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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.
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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!
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.
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