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The Garlic Mustard Challenge 2010

Garlic Mustard Challenge 2010
Dates: Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 thru Friday, July 9th, 2010*
Where: Anywhere that invasive garlic mustard can be found

Quick Links:

Report Bags Here

Weekly Statistics

What is Garlic Mustard?

About the Challenge

Get Involved

Resources

 

Weekly Statistics
Cluster Competition Standings and Weekly Totals

 

 

What is Garlic Mustard?

Garlic Mustard is an invasive plant that was brought over to the United States by European settlers as an herb. Unfortunately, with none of its native competitors present, garlic mustard has spread virtually unchecked across the county and can be found in over thirty states as well as parts of Canada. Not only do these invasive weeds choke out native wildflowers, out-competing them for space and sunlight, but they also excrete chemicals through their roots further preventing wildflower growth.  Sapling growth is similarly limited by monocultures of garlic mustard. Garlic mustard, and other invasive species, poses a serious threat to the biodiversity and overall quality of beloved natural areas. 

Click here to read more about garlic mustard

Click here for more information about other invasive species

Learn more about garlic mustard by watching the video above!

Created by Barbara Lucas and funded by Wisconsin Family Forests.

 

 

About the Garlic Mustard Challenge

Each year, this project challenges folks to collaboratively remove, or pull, at least 100,000 pounds of garlic mustard between mid-April and mid-June.  During “The Challenge” (as it has been
affectionately nicknamed), folks participate by pulling the invasive weed garlic mustard, and then reporting the number and size of refuse bags (see "Report Bags Here" link above). 

The Stewardship Network keeps tally of all bags reported for each Cluster, converts bags to pounds, and then adds them to the overall total.  The Clusters and Out-of-Cluster group compete for the most pounds of pulled garlic mustard.  The winning Cluster (or Out-of-Area group!) wins the Cluster Cup and restoration bragging rights for the year!  Some Clusters rely on large reports of pulled garlic mustard from organized Cluster pulls, organizations' field crews, etc. while others rely mostly on the cumulative effort of individual garlic mustard reports.

"Rocket Boost"
Included in this year's Garlic Mustard Challenge, we are featuring a "Rocket Boost."  This means, that while you are ridding your natural area of garlic mustard, don't be afraid to throw in some other spring invasive species!  Additional spring invasives that we are accepting in reported bags for the 2010 Challenge are: Dame's Rocket and Narrow-leaf Bittercress. When reporting your bags of pulled garlic mustard, be sure to let us know on the form if there are any "Boosts" in your garlic mustard bags. 

Garlic Mustard "Free" Locations
Since protecting natural areas from garlic mustard is just as important as restoring areas overwhelmed with it, we want to give special attention to locations that have no second-year garlic mustard plants on their property.  Please email Meghan at the Stewardship Network (mhendricks@stewardshipnetwork.org) with the property name and its approximate location and acreage. It will then be listed on our website as the Garlic Mustard Challenge gets underway.

Disposal
Disposal is another important step in making sure garlic mustard roots don’t re-root and seeds can’t spread.  Ordinary means of yard waste disposal (i.e. composting, paper yard waste bags, etc.) will not prevent garlic mustard’s spread. 

Put pulled garlic mustard into plastic garbage bags and dispose of bags to landfill or curbside trash pick-up.  In Michigan since March 2008, “yard clippings” are only allowed in the landfill or incinerators if they are diseased, infested, or invasive plants that are a part of an eradication or control program… and the Stewardship Network's Garlic Mustard Challenge qualifies as an eradication or control program!

The Stewardship Network's 2010 Garlic Mustard Challenge

Dates: Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 through Friday, July 9th, 2010*

*This is the last date we're accepting reports, but some locations should stop pulling garlic mustard before this date.  When the plants start becoming dry, the seeds begin to pop when pulled or disturbed, doing more harm than good.  General rule, if you are approximately latitudinally parallel with Lansing, Michigan, you should begin thinking about wrapping up any pulling in the last fews days of June.  Any farther south, stop earlier, and any farther north, you can safely pull a while longer. Use your judgement!
Click here to learn more about garlic mustard

Location: Anywhere there are invasive garlic mustard plants

Beyond its quantitative aims, the Challenge strives to promote the significance of healthy native ecosystems; the threat of garlic mustard and other invasive plants such as Dame’s Rocket and Bittercress; proper removal techniques for specific invasives; and the detail and diligence necessary to thoroughly eradicate an invasive plant population. 

The Challenge strives to educate people in all walks of life about such issues,  And finally, although certainly not least, it provides many great opportunities to foster greater cooperation between restorationists and volunteers.

 

Get Involved!

Want to get involved in the Garlic Mustard Challenge this year?  It's easy, and anyone can participate- school groups, retirement communities, neighborhood groups, professional landscapers, parks and recreation, land conservancies, volunteer and paid staff positions doing restoration work, private landowners, public landowners, Boy and Girl Scout Troops, ... anyone! 

1) Pull garlic mustard on your own, with friends and family, with your field crew, or with any number of already scheduled volunteer opportunities at local natural areas

Click here to find a Garlic Mustard Pulling Event

2) Figure out what Stewardship Network Cluster (or Out-of-Cluster) you are in, so your pounds can be counted towards the Cluster competition

Click here for a Cluster Map

3) Report the numbers of refuse bags or pounds of pulled garlic mustard (Please coordinate who will be reporting  number of bags in order to avoid duplicates)

Click here to Report Pulled Garlic Mustard

 

 

Resources

Useful links:

Garlic Mustard Abstract

More information on other invasive plants

Garlic Mustard and 2010 Garlic Mustard Challenge Powerpoint

Garlic Mustard and Biocontrol Presentation Video (Coming soon)
Doug Landis and Jeffrey Evans, Michigan State University

Effects of Timing on Management of Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and Response of Non-Target Herbaceous Vegetation (Coming Soon)
Mark Renz, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Garlic Mustard Trading Cards
The Nature Conservancy- Michigan


© 2007 Stewardship Network Photography: Summer Tanager © Brian L. Zwiebel; others by David Mindell, Plantwise, L.L.C.