If maintaining the status quo is a struggle now, it would be impossible without herbicides. “I think of it as chemotherapy,” said Doug Tallamy, a University of Delaware entomologist and guru of the native-plant movement. “We have ecological tumors out there. If we don’t control them, we have ecological collapse. We have the collapse of the food web.”
Despite concerns about its toxicity, glyphosate is “an essential tool,” Tallamy argued. “The cost of not using it is very high compared to the cost of using it.”
Yes! How about we let the restorationists have all the herbicides we need but we outlaw them for lawns and fields and farms. They are destroying too much.
Whenever you post, I have a great time picking out my favorite line. This one was hard! But ... the winner is .... "We were just a big old petting zoo for Asa." Brilliant!
You have collards already? *sigh* I'm struggling with my cool season garden this year and am very jealous. One year I managed to over summer collards and they were giant the following year. Have never been able to replicate it.
Thanks for the very interesting story--and not cooking soup is something I would do!
Thank you for this little glimpse into your world. You're such a busy woman, completely understandable about the soup. **it happens! Glad you just rolled with it. I love that age & wisdom allows us to give ourselves more grace and not stress over the little stuff. I personally like my veggies on the al dente side, so I bet it was still completely delightful!
I feel the same way about the Roundup crisis. How can it be banned in other countries but here everybody and their neighbor, sprays, sprays, sprays so they can keep their yard perfectly manicured (eye roll). I keep bees all naturally and treatment free so that they're honey and wax can be used as powerful medicine & salves, but I know it's still contaminated with glyphosate because my bees travel up to 3mi from our farm. Don't get me started on how much it BURNS me up!!!
Wow! Don't tell me I pack lots of information in a newsletter! This one was full of great fodder to ponder! Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with your readers. It's an honor to be included in the world of Red Earth Farm. Blessings, Deb
Just beautiful, Janisse. I want to try to the soup, but am entranced, as I always am, by the thought of living somewhere where citrus grows on trees ...
Ah yes! Asa is the little ambassador who greeted me that last two times I came bearing gifts! I too know what AI meant, well back into the last century. A most useful form of propagation versus the questionable AI we face today. For our work, we work "farmer's hours" except we need the light so it is from sunrise to sunset. How I relish the magic hours of dawn and dusk. So many wonderful wildlife things happen then. I am sure I would have liked the 'al dente' Minestrone too! I got a photo of a cloudless sulphur butterfly upon a scarlet creeper along your beloved living roadside. Long may they wave!
Yes, you have an interesting life there. So glad I got a glimpse into it. And I wish Cedar Key were still part of it. Because at least that would put you close to me a bit of the year.
E.O. Wilson: 'Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to biodiversity, followed by the spread of alien species'.
Without using herbicides -- and that includes glyphosate (aka roundup) -- we have lost the battle against invasive plant species, which are, acre by acre and mile by mile, invading our belowed natural communities, smothering native trees, killing the plants that support insects and other pollinators, and destroying nesting habitat for small mammals and birds, among lots of other bad things. The widespread use of broadcast herbicides on agricultural crops is one thing, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater: for those of us fighting exotic pest plant invasives, herbicides are our only hope.
Linda, walking the other day I came upon a solution. We outlaw ALL herbicides. But restorationists get to buy them with an easy-to-obtain permit. I use herbicides as well on privet, but never indiscriminately sprayed. I cut the privet & paint on the systemic herbicide. I'm sure you know which one I'm talking about. I am going to maintain that the widespread & unregulated use of herbicides is much more dangerous than the creeping destruction of invasive plants.
Can't wait to hear about the new dog and see photos.
I'm convinced that Roundup gave me thyroid cancer........twice. I can't prove it of course. But during high school in 1987-1989 I worked at a K-Mart and they were always making me work in the garden center. Anytime I had to work near or with the bags/containers of powdered/liquid roundup I would break out in a severe rash. It didn't matter whether I was changing the end cap or just ringing it up at the cashier stand. It was in the air. I finally had to beg and plead to not put me in the garden center.
In 1993, at 22, I had a thyroid cancer tumor so large it was visible from looking at my neck. They removed my right thyroid. In 2007, it came back and they removed my left thyroid.
Love this colorful tale and update. Made me want to see Red Earth again. Also, I agree, we're killing the wrong weeds.
Come see us, friend.
If maintaining the status quo is a struggle now, it would be impossible without herbicides. “I think of it as chemotherapy,” said Doug Tallamy, a University of Delaware entomologist and guru of the native-plant movement. “We have ecological tumors out there. If we don’t control them, we have ecological collapse. We have the collapse of the food web.”
Despite concerns about its toxicity, glyphosate is “an essential tool,” Tallamy argued. “The cost of not using it is very high compared to the cost of using it.”
Yes! How about we let the restorationists have all the herbicides we need but we outlaw them for lawns and fields and farms. They are destroying too much.
