Environmental Sustainability: Weeds

Environmental sustainability, soil health, agroecology, water conservation, prevention of soil erosion and somebody's lunch: all of these things can be directly associated to weeds.

Weeds are simply plants that are "unwanted" by commercial farmers; however, many weeds have nutritional benefits such as Dandelion greens (rich in vitamins A, C & Iron), Purslane (rich in Omega 3 fatty acids; stems are rich in vitamin C) and Lamb's Quarters, sometimes called "poor man's spinach" (rich in vitamins A, C, Iron, Phosphorus, Calcium, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin) as well as a host of other plants.

One of the major claims of the biotech industry is that by using herbicides, the soil is tilled less often and, therefore, less susceptible to erosion. But that's a slightly erroneous statement in a few different ways because the soil will still erode by both wind and water leaching their chemistry, natural or artificial, into other systems and areas, affecting far more than just their fields.

Erosion happens for many reasons, and in some cases certain weeds could protect the soil from washing away. Mulching is also a good way to keep water in the soil and squelch weeds by suffocation. Further, mulching actually reduces the need for extra irrigation, and some creative use of non-competitive ground cover and companion plants could drastically increase the cost efficiency of a farm. And further still, these originally unwanted weeds could be harvested and sold to offset the cost of manual labor.

Of course, not all weeds are created equal. Some weeds carry pathogens and invite unwanted pests; as nature always provides a counterbalance, other weeds will actually deter unwanted pests and invite beneficial ones. So it's a matter of actually knowing the soil and crops one is attempting to cultivate. As machinery and chemicals have replaced the need to become intimate with the soil, commercial farmers run into problems and reach for easy solutions; and there are many options for a weary farmer looking to increase his yield despite the needs of the soil. In steps agribusiness with their holy snake oil quick-fixes.

But not to talk of them today: Instead, we will look to viable, sustainable solutions to our living environment.

The New Agriculture Network is working to spread the word about organic farming practices with a heavy emphasis on soil health.  The New-Ag Network is comprised of "Three universities --Michigan State University, Purdue University, and the University of Illinois. An advisory board of organic growers supports our planning. The information serves those interested in transitioning to organic as well as those currently practicing low-input or organic agriculture."

Washington State University "is [helping] to build soil productivity, support local agriculture, protect water quality, and facilitate recycling of organic wastes, by applying soil science principles to agricultural, development, and waste management issues."

And there is a wealth of articles on soil health provided by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service where one can learn more about how to farm without harmful herbicides and pesticides and their potentially dangerous runoff, rather, use methods of companion planting, soil fertility and water conservation as sustainable methods to control weeds within the scope of environmental sustainability.

Photo credit acupofchaiwithfeatherheart