| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| texdane |
Posted - May 18 2012 : 05:24:33 AM
Hey Farmgirls,
The last few weeks, I went through something awful. I went in the garden, happily pulling weeds, dividing perennials, and putting in veggies in the garden. I ended up with a severe case of poison ivy. My farmgirl sisterhood chapter and I got together the next day, and I was starting to break out. They told me of a product to prevent the rash, but, alas, it was too late. Long story short, I never want to go through this again. (I'm okay now, I'll spare you the details, but let's say the garden won).
Anyhow, it's all over the yard! Hidden here, there and everywhere.  I know it can't be burned, it's poison oil lasts even after dead, and I want to keep my yard and garden organic. Anyone have experience with this? How do you kill it??????
Farmgirl hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| knead2garden |
Posted - May 26 2012 : 05:30:54 AM
Any luck getting rid of the ivy w/o chemicals? I know that you can use jewel weed to help after you break out and it helps a great deal.
My oldest son is very allergic and I hate to say it, but it's so bad that my husband sprays the ivy with a chemical weed killer anytime he finds it. We both hate to do it, but it is all over our property. Although, we've noticed since we purchased our home 4 years ago, every year we see less and less....for the last 4 years have been cleaning out a very overgrown 5 acres by hand, so hopefully it will slowly go on it's own.
~Ashley
#1677
"In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we have been taught." -Baba Dioum |
| crittergranny |
Posted - May 23 2012 : 05:54:34 AM
I would also say try the rental goats. If the city complains then tell them they are then responsible for getting rid of the ivy. You can probably go online and find someone who rents out goats. Maybe you could even go down to the city and get a waiver for it ahead of time. I wouldn't though, what are they going to do but tell you to get rid of them. The only problem with using goats is that they will clear everything else too. Unless of course the ivy is away from the other stuff, but I would think it would be worth it to get rid of it to lose a few plants. The goats will have it eaten within a week at the most so I would imagine it would not be hard to get them in and out before anyone gripes about them, and just keep the doggie elsewhere for a while. I used to feed some goats for some people that rented them out. They would bring in about 100 of them and clear large areas of weeds and brush. If the goatherd brought a large number ( say 10 or up)then it would get done like in 1 day.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
| texdane |
Posted - May 21 2012 : 6:45:34 PM
Laurie,
Thank you!!! I did actually think about calling my friend AJ and see if she would "loan" me a goat for the day, in all seriousness. I did try the salt and vinegar and soap mixture, although I did not know to heat it. Hmmm....I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you for looking these up for me. You are a sweetie!
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| laurentany |
Posted - May 21 2012 : 1:32:37 PM
Nicole-
I just found these ideas online....dont know if they are feasable or not but may be worth a try?
Boiling Water
Boiling water is hot enough to kill most plant life, including poison ivy. To use this method, simply boil a pan of water and immediately pour it over the top of the poison ivy plant. This technique will also kill any other plants the water comes into contact with, so be careful around plants that you would like to keep alive.
Soap Remedies
Liquid soaps, such as castile soap, are also deadly to poison ivy plants. Make a mixture of four tablespoons of soap to one quart of water, pour it into a spray bottle and spray the poison ivy plants and their surrounding area.
Another soap recipe for spraying poison ivy is one cup of salt, a gallon of vinegar and a little liquid detergent. To mix, heat the salt and vinegar in a pan until the salt dissolves. Let this mixture cool, then add a few drops of liquid detergent. Either pour the mixture over the poison ivy plants or spray them.
Like boiling water, either of these soap remedies will kill not only the poison ivy but any other plant in the vicinity, so you must be careful in your distribution
Read more: Natural Ways to Kill Poison Ivy | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5399172_natural-ways-kill-poison-ivy.html#ixzz1vXRC1pY8
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| laurentany |
Posted - May 21 2012 : 1:30:13 PM
Oh Nicole! That sounds terrible. I am so sorry that you have this problem, as I know you really enjoy your garden. I do not have a solution, but hopefully one of the other farmgirls here will. Wow, I dont know what I would do. Is it possible to "borrow" or "rent" a few goats for a day? Laugh as you may , I think I have actually read or seen goats for rent by the day to come in and do away with weeds etc. If they were only there for a day, would that be allowed in your area (I mean since you dont own them- as far as zoning goes)???
Of course they probably would eat EVERYTHING in sight, but at this rate it might be worth it!
Please keep us posted!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
| queenmushroom |
Posted - May 20 2012 : 10:48:33 AM
Wow, didn't know that hens ate poison ivy. Today, My dh and I were fertilizing (yes with pelleted fertilizer) a remote blueberry field. My son rode with hubby to the field. I left our truck at the end of the road and walked in. Poison ivy was in the middle of the dirt road. It wasn't heavy, so I could go around it. Thank goodness for long pants, but I'll have to change them when I get to my house and do some laundry.
Patience is worth a bushel of brains...from a chinese fortune cookie |
| Melina |
Posted - May 20 2012 : 08:48:55 AM
Our entire backyard was infested when we moved there. We turned a dozen hens loose in the yard and they ate every little sprout. We were there 10 years and it never came back. Ya-hoo!
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
| Rosemary |
Posted - May 20 2012 : 07:51:53 AM
Poor Nicole! I have the exact same situation. The stuff is everywhere. The experts here in the country say you have to spray it with a special weed killer either in spring, as it starts coming up, or in fall, when you can see the bright leaves easily and the sap (or whatever the equivalent is for poison ivy) is running back down to the roots. Much as I hate chemicals, I'm really considering having it done this fall. Meanwhile, I guess all we can do is stop gardening every two hours or so and take a shower with good strong soap. Be sure to wash your garden clothes and tools, too. |
| rough start farmgirl |
Posted - May 20 2012 : 01:48:30 AM
Oh, man. I have no idea how to combat this. Best of luck. It sounds awful.
Marianne |
| texdane |
Posted - May 19 2012 : 4:56:05 PM
LOL! Yes, I thought of that. But we aren't zoned for a goat and the family dog would be horrified. :) Any other ideas?
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE
Chapter Leader, Connecticut Simpler Life Sisters
Suburban Farmgirl Blogger
http://sfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org/ |
| MiaBella |
Posted - May 18 2012 : 05:41:33 AM
Get a couple of goats! They will eat it.
Boer goat whethers (castrated) make great weed eaters and pets!
Michelle
Farmgirl Sister #4097
MiaBella Farm
New Caney, TX
www.miabellafarm.com |
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