least-toxic control

[Paul n Shelley]

Yes, I concur with Akiva. Mulching with material culled from the school's trees when pruning occurs,

1) Will prevent weeds,
2) Will "close the loop" on greenwaste to landfills, thus saving the district money,
3) Will improve overall soil quality for better drainage and increased productivity.

The City of Long Beach is already starting to do this in our parks and we have convinced the city
that it works extremely effectively on vacant lots to prevent runoff and weeds.

Good luck and happy summer,
Paul Racko
Long Beach, Inc.

http;//longbeachorganic.org



Akiva wrote:
> 
> Deborah wrote:
> 
> >Anyone have suggestions for weed abatement around schools?  Weeds seem to
> >be the worst "pest" to solve.......and Roundup is the easiest thing to use.
> >Our 2 reps to the committee implementing the least-toxic pest control
> >policy
> >at Ventura Unified are being ganged up on to put a herbicide on the
> >"acceptable use list". We don't want to, but have to counter with a
> >potential solution that's effective & cheap. Some mechanical means have
> >been ruled out. (ie. Flamers have too much
> >liabilty for use).  The BIGGEST problem is a weed problem that got out of
> >hand while they were hammering out the list of acceptable controls. Too
> >late for mulch?!
> >Ideas?
> 
> anything may be done (or not done) rather than poisoning children:
> 
> a. grow something which can outcompete the weeds
> b. have students study weeds for biology, than pull them out at end of
> lesson
> c. invite school neighbors/parents to help garden at school
> d. realize that weeds are preferable to poison
> e. convert zone to xerioscape in which only drought tolerant plants will
> grow and not weeds.
> f. sheetmulch over weeds using materials generated by the school
> 
> In general, weeds show up to benefit soil and microbial life in the absence
> of human stewardship or cultivation. Spraying poison is the poor substitute
> for true human stewardship and sends a poor message to the kids.
> 
> Happy solstice,
> Akiva
> Ojai, CA
> 
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