Non-toxic weed control?

Any home gardeners? Do you know of a successful non-toxic"weed killer" that can be used in the yard? There are several products that claim to be both effective and non-toxic, but reviews don't seem to support their claims. Have any of you had success with something non-toxic? Something you have personal first-hand knowledge of. Those word-of-mouth stories about what Uncle uses, etc, can be a wild goose chase. I'm done with those chases, I need some first-hand advice. [And, please, no hints on landscaping or watering or how to hand-pull weeds, I've already got that under control. What I need now is something to add to those methods... a dose of weed-killer. Thanks.]

Non-toxic weed control?

Parasitic disease Rat Lungworm

Newest health concern for Hawaii, Rat Lungworm. The parasite is carried by critters including snails and slugs. The health department is giving the wise advice to well wash all veggies, and other common sense suggestion.

So, what does today's news bring? There is a new outbreak on Hawaii Island, and the source according to a StarAdvertiser report?

Quote:

The new reports stem from a single incident in Keaau on Hawaii island where six state residents drank kava, which is made from the piper methysticum plant and is used to promote relaxation. After downing the homemade brew, which had been sitting outside all night, they discovered slugs at the bottom of the large bowl.

EEwwwww :eek:

Left outside all night??? Have those folks never heard of how to catch African Snails (bury a can with the lid removed, up to the rim, then pour in a couple of inches of beer, and the snails will fall in and drown. Messy, but effective). Anyway, leaving a food-based liquid outside overnight really is inviting critters in for a swim.

Now we not only have to worry about "who made the potato salad" (kept cold enough?), we have to worry about "who made the kava" (kept secure from critters?).

Parasitic disease Rat Lungworm

Parasitic disease at lungworm

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Parasitic disease at lungworm

"Designated Survivor" on ABC

Been watching the series Designated Survivor when it airs on ABC on Wednesday night.

Later episodes have a West Wing feel to it for most of its story line, other times it goes into its mystery storyline.

"Designated Survivor" on ABC

Street parking now by permit only

There is a new policy that will require parking permits for on street parking in Kalihi Valley's Wilson Tract neighborhood beginning today. The StarBulletin provides details:

Quote:

Only those who live on the streets are eligible for the permit, and applicants must show proof of residency. Each household can apply for up to two hang-tag permits for personal vehicles, for which they will need to provide license plates and descriptions, and two permits for guests

There are about 230 unmarked stalls in the area, and of the 193 residents (homes), 143 have applied for the permits.

So why is there such a problem with the Wilson Tract area parking? I was thinking that if the city officials were going to try to limit parking in certain areas to just residents, that they'd start with ... say .... the often jammed Lanikai area. Then upon further reading of the SB article, I learned:

Quote:

.... a majority of the vehicles parked on the neighborhood’s streets belong to people living in the nearby Kalihi Valley Homes public housing project. A crackdown on the number of resident vehicles allowed on the grounds of the 373-unit project pushed residents and their guests to park vehicles across Likelike Highway in Wilson Tract....

Quote:

Some of those parking in Wilson Tract have brought other issues, and HPD has reported a sharp increase in crime for the area in the last two years...,

Is this this area just the beginning?

Quote:

Besides assessing the results of the project, [Councilwoman] Fukunaga said, city transportation officials should study how other municipalities deal with the issue of neighborhoods with a lack of street parking.

I predict that if all goes fairly well with this initial trial of the on-street parking permit policy, that it will soon spread to other areas, especially to high economic areas such as Lanikai. And perhaps to areas where residents often complain of too many visitor cars, such as the Maunawili trail head.


Is this fair to the regular tax payers and folks who pay auto registration fees, that they will not be able to utilize PUBLIC STREET PARKING on a first-come-first-serve basis? Should a private citizen be allowed priority parking on PUBLIC STREETS? What does it mean to taxpayers that a public (tax-supported) road can have parking restrictions that show preferential treatment to others?

Street parking now by permit only