[permaculture-oceania] Re: Weed Steamers - BD farm/peppers

[Matthew Bond]

G'day Tez,

Peppers are tools used by biodynamic farmers & gardeners to control where
they don't want animals to go or plants to grow.  They are made from the
burnt seed of the plant or the burnt skin/body of the animal therefore there
are no chemicals.  The pepper must be prepared at a specific time of year
according to the position of the sun, moon, or stars.  The peppers can be
classed in 5 ways (i.e. according to when they are made although a pepper
must be made for each individual plant/insect/animal): winged insect
peppers; peppers for insects without wings; peppers for insects in the
larval stage; animal peppers; & plant peppers.

A lot of people like to view weeds as indicators but when it comes to
animals eating their harvest, they tend to be more active and less passive!
By the way, that's not to suggest that there is no value in viewing weeds
and animals as indicators, I'm just making a comment on human behaviour.

Matthew.



Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:48:46 +0800
> From: "Bandicoot Highs" <bandicoothights at westnet.com.au>
> Subject: Re: [permaculture-oceania] Re: Weed Steamers - BD
>         farm/peppers
>
> Hiya Matthew..Re Peppers?
>        What are "peppers"I only worked biodynamic farm for 2 months,was a
> gov work skills thingey .alas unemployed again afterwards....The time they
> took to steam wead a metre both sides of a vege row i coulda hand weeded and
> had "smoko" as well...after doing the whole row..
> Its not a case of removing weeds..Its more a case of... Large scale vegie
> growing is the problem....Hand weeding is the only real true option if you
> want to remove weed killers etc from the eqation.
> Growing ones own vegatables,reduces the need for sprays,steam,Hoes etc..
> mass production of mono crops,and the disregard of the conseqences of
> chemicals over massive areas by multi greedily companies,is the reason we
> are having these weed problems...The "new generation" farmers are "money
> makers" not "food producers"
> the only time they worry about chemical usage is when its tax time and
> they use it as a tax dodge........
>   ----- Original Message -----
>   From: Matthew Bond
>   To: permaculture-oceania at lists.cat.org.au
>   Sent: Thursday, September 14, 2006 2:47 PM
>   Subject: [permaculture-oceania] Re: Weed Steamers - BD farm/peppers
>
>
>   A BD farm that does not use BD peppers to get rid of weeds.  How
> unusual!!
>
>   By the way, folks, this November is the best time in 80 years to make
> peppers for animals including those pesky cane toads!  Prepare ye!  Research
> ye!
>
>   A weed can be an indicator if you let it be but if you pepper it, its
> absence could be an indicator of the presence of the appropriate pepper!!
>
>   Happy peppering,
>
>   Matthew.
>
>
>     Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 07:55:10 +0800
>     From: "Bandicoot Highs" < bandicoothights at westnet.com.au>
>     Subject: Re: [permaculture-oceania] Weed Steamers
>
>     I used steamers whilst working on a Biodynamic farm in West Oz in
> 1995..
>     I found that it is/was an absolute waste of Time and money.It took
> more effort and resources.eg water,heat,steam.than was worthwile and still
> had to be repeated as often as before..Tis better then roundup etc.Saferand no lasting effects..
>
>     Tezza
>
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