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This question was brought up by a grower, thank you Jane Bush from AppleSchram. In the future, you can send such questions on the listserv so they can be researched and shared as this one. Field Bindweed/Wild Morning glory, Creeping Jenny Organic Weed Management http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/bindweed.html#cultural is from ATTRA on organic systems to control bindweed. Here is a summary of findings to manage field bindweed in an organic system: - MOST Importantly: Don't' contaminate a "clean field" with pieces of bind weed or seed carried on your tractor or in poorly composted soil or in other organic matter. - bindweed does not survive well with light competition. This light competition can come from exclusion through - black plastic mulch- recover for 3 seasons or include some of following practices in the following years - planting a dense cover crop ((alfalfa or rye grass) or (hairy vetch and rye)), - Plant a crop of pumpkin in June and disk in crop residue after harvest (plant may contain an alleopathy to deter bindweed). - Till/cultivate land to cut bindweed when flowering. At flowering, the plant directs its resources to produce seed and away from roots. - Root grazers like pigs will eat leaves and chew on roots, greatly reducing reoccurrence - Cultivate soil or hoe to continually remove above ground portion - These practices (or combo of) need to be done for minimum 3 years of to actually KILL established bindweed. This is why it is ranked as one of the "top ten" worst weeds in the world! http://www.pesticide.org/bindweed.html is from Northwest Coalition for Alternative to Pesticides. Flowers look like this: <http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedinfo/usedimages/Fieldbindweed78ros etteA.jpg> The Seeds look like this <http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedinfo/usedimages/convolvulusarvensi s.jpg> Each plant can produce 500 seeds that can last up to 50 years Alternative herbicides such as clove oils and citric acid mixtures with vinegar. http://www.naturesoils.com/item--Citric-Acid--SO-CitricAcid.html?OVRAW=c itric%20acid&OVKEY=citric%20acid&OVMTC=standard is for citric acid which is sold and allowed by OMRI but restricted to kill weeds and brush at 20% strength. Bindweed Mite: http://www.cepep.colostate.edu/organic/factsheets/FieldBindweed.pdf is an article from Colorado State University. They discuss is a bindweed mite that may be useful in Michigan. It has been found to overwinter in Montana and Canada so could be useful on lighter soils. I say lighter soils as it does better in dryer conditions as found in southern Colorado. If any of you have info or experience on this please share with the group. *****Organic Animal conference***** **********August 23-25, 2006 First IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production. This conference of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) will focus on important issues concerning organic livestock and animal husbandry. The program includes health and food safety in organic livestock production systems, marketing trends, innovation in organic livestock production systems and livestock breeding strategies. Key figures from around the world will present the diversity of organic livestock systems, including opportunities and challenges on the horizon. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Details are available from IFOAM web site <http://www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam_conferences/IFOAM_Animal_Production_C onference.html> at: http://www.ifoam.org <http://www.ifoam.org/> ***Farmers Market Openings and Opportunities**** Greetings Farm Market Friends! Please join us this Wednesday, May 17th as we begin another farm market season filled with fresh, local food and lots of fun. The Allen Street Farmers Market is open every Wednesday from 2:30PM-6:30PM (longer hours this year) in our parking lot at the corner of Allen and Kalamazoo Streets in Lansing, Michigan (please call if you need directions). I've attached a flyer about the market. Please feel free to post it wherever you work, play, live, eat, read, cook or whatever else you enjoy doing and spread the word to all your family, friends, co-workers, acquaintances and/or random strangers who might benefit from some really good food. More information is available on our Web site. To volunteer or join the market, please give us a call: 517-367-2468. See you at the market!! Amee Miller Allen Neighborhood Center 1619 E. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 367-2468 [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> , www.allenneighborhoodcenter.org ******Newsletter for Great Lake State Organic growers****** Michigan State University is part of a three-state effort with University of Illinois and Purdue University to pool their expertise on agroecology and organic practices at one readily accessible web site. The information is further enhanced through a partnership with experienced organic growers in the three states. You can read the articles and reports from the growers and university personnel at the New Agriculture Network: http://www.new-ag.msu.edu <http://www.new-ag.msu.edu/> Vicki Morrone Organic Vegetable and Crop Outreach Specialist Michigan State University C.S. Mott Sustainable Food Systems 303 Natural Resrouces Bldg. East Lansing, MI 48824 517-353-3542 517-282-3557 (cell) 517-353-3834 (fax)