Hit the Dirt; Using Bugs and Weeds

Good morning. This is Saturday president has given hit the dirt bugs weeds get rid of them. There's a widespread fear and distaste for bugs and weeds. We know that many insects are beneficial and there are people who know that many weeds are edible and have healing properties such plants as nettles but ark and chickweed. But how many people know that weeds and all the indicators of salt conditions but are also beneficial when tilled into the soil. Weeds as indicators of soil but till it is not a new idea in 50 A.D. pleny noted that wheat grew well while wild plum oak and elderberry grew. We should look at our weeds learn to identify them and let them teach us how to manage US soil. When fertility is poor there will be deep rooted plants like Daisy Queen Anne's lace and dandelion plants that reach down searching for nutrients. The solution to getting rid of them if their own wanted is to improve the fertility of the area where they grow. You may not get rid of all your weeds but those that grow now will be the shallow rooted ones such as chickweed and lamb Skordas acid salt indicators a

sorrel Darkhawk weed and sink for. Goldenrod and asters thrive in sandy soil the edge of my driveway is carpeted with pine apple weed and I see a rabbit nibbling on abundant plants in the eaves. These plants are both happy in compacted soils as Arcam a mile and quack grass. Any garden you prepare whether for flowers herbes or vegetables is considered disturbed or cultivated and an invitation for weed seeds. Nature is very opportunistic here you will find chickweed Buttercup plant in lamb's quarters and mellow and nettles poorly drained soils might have Joe pile weed and horse tail. Not only do seeds indicate salt conditions but also salt deficiency as a meadow full of clover and vetch may indicate a nitrogen deficiency. Certain plants accumulate nutrients from the soil and could be filled in at the end of the growing season. Cover crops such as oats clover and buckwheat are grown untilled in to improve the nutrition and add organic matter to the soil. There are many minerals that are hoarded by

plants according to Robert Couric in designing and maintaining an edible landscape naturally put out by the metamorphic press. Calcium is found in cold dark god and salt purslane Toadflax watercress lamb's quarters Shepherd's person dark Bracken hall stale and vetch contain cobbled copper can be found in Colts foot dandelion plantain purslane stinging nettles and bitch god and water cress have fluoride water cress also holds on to magnesium as does cold dandelion plant and pig weed and stinging nettle wild hordes in phosphorus and potassium phosphorus will also be found in chickweed clover garlic dandelion pursed and vetch and potassium in chickweed and dandelion too. And in labs court is stinging nettle and watercress silica and sodium in dandelions softened sodium in water cress and stinging nettles. This is not a complete list nor should a single plant be taken as an indicator. But just as your cabbage or your Burridge or your lilies will

produce strong healthy plants in salt conditions most suited to them so will weeds be loshon in such conditions. A good mat of chickweed in the vegetable garden does indicate fertile soil and it's good in salad too. Not only can we use weeds as indicators and saw a boost as but some can work against pests. I'm not sure that I would want horsetail in my celery bed as it's hard to control but it is a weapon against celery rust and so is stinging nettle which also is a companion plant increases disease resistance in vegetables and increases essential oils in Herb's and the stinging has discovered snails. I haven't tried it but the leaves and fruit bearing branches of elder when made into liquid is supposed to discourage animal pests and the branches Ledo of vegetables may discourage flea beetles. There is another picture here just looking at the nutrients accumulated by for instance dandelion water cress and stinging nettles should indicate to us that these plants make a healthy addition to our diet. Treat your weeds as

allies as beneficial plants where they are being invasive. Fill in mulch weeds and improve fertility. This is Sally. I hit the dirt.