It's green, leafy & grows a foot a day !

It's KUDZU ! ! ! !

They say that kudzu can grow 7 feet in one week.

The back portion of our property is COVERED in Kudzu !
We would love to be able to use all of our property. We just got a dog, a Lab/Weimaraner mix.
Loli would LOVE to use the back part of our property to run & play.

In all honesty, we have not fought much with the kudzu in the last few years. Other than keeping it out of our grassy areas, we have pretty much let it run wild in the back part of our property.

In the past, the only thing that has worked has been "Bush Be Gone" or another type of chemical in the "Round-up" brand. But it takes SO much money and so much time.

Plus, I don't want to walk on the kudzu, there's no telling what might be UNDER it.
So we spray from just outside of it. Then by the time that section of kudzu has died, the kudzu behind it is catching up ! ! !

I've been looking for answers online for how to get rid of this green monster.
So far, there seem to be very few options.

• Get a goat. (I don't think my neighbors would appreciate livestock, even in my rural subdivision)
  

• Use the same kind of chemical we've been using, "Bush Be Gone" or another type of chemical in the "Round-up" brand. (expensive for large areas, and possibly dangerous to animals)

• Burn it. (too dangerous in this drought)

• Cut off the root crowns of the kudzu plant. (instructions below)

Quote from ehow:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2072149_kill-kudzu.html

The root crown of the kudzu is usually just below the surface of the ground. (By noting where the vine tendrils meet, you will locate the root crown.)

Cutting the root crown off has two important advantages. It will immediately and completely kill the kudzu and you can entirely avoid herbicides.

Burning as described above will prepare the area for removal of the root crown by making it evident where the root crowns are and by destroying the existing vines.

You do NOT need to burn the area to find the root crowns. Burning accomplishes easier location of the root crowns and the destruction of established vines.

You need to be sure to locate ALL of the root crowns, and also to remove all of the root crowns dug up from the area. They need to be destroyed as, if they are covered by ground in the future, they can eventually start growing all over again, and perhaps infest a new area.


Does anybody have any other suggestions ? I'd love any help you could give.


Well, unless someone has a better suggestion, I guess I better get out my cutters, trowel & gloves. Nothing else seems to help, and everything else seems to expensive or dangerous.

Wish me luck !

We have added a new member to our family

We got a dog ! !

Our son, Jarrett, has been BEGGING for a dog for years. We have stalled him as long as possible. We told him we had to wait until we could afford to fence in our yard, maybe in a year or two after we possibly move. But when Loli became available, we just couldn't resist.

Loli is a Lab/Weimaraner mix. (I just LOVE Labs) She is almost 1 year old, already been fixed, and she is potty trained.

Loli's previous owners are my niece Amanda & her kids Cassie & John Robert. They just hated the thought of giving her away, but they just moved to a new apartment and animals are not allowed. When they realized they needed to find Loli a new home, they looked to family first. I had mentioned to my sister Linda that Jarrett would love to have a dog and that I love labs.
So, we all talked and decided that Loli needed us and we needed her.

Since Loli has been an inside dog for all her life, we are keeping her inside for right now. Eventually, we want to set up a trolley & cable system, or maybe an electric fence system.
At least for potty times, and possibly for long days when we might be gone. (I hate the thought of keeping a dog her size confined inside all the time or for long periods of time.) We want her to have the opportunity to run & jump & play without constraint. But right now, if she gets loose, she runs through the whole neighborhood !

We have a little over an acre. Loli would LOVE to use the back part of our property to run & play, but Kudzu has taken over that part.

So far, Loli has not had any accidents ! She is such a good girl !

I love the personality of Labs. They are so sweet with children, and also protective, but not dangerous like some breeds can be.

Loli has already become one of the family, already spoiled rotten by her previous owners.
(we say that all 3 of us are spoiled (mom dad & Jarrett))
And Loli fits in another way too. She snores ! Just like the rest of us ! ! lol ! !

I'll add some photos soon.

Make your own soap

I have never done this before, but it sounds so interesting !

It reminds me of "Little House on the Prairie" or some of the pioneer type books I have read.

Of course, it was a LOT harder back then. Now we can make soap much easier, compared to then.
One day I would like to try to make my own soap.

If you were ever interested in how to make soap, check out this link at http://allthingsholdtogether.com/blog/2008/05/27/melt-and-pour-soap-making/

Flour Sack Towels

Wouldn't it be great to reach into your kitchen towel drawer & find it full of inexpensive (possibly personalized) hand towels ?

Check out this idea that "Blissfully Domestic" had. . .
Flour Sack Towels
http://www.blissfullydomestic.com/2008/05/clean-on-the--1.html

And you could even get them personalized by embroidery.

The possibilities are endless !