I believe the catalyst which began the downfall was the industrial age. Farming has always taken an intensive labor force. Whether a family with several children or one with cheap laborers, farming isn't easy work. As more money was to be made with jobs in the cities, children and other laborers moved there, leaving farmers facing a daunting task, raising food with little help. So most family farms were sold to big conglomerates which replaced cheap labor with chemicals. Some farmers even use genetically engineered plants that contain a built in herbicide, which isn't healthy for us. It seems there are articles every day warning us of the dangers of eating food which isn't organic.
Going back to folks leaving the farm and moving to subdivisions, all those yards needed to be landscaped. Companies, eager for profit, were quick to comply with all the beautiful plants those good salaries would buy. Since folks now had a regular income, they didn't need to think of edible plants, grocery stores would supply their food. They purchased most of their plants for aesthetic value only. The seeds from those plants were then spread in a myriad of ways, including wind, birds, and people. It didn't take long for our terrible problem to develop. One person maintaining a small lot can handle a few invasive plants. However, when those same plants invade the rural areas, their multiplication is astronomical.
Take privet for example, a flowering plant in the genus Ligustrum. There are about fifty species of the evergreen shrub which grow into a small tree if left alone. One plant may produce thousands of seeds, which are eaten by birds and spread widely. If you cut down one plant, ten will spring up from the roots. It's complete eradication is no longer possible. In Alabama's twenty one million acres, it is estimated at least one million are lost to privet. Many try to control the plant with herbicides, but with the health dangers chemicals pose to both people and native plants, other methods are more desirable.
I've found cutting, removing, and burning the largest clumps help control the spread. Goats and sheep both enjoy eating privet as well. If the soil is moist, pulling small plants up by the roots is fairly easy. The sad thing is that the plant is still being sold by some stores today.
So, the never ending battle with invasive plants will go on. We gain some ground, then lose it again. What we need is a change in our thinking. What if we all converted those nice lawns between our privet fences to something different. Yes, those lawns which require fertilizers, reseeding, hours of mowing, dethatching, aerating... and then, after that, you still can't eat it. Why not think about having your very own food forest! Imagine, walking outside and picking your own blueberries, tomatoes, okra, grapes, apples, pears, and all kinds of great food! Let's bring the farm to the city.
Yes, I know plants are expensive, but so is all that lawn maintenance. Plus you'll know the history of the food you are putting in your body. It wasn't sprayed with chemicals or fertilized with human waste! I'll even give you a good tip on the planting expense. Many of the fruits you purchase at the store have "seeds" in them. If they were grown in the United States, they haven't been radiated as they crossed the border, so they are probably still viable. Google the variety, and get some good tips on planting the seed. Also, seeds are very inexpensive where plants are a bit costly. Order a few seed packets and start your own locally grown harvest. I've heard gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get food. The exercise is also excellent for you, so you can save on the gym membership. All that excellent healthy food is going to make you feel good, look good, and have a great attitude about yourself. The benefits outweigh any cost!
Once you really get excited about growing your own food, search YouTube for "Permaculture" videos. Its a great method to help maintain your garden with less effort, less cost, and allowing nature to pitch in as a twenty-four hour assistant. I'm always disappointed when I ask a farmer or, even recently, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System Agent, if they are aware of Permaculture. I've yet to get a "yes" from anyone. They are still steeped in the big mono-farming method where all food is grown with chemicals. Things have got to change.
I'll leave you with a few good links if you are interested in doing some more research. I hope you'll check out the list of invasive plants and spread the word about their dangers. We should all be an environmentalist, because we only have one environment!
Alabama's Worst Invasives
The Privet Warriors
Dealing with Invasive Plant Species
Why Food Forests?
