Eco-Friendly Weed Whacker?
Ok, so the goat picture is just a joke!
Just read a really interesting article at VenturaCountyStar.com about a ‘hot organic foam’ that can be used in place of weed killers like Roundup.
Apparently the machine that creates said foam costs $26,000 and was made by Waipuna, a company from New Zealand.
Here’s a blurb from the article:
The foam solution contains natural plant sugar extracts from corn and coconut heated to 210 degrees. The fully biodegradeable, slightly sticky foam is sprayed on weeds and plant beds through a contraption that looks like a vacuum cleaner.
The quirky but effective system is the latest eco-friendly tool in the city’s approach to pest control: It uses biological, cultural and mechanical methods first — and chemicals only as a last resort.
As is often the case, there do seem to be some trade-offs when it comes to using the eco-friendly weed killer - this approach can take longer, and potentially costs more (the article mentions more monitoring being required). On the upside however, the foam can be sprayed on windy days or even in a light drizzle since there it is non toxic. For the same reason, there is no need to post hazard signs and no extra concern needed for children or animals in the area.
Sounds like a cool solution to me!
Here is a link to the full article: An eco-friendly weed whacker
Technorati Tags: weed killer, roundup, herbicide, waipuna, ventura, landscaping, earth friendly, weed whacker, weed whipper
Written by Bentley on November 13th, 2006 with
2 comments.
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sherpa2
#1. November 14th, 2006, at 9:29 AM.
Mmm.. sounds interesting, although just because something is non-toxic doesn’t automatically make it good. There could, for example, be a detrimental effect on insects from the barrier effect of the foam.
Joe