[MPWG] Moosli in Florida

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

I do not agree with the characterization that invasions are more likely to
result from large monocultures of a species.  The climactic conditions in
Florida are such that even well-meaning moms and pops might have stuff that
gets out of control.  It's hard to stop non-human dispersers from doing
what they do!

It seems to me that many invasions are the result of ornamental
introductions gone bad - many folks simply don't know/understand enough
about hort. plants to recognize that a plant touted as a "quick spreader"
could easily translate into "invasive."  Moreover, the move toward growing
plants in a more "natural" state (i.e. letting them grow "wild") combined
with changing climactic conditions have helped many of these plants take
advantage of what's put in front of them!

This might be a good question for the Alien Plant Working Group (APWG)
listserve.  I'll post a message on their list and, in case you folks are
not on the APWG list, I'll try to report back any news of interest.

-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>



                                                                           
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                                                                   Subject 
                                       Re: [MPWG] Moosli in Florida        
             11/11/2005 03:06                                              
             AM                                                            
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           
                                                                           




Hello,

This is an interesting point about cultivation of non-native species.
Although as conservationists we would logically lean toward bioregionalist
or "protectionist" views of species introductions, farmers are stuck
between a rock and a hard place when it comes to maintaining viable
incomes.  Farmers need to adapt and adopt new crops and diversify or go
under, if they're small as this farmer sounds to be from his reference to
street market vending.  It's difficult to say that a small farmer growing
asparagus and a liliacea like moosli in quantities to satisfy a discreet
local demand should be told no, you will ruin our environment, when in fact
the orange-growing giants in Florida are not likely to diversify as he is
attempting to do (the orange being originally from China I believe).
Should we be up in arms that an organic seed saver in Oregon rather well
known for his conservation work is growing numerous exotic species?  Or
that my local CSA farm is offering its members bok choi and daikon
radishes?  I think not, though I personally do favor bioregionalist ways.

I'm not saying introductions should be undertaken lightly.  But the real
damage of moosli production in Florida and its effect on Florida's
environment would not come as a result of this small farmer growing for the
handful of his customers who request it of him.  It would come if some
agroindustrial giant chose to monoculture the life out of some great
expanse of land, it would come as a result of this culture's demand for
Viagra-like dope instead of healthy lifestyles that create healthy men (and
men and women who accept and welcome old age), and from the sickly American
salesmanship that would oversell a perfectly decent medicine as some super
drug that will keep men young forever.  Agroindustry is for profit alone,
small farming is a lifestyle choice and a labor of love.  Large scale
industrial agriculture just keeps churning out its monocultural goods while
small farmers have to figure out ingenious ways to stay in farming, or quit
and get an off-farm job, or sell their lands to developers.

If I wanted to grow moosli I might check out the following website and
write to the owners:
http://www.jeevanherbs.com/safed-musli.html

Cheers,
Jennifer_______________________________________________
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