The battle has begun

Spot the carrots.

Last week I came to experience a new layer of organic growing, which is the problem with unwanted germination in the fields. In other words: the battle against the weeds have begun.

The Farmer tells me about his fathers’ constant struggles with the weeds. He, like all other farmers of the past (and indeed the present), were at war. Then suddenly a nuclear bomb came around, and sooner or later the vast majority of the farming community were using it. The chemical herbicide.

Otherwise known as weedkiller the chemical herbicide comes in many ways, shapes and forms and I have no intention to account for them here. I am however very willing to understand why these chemicals were an attractive option. It’s just a shame that there are side effects such as ground water damage, indescribable disturbance of the soils’ health and cross contamination with crops intended for ingestion!

There are many ways in which a farmer can protect  her or his crops against these thieves of light and important nutrients. Tilling the soil regularly, for example. But the sensitive area around the fragile carrot shoot cannot be tilled. This is where an army of teenagers enter the arena.

I have already met a few people from the city nearby who tells me about their early experience of this very farm: their first job was to weed the fields.

It’s sort of considered a last resort for youngsters wishing to earn a bit of dosh for ice cream. The youngest of them are 13. It’s not exactly the age where you cherish lying in the mud, if ever you do, but I can see the Farmer’s wife’s efforts in making these young citizens feel proud. Without you I couldn’t farm organically, she tells them, I would have to spray herbicides and  that would make me devastated. There are definetely worse places to have your first experience of working life, and I’m always up for new ways to engage youngsters perhaps not with the land but at least with their food… The social awareness of the Farmer and his wife sure shines through here. Oh and I didn’t get away either- of course I’ve been weeding just as much which sure is lovely on a sunny day. It’s like, you work really hard and get lots done AND you get an even tan at the same time. Double win!

According to SLU, the Swedish Agricultural University, weeds account for 40% of the global total loss of crops because of pests, disease and weeds. This equals about 380 million tonnes of wheat, which would have been half of the global annual production in 2009.  Weeds are by no means a mere eyesore, and the teenagers really are important. Once they’re done the heavy artillery is called upon to till the earth between the rows:

Tractors are after all the younger siblings of tanks, just as weaponry and dynamite were the predecessors of chemical fertilizers…

At ease, soldier.

Advertisement