School is back in session
Now that school is back in session I am spending time in the gardens and green
spaces of our lovely CMH campus again with children. Not only have the children
grown and changed during the summer months, but of course, the weeds in our
gardens have grown and even multiplied too! The children will soon learn or be
reminded that a weed can be any kind of plant, but specifically a plant growing
where it is not wanted.
When children garden at CMH, we mechanically remove unwanted plants that
appear in our classroom gardens. As children pull weeds they learn about roots,
stems, leaves. They see what lives in the soil profile, discover how they can care for
the environment, build cooperation with peers, and tune their motor skills. They
take pride in their work as they nurture the Coneflower, Milkweed, Asters, Hostas,
and other desired plant species.
Occasionally during weekend mowing, we might use weed killer on noxious plants
such as Poison Ivy, which is a very beneficial source of food for wildlife but some
staff and students are highly allergic to urushiol, a clear liquid in the plant’s sap.
CMH is looking at alternatives to Glyphosate (Round Up). News stories are
reporting studies that show this chemical to be potentially harmful to the
environment and to us. I have compiled a list of alternatives for you to try in your
home gardens and landscape areas. At CMH we will incorporate as many of these
alternatives as possible. Know that different situations will require different
methods and that no homemade weed killer will work a well as Round Up. To see
the compiled list click here.
~ Veronica Brannen, CMH Naturalist
