OUR responsibilities, as we furnish the power behind those who grow things for us through the decisions that we make on a daily basis.
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#1. To: richard9151 (#0)
Weeds are just plants we haven't found uses for. People used to think dandelions were weeds. The parts can be used for herbs, wine, and salads. I wouldn't call that a weed.
Freeper motto: I read, but do not understand, I write, but make no sense, I think, but nothing happens.
Thanks. We took the "easy way out" with big chem, and now we're reaping the deadly harvest.
A weed is any plant somewhere you don't want it. I have two boxes of shallots , garlic and mesclun. I planted French Dandelion, a yummy green raw or as mixed pot greens. They took over the boxes and a hundred yards in every direction. That's the definition of a weed. Ditto: kudzu, Japanese honeysuckle and any incarnation of greenbriar or opoison ivy/oak
You would be very hungry were it not for Big Chem...or the world population...mainly third world....would be one quarter what it is. Take your pick and provide a solution other than Malthusian.
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dr. Wambugu. She was very upset with European enviro groups coming down to Africa and telling them they should be growing organically. Her point was that Africa has been using organic agriculture since man first walked upright and they are starving.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
Yu got that right! I was drinking dandelion wine, made by my uncle, when I was 10 years old! Gotta acquire a taste for it though as I remember.... And the salads are good; no acquiring any taste for that!
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement. farmfriend Brilliant observation. No kidding !
Right. And that would not have had anything to do with their government interference and in stealing what they grew now would it..... And I do not care who anyone meets or talks with. It does not make sense to continue to promote toxic solutions to problems that do not exist. And, I am speaking of weeds and the so-called control thereof. Altogether too many of the people that promote such are nothing but shills for corporate insanity.
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Try violets. All parts of the violet are edible all year long. Flowers, leaves, stems and roots. I serve them in salads year round just for the guests buzz. Day lilies are also excellent. Fry the unopened buds and early flowers and eat the roots year round. I grow my own mushrooms too. However, all this is either from learned survival skills, interest or hobby. As I said earlier, either embrace the Green Revolution as far as it can go or do away with 75% of the world's population because 3/4 is the excess over carrying capacity without Big Chem. What reasonable and non-hobby options do you see?
I sincerely hope that you don't truly believe that. To cut it short this evening, it would be like saying that Agent Orange was a good thing for the vegetation over-growth in Vietnam, and for other living things that were in-country when it was dispersed.
No actually it didn't. Her main thrust was the sweet potato root that is a staple in her country. It is being attacked by a virus. As crops fail they get roots from friends and relatives spreading the virus. She was trying to genetically engineer the plant to be resistant to the virus. An appropriate use of GMOs if you ask me. I don't think stopping all chemical use is the answer. You are throwing the baby out with the bath water.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
Okay, kudzu is a weed. Not only a weed, but a monster!
Freeper motto: I read, but do not understand, I write, but make no sense, I think, but nothing happens.
is a poster over on Liberty Forum.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
Not really !! You take 10,000 in a desert requiring 10000 acres to support 1 family unit....ship in all the free food you can eat by jet....and 5 years later there are 30,000 10 years there are 90,000; 15 years there are 270,000; 20 years there are 810,000; 25 years there are 2,430,000 This scenario exists today. I am not so sure aid to Africa is not cruel. Why? The Green Revolution shipped food into a land that was supposed to hold 20 nomads. Or you have to give them 24,300,000,000 acres all their own. Therein lies the rub and the motivating reason for Darfur et al. ( In addition the southern Sudan is animist and Christian instead of Muslim and the north will not allow that. )
I absolutely know that for a fact. I have no agenda here. This is just pure and simple fact. The US food supply is based on rapid turnover and the foodstocks at any one time, given an instantaneous disruption is between 2 and 6 weeks supply!.
Agent Orange was probably harmless. The chemical was manufactured in Turin Italy and placed in partially empty and unwashed barrels of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo dioxin in order to maximize profit for the Turin chemical manufacturer. Dioxin is a mammalian poison as the President of Ukraine can attest.
what kind?
