Take It Home
Where many adults see a weed, children see a wildflower. Generally, if a plant has a flower, a child will see it as a flower. It's fun getting children to start the discussion with parents about what makes a weed.
Weed Wizardry
Every homeowner has battled weeds. Many people are accustomed to grabbing pesticides as a quick fix. Many people believe the government wouldn't let them be sold if they weren't safe, but pesticides are poisons. There are many other ways to get rid of weeds.
Use mulch in gardens. Anything like old leaves or woodchips can be placed on any open soil around plantings to keep weeds down and hold moisture in the soil. It will also add nutrients to the soil as it degrades.
Spray vinegar on weeds. Vinegar is very acidic and kills weeds very quickly, especially on hot, sunny days. Be careful not to get the vinegar on surrounding plants; it will kill any plant it touches. That said, it's best used for weeds that emerge in cracks in sidewalks and driveways.
Hoe weeds or pull them by hand. It's good exercise, and you'll be sure you've gotten rid of weeds. You'll also create a space that is healthier for the plants or grass you want to thrive. Once they get stronger, the good plants will fight back more of the weeds on their own.
Perennial weeds store energy in their roots. Cut down the tops of the weeds, allow them to grow back until they begin to sprout, then cut them back again. Repeat this until all of the energy is drawn out of the roots and they die.
Have students and their parents select one technique from the list, or have them research other nontoxic methods. Have them try out their chosen method and report back after one week, two weeks, and one month on how effective the technique has proven to be (or not to be). If they live in an apartment, maybe they can experiment with weeds in the front sidewalk or parking lot. Which methods are working best? For ones that aren't working so well, is there a better technique that may work for that specific application? Go to www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn to find out about lawn care pesticide dangers and alternatives.
Weed Watchers
In many areas of the country, there is a growing need for volunteer weed watchers to help control invasive species. Weed watching is fun, and it's a great reason to get outside and explore. Learn about the invasive species of your region that harm the local ecology. Generally, you can get information from your local university extension services. The Nature Conservancy also has an invasive species program that takes on invaders in all fifty states and thirty countries around the world. Visit www.nature.org/initiatives/invasivespecies to learn more about your region and how you can get involved. Make “Weed Watcher Guides” that your students can take home and use with their families. As an assignment, have the students keep track of how many invasive weeds they find and eliminate in one week. Which weed appeared the most? If they have a digital camera, have them take a photo of the weed and print it out for your classroom bulletin board.
