Hired goats filling their tummies is an excellent eco-friendly method of getting rid of any unwanted weeds.

It takes effort to keep landscaping nice - and weeds do not make it look better (thats one reason why they call them weeds). Goats are not selective, they will eat anything that is not 20 gage or heavier steel, and roam at will. As for mowing, it releases the seeds that weeds are best at spreading (thats the other reason why they call them weeds).

I use RoundUp because it is supposedly non-toxic to animals or anything that doesn't do photosynthesis - I have more bird species than I can count, and bugs and worms too. But a better idea as any landscape architect knows is to use 2 to 3 inches of bark mulch, which suppresses seed germination until it decays, about three years. It also retains moisture in the soil, saving irrigation water. It's odd that the city does not spread bark mulch, especially considering how much chipping is done by city contractors.

Mr Riggs makes 2 comments of interest. One regards landscaping looking "nice". The second, that Round Up is "supposedly non-toxic,"

I get "nice". The question is if we want to risk human cell deterioration to get nice landscaping. Google Round up. If you choose research NOT provided by manufacturer, Monsanto, you will discover scientists have discovered serious dangers covered up by Monsanto. In 2011 I would assume folks would learn to be skeptical of manufacturer claims. Their top priority is not safety -- it's revenue. Ask Chinese toothpaste manufacturers. Personally, I don't choose toothpaste made with anti-freeze to save a few bucks. And I dont expect one of the richest communities in the nation to make a similar choice with maintaining their turf. David Strohm

Roundup is not a safe product


Web Link

Thank you to Ms Arbuckle for fighting against herbicide use. What are these weeds that are so bad? When I was a child we pulled weeds out of our lawn, it worked. If there are people using the park that want the lawn to be perfect, perhaps they should start a volunteer movement to pull the weeds -- polluting the environment should not be an option.

I also appreciate Vice Mayor's Keith's decision to research what other cities do and see if Menlo Park can adopt policies to control weeds without putting toxins in the environment. I think this new council member is proactive and looking for solutions.

Thank you again for looking after the planet.

Henry, here is a related suggestion from "Create a garden the Kirsten way" Web Link

USE BOILING WATER AS A WEED-KILLER: Instead of using commercial weed-killers on paved areas, try boiling salt water. Pour this on to the weeds and they will shrivel and die.

We are fighting the U.S. Forest Service on the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois who wants to spray 10s of thousands of acres of so-called "exotic" species with toxic herbicides. If the direct toxicity of these chemicals isn't bad enough, check out the statement of the Endocrine Society about the endocrine disrupting capabilities of these chemicals. Web Link

The idea that these chemicals are safe is a scam, and nothing more than industry propoganda. Keep up your opposition and if enough people speak up we can stop this craziness.

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