That was a quote from you sweetie.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
I have to light the grill so: I grow matsutake, Shiitake Pleurotus ostreatus Polyporus sulphureus ( chicken of the woods) and Stropharius sp and have local collecting stocks of several " Meadow Mushrooms" e.g. campestris Old man of the woods, blewit, Ganoderma sp (for tea), fried chicken mushroom and fairy rings (be careful with those)
oops !
When I go far north I collect all the King boletes I can bring back in August.
The work has been done and the solution is in the literature. This is a matter of choices. Unfortunately, the choices have been made for us by the money power in favor of Toxic Rescue Chemistry, corporate ag, and the selling out of the American economic system for debt and war. UNFORGIVEN The American Econmic System SOLD for Debt and War Hands-On Agronomy using the methods of William A. Albrecht. The Albrecht method is compiled in four volumes. Kinsey's book above covers the basics of soil fertiity using those methods. I currently have Vol. 2 of the Albrecht Papers (a compilation of his work at the University of Missouri), Soil Fertility and Animal Health. The other three volumes are being reprinted, along with the one I have, and should be available soon from AcresUSA. The problem right now is that chemical based inputs have depleted the soils so badly that they are no longer a viable living system. Humus content in many soils is now 2% to 2-1/2% when it should be 5% to 6%. I could go into a more detailed explanation, but as I said, the work has already been done. What this hinges on this is the production of nutrious foods which the current chemical paradigm has no hope of achieving. Here also is an interesting article from the June 2007 issue of AcresUSA. http://www .acresusa.com/toolbox/reprints/June07_CruelWinds.pdf Another book which is essential to seeing how minerals work in plants, animals and humans is Minerals for the Genetic Code.
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Poor soil management, I'll bet. But the chemical system has made inroads everywhere, even in China, where the humus content is 1% or less and some topsoil is only one inch deep. China has recognized the problem and has brought a few soil scientists in to help Chinese farmers adopt more productive and nutritious farming practices.
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Gee, it's a wonder mankind survived for many thousands of years without Dow and Monsanto and pasteurized milk...
If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man. Albert Einstein
Dow, Monsanto, ConAgro are not the long-term fix, they are the short-term (profitable) "solution." We CAN do better.
Makes sense. I don't think what we are doing is right but throwing it all out isn't right either. Finding a better way is always the answer.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
ORGANIC is NOT to blame for soil fertility depletion. There are MANY reasons. A tree may have a taproot which goes many many feet into the ground, yet it gets 95% of it's nutrition from the top 1 foot of soil. I do 100% organic, and have excellent soil fertility. There are ways to do things, and ways NOT to. Plowing under the stalks left from harvest is NOT a good way to build soil fertility. Simply laying them ON TOP of the soil and allowing them to decay there IS. Why did this country have rich fertile soil from the time it was founded up until modern agriculture practices became more commonly in use? Another mistake is one which is common for man in ALL areas - we think the Creator was a dummy who had archaic laws and rules which we need to fix! He gave us "laws" concerning farming practices - and we simply refuse to obey them (well, most folks do anyhow). Things like the Land Sabbaths - most folks would say "What the hell is the "land sabbath?"...
If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man. Albert Einstein
A great potion of what farmers are doing will have to be modified to save the soils. Don't miss my comment above.
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Not to mention that dandelion leaves are excellent for your liver. Just pick small leaves and toss them into your salad (use small leaves, cause the big ones get too bitter). Around here we have devils claw plants. The seed pods literally wraps around your legs when you are walking through tall grass, they are cool looking pods, but can be painful if you are not wearing tall boots. Most folks around here consider them "just another noxious weed" but the root is excellent in treating arthritis, gout and rheumatism. Many of the "weeds" people work so hard to eradicate from their property are actually healing herbs. If only people would work half that hard to remove allopathic medicine from their lives the world would be a healthier place. :oP
"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"
One gardeners means of deciding if a plant is a weed or a garden plant is quite simple. Pull on it, if it pulls up easily, it must have been a garden plant.
