Philip Trevelyan and Dr. John Zarb
Article taken from Conservation and Land Management - Volume 2, Number 4 - Winter 2004
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control
by the
Removal of
Individual
Plants-RIP
Trevelyan describe a new
approach to weed control
using radical,
ergonomically designed
hand tools for the
selective and complete
removal of individual
plants.
Weeds have vital
ecological and
aesthetic benefits as
habitat, food, seed, green
manures, forage and soil cover,
and as sources of genetic
diversity and biodiversity.
However, many, such as
common ragwort, spear thistle,
creeping thistle, docks and
invasive scrub plants, can be
problematic. Hand-digging or
pulling are sometimes the only
options for control. This kind of
manual labour is often
considered time-consuming and
costly, but the author's experience
indicates the contrary.
approach to weed
control
organic cereals and sheep on his
own land, and grazes organic
sheep on common land at
Spaunton, North Yorkshire.
Faced with the problem of
ragwort and thistle control on
large areas also grazed by
neighbouring farmers, he was
compelled to use chemical-free
methods so as not to
compromise his organic status.
Several years of trials led to the
development of a range of
robust, ergonomically designed
hand tools built on the farm
under the name of The Lazy
Dog Tool Co. These tools
exemplify the application of
appropriate technology. They
are designed to remove thistles,
dock, ragwort, nettles and young
scrub without the need for
repeated bending, heavy lifting
or herbicides. The weeding
technique has become known as
'removal of individual plants'
(RIP).
tools are used on the farm:
tap roots, ragwort and nettles;
removing creeping thistle by
cutting just below the point of
growth; and
and retrieving weeds and debris
beneath fences and hedges.
Advantages of RIP
hand-weeding
this approach to weeding,
convenient time in one pass;
very early in the season, when
the ground is moist and when
there is often labour available
(creeping thistle is an exception
as at some latitudes it only
becomes visible in March or
April);
the species and numbers of
plants removed;
composting;
a worker to operate without
repeated bending or undue
fatigue;
prevents re-growth in
subsequent years.
management
control is essential. Land
managers must consider:
management, to optimise
pasture use;
Lazy Dog fork. Peter Roworth
interferes with the current use of any
land where it grows or to which it might
spread.