Let the house training commence, lol
How's that going for you? LOL
Whenever you post, I have a great time picking out my favorite line. This one was hard! But ... the winner is .... "We were just a big old petting zoo for Asa." Brilliant!
Yay to great lines. I'm trying to remind myself to do that with your next newsletter.
So much to love about this one.
And about you.
You have collards already? *sigh* I'm struggling with my cool season garden this year and am very jealous. One year I managed to over summer collards and they were giant the following year. Have never been able to replicate it.
Thanks for the very interesting story--and not cooking soup is something I would do!
Head-high collards, LOL. (just kidding)
Thank you for this little glimpse into your world. You're such a busy woman, completely understandable about the soup. **it happens! Glad you just rolled with it. I love that age & wisdom allows us to give ourselves more grace and not stress over the little stuff. I personally like my veggies on the al dente side, so I bet it was still completely delightful!
I feel the same way about the Roundup crisis. How can it be banned in other countries but here everybody and their neighbor, sprays, sprays, sprays so they can keep their yard perfectly manicured (eye roll). I keep bees all naturally and treatment free so that they're honey and wax can be used as powerful medicine & salves, but I know it's still contaminated with glyphosate because my bees travel up to 3mi from our farm. Don't get me started on how much it BURNS me up!!!
So happy Asa will be getting a new cohort soon!!!
So glad to find you, so close to me.
Wow! Don't tell me I pack lots of information in a newsletter! This one was full of great fodder to ponder! Thank you for sharing so much of yourself with your readers. It's an honor to be included in the world of Red Earth Farm. Blessings, Deb
You'll always be included in my world, wise woman.
I love everything in here, especially not being consumed by the mistake with the soup! And kestrels and harriers!
I'm still wanting to redo that supper, with the same guests, so they know that I really can cook when my mind's on it. xoxo
Boy do I get that - and they know, they know!
I went to dinner in Georgia,
ate salad/soup
listened to the cowboy poet talk about cows and land
and clapped when Raven found his hound.
Janisse is the host and writer
who lets me know everything is important
even if I am often afraid
living in a Florida city.
Michele! You wrote a poem! You're the best.
Just beautiful, Janisse. I want to try to the soup, but am entranced, as I always am, by the thought of living somewhere where citrus grows on trees ...
I know! Actual oranges & lemons & kumquats. It's pure magic.
Ah yes! Asa is the little ambassador who greeted me that last two times I came bearing gifts! I too know what AI meant, well back into the last century. A most useful form of propagation versus the questionable AI we face today. For our work, we work "farmer's hours" except we need the light so it is from sunrise to sunset. How I relish the magic hours of dawn and dusk. So many wonderful wildlife things happen then. I am sure I would have liked the 'al dente' Minestrone too! I got a photo of a cloudless sulphur butterfly upon a scarlet creeper along your beloved living roadside. Long may they wave!
Mark, omg, thank you for all the gifts. I thank you for everything you've given me. Even if I don't always get proper thank-you cards in the mail.
It is always interesting to see how folks live elsewhere wherever that may be.
Yes, you have an interesting life there. So glad I got a glimpse into it. And I wish Cedar Key were still part of it. Because at least that would put you close to me a bit of the year.
What a beautiful read for my middle TN morning. 💚
Middle TN is in the house! So glad.
E.O. Wilson: 'Habitat loss is the single greatest threat to biodiversity, followed by the spread of alien species'.
Without using herbicides -- and that includes glyphosate (aka roundup) -- we have lost the battle against invasive plant species, which are, acre by acre and mile by mile, invading our belowed natural communities, smothering native trees, killing the plants that support insects and other pollinators, and destroying nesting habitat for small mammals and birds, among lots of other bad things. The widespread use of broadcast herbicides on agricultural crops is one thing, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater: for those of us fighting exotic pest plant invasives, herbicides are our only hope.
Linda, walking the other day I came upon a solution. We outlaw ALL herbicides. But restorationists get to buy them with an easy-to-obtain permit. I use herbicides as well on privet, but never indiscriminately sprayed. I cut the privet & paint on the systemic herbicide. I'm sure you know which one I'm talking about. I am going to maintain that the widespread & unregulated use of herbicides is much more dangerous than the creeping destruction of invasive plants.
Can't wait to hear about the new dog and see photos.
I'm convinced that Roundup gave me thyroid cancer........twice. I can't prove it of course. But during high school in 1987-1989 I worked at a K-Mart and they were always making me work in the garden center. Anytime I had to work near or with the bags/containers of powdered/liquid roundup I would break out in a severe rash. It didn't matter whether I was changing the end cap or just ringing it up at the cashier stand. It was in the air. I finally had to beg and plead to not put me in the garden center.
In 1993, at 22, I had a thyroid cancer tumor so large it was visible from looking at my neck. They removed my right thyroid. In 2007, it came back and they removed my left thyroid.
I am so sorry. So so sorry.