"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"
Can you amplify that information for me?
I didn't say that. Don't twist what I say if you want me to continue to read what you post.
It's not Global Warming, it's Ice Age Abatement.
A full mulch garden is one of the best things to do. But getting that amount of mulch to cover much more than several hundred square feet could be a problem. Spoiled hay is the best source.
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Here on our little patch of dirt, we eat quite well without "Big Chem" we have three large garden plots, one is 15,000 sq ft of Blue Hopi corn that is primarily for our dairy cow (who does not get antibiotics or hormones either) the secondary use for this corn is our corn meal, but this is a very minor use as we do not eat any where near as much as the cow does. Our veggies are not as big and beautiful as the GMO/Hybrid/chemical sprayed (we grow all heirloom varieties) and they may even have a few bug bites in them. But we are able to raise more than enough for ourselves, and share a lot with others, and are even talking about selling some or our produce in the future. Our chickens do not eat big chem produced grains either, nor do they get laying mash or any other nasty junk. We have three fully mature laying hens right now and they produce more eggs than we can eat. We also have at least 50 young birds coming up as future layers and for butchering. Our goats are free range, and definitely nothing raised on chemicals. We give them some veggies every now and then, and when we are milking a handful of grain to encourage them to stand still. They provide us with meat and milk at an average cost of no more than $20 per year to keep a dozen goats. Than $20 is well offset when you can easily sell a 6 month old cut billy goat for $90. We have 8 nannies of breeding age right now, and can expect 2-4 kids from each minimum of once, but easily twice per year. I could go on and on, but the point is, anyone who starves because they will not use chemicals has not done their homework, and is not willing to sweat a bit in order to eat.
"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"
Altogether too many of the people that promote such are nothing but shills for corporate insanity. HEAR HEAR!!! THREE CHEERS FOR COMMON SENSE!!!!!!
"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"
That is why you need to preserve genetic diversity in plants. This is same thing that happened with the potato famine in Ireland. Come on people, think a little bit here. What happens when a family inbreeds - children start turning up deformed. Common sense states that diversity is a requirement, not just another option. Another case of people thinking that science knows more than God. Here is a very informative video. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4310450826413949175
"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"
LOL! That is telling it like it is!
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
Outstanding! I was getting ready to do another book report for 4um on this book! It is one of the best ever written, if someone wishes to understand what happened to the America we BELIEVED we lived in!
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
There was a post done on 4um yesterday (?) titled Stop the Aid! And it was speaking of Africa, more or less in line with what you were saying. But it was written by a native of africa with excellent points.
The Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
In short, innnieway is talking about mulch, God's natural fertilizer. To begin with, one needs to understand the difference between soil and dirt. Dirt consists of sand, broken rock, and other inorganic debris, while soil may have dirt in it, it is composed chiefly of decomposed (composted) organic materials. Before man started plowing, grasses, forests and vegetation grew up, some was either harvested by man or eaten by animals, then at the end of the season the plants either died down or defoliated, littering the ground with organic debris that then protected the soil from sun and wind for the following season while the buried debris decomposed to form more soil. When this organic material is removed or plowed under, it is placed out of the reach of the plants roots, rendering it useless. When the ground is tilled, plowed, or ripped more than 6 inches deep the natural capillary action of the soil is disrupted and will take more than a season to rebuild, meaning that this patch of ground then needs to be irrigated. On the other hand, if one decides to tear the ground as little as possible, and place as much organic debris ON TOP of the ground you are holding water in the soil where it can be utilized and allowing the natural decomposition of the plants to rebuild the soil. It is really quite simple if you think of the natural chain of events. When a plant grows, it takes nutrition from the soil, so then that nutrition is then stored in the plant, so if you allow dead plants to remain on top of the soil it allows the plant to decompose where next years plants can retrieve the nutrition. There is a great book on the matter called Plowman's Folly, you can read it for free at the following website. "If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?"
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#2. To: richard9151 (#0)
#3. To: YertleTurtle (#1)
People used to think dandelions were weeds. The parts can be used for herbs, wine, and salads. I wouldn't call that a weed.
#4. To: lodwick (#2)
We took the "easy way out" with big chem, and now we're reaping the deadly harvest.
#5. To: JCHarris, lodwick, YertleTurtle, richard9151 (#4)
#6. To: YertleTurtle (#1)
People used to think dandelions were weeds. The parts can be used for herbs, wine,
#7. To: farmfriend (#5)
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Dr. Wambugu. She was very upset with European enviro groups coming down to Africa and telling them they should be growing organically. Her point was that Africa has been using organic agriculture since man first walked upright and they are starving.
#8. To: farmfriend, JCHarris, lodwick, YertleTurtle (#5)
Her point was that Africa has been using organic agriculture since man first walked upright and they are starving.
#9. To: richard9151 (#6)
#10. To: JCHarris (#4)
You would be very hungry were it not for Big Chem...or the world population...mainly third world....would be one quarter what it is.
#11. To: richard9151 (#8)
Right. And that would not have had anything to do with their government interference and in stealing what they grew now would it.....
#12. To: JCHarris (#3)
kudzu
#13. To: YertleTurtle (#12)
kudzu
#14. To: JCHarris (#9)
I grow my own mushrooms too.
#15. To: richard9151 (#8)
Right. And that would not have had anything to do with their government interference and in stealing what they grew now would it.....
#16. To: lodwick (#10)
I sincerely hope that you don't truly believe that.
#17. To: lodwick (#10)
#18. To: farmfriend (#14)
#19. To: JCHarris (#18)
what kind?
#20. To: All (#18)
#21. To: All (#18)
what kind?
#22. To: All (#20)
#23. To: JCHarris, lodwick, innieway (#4)
(Edited)
Take your pick and provide a solution other than Malthusian.
#24. To: farmfriend (#5)
(Edited)
and they are starving.
#25. To: JCHarris (#4)
You would be very hungry were it not for Big Chem
#26. To: BTP Holdings. concerned people here (#24)
#27. To: BTP Holdings (#24)
has brought a few soil scientists in to help Chinese farmers adopt more productive and nutritious farming practices.
#28. To: farmfriend (#5)
Her point was that Africa has been using organic agriculture since man first walked upright and they are starving.
#29. To: farmfriend (#27)
I don't think what we are doing is right but throwing it all out isn't right either. Finding a better way is always the answer.
#30. To: YertleTurtle (#1)
The parts can be used for herbs, wine, and salads. I wouldn't call that a weed.
#31. To: JCHarris (#3)
That's the definition of a weed.
#32. To: innieway (#28)
Plowing under the stalks left from harvest is NOT a good way to build soil fertility. Simply laying them ON TOP of the soil and allowing them to decay there IS.
#33. To: innieway (#28)
ORGANIC is NOT to blame for soil fertility depletion.
#34. To: Esso (#32)
Can you amplify that information for me?
#35. To: JCHarris (#4)
You would be very hungry were it not for Big Chem
#36. To: richard9151 (#8)
And I do not care who anyone meets or talks with. It does not make sense to continue to promote toxic solutions to problems that do not exist. And, I am speaking of weeds and the so-called control thereof.
#37. To: farmfriend (#11)
Her main thrust was the sweet potato root that is a staple in her country. It is being attacked by a virus.
An appropriate use of GMOs if you ask me.
Good Grief
#38. To: innieway, JCHarris, all (#25)
Gee, it's a wonder mankind survived for many thousands of years without Dow and Monsanto and pasteurized milk...
#39. To: BTP Holdings, JCHarris, lodwick, innieway, all (#23)
UNFORGIVEN The American Econmic System SOLD for Debt and War
#40. To: JCHarris (#15)
This scenario exists today. I am not so sure aid to Africa is not cruel.
#41. To: Esso (#32)
Can you amplify that information for me?
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