The Mopi (manually-operated pasture improvement thing) (also known as the "cute little hoe" ) is a product of Rural System designed for cutting weeds from pasture before the pasture is over run with them. The pasture manager knows that he or she in concert with grasses in a competition with other plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients. The competitors can be eliminated using herbicides but this is expensive, has some elements of danger, has unknown consequences to soil plants and to algae, and may appear in ground water. Reducing costs, risks, and fossil energy use (required in producing many herbicides) all seem like good ideas.
When a pasture manager strolls around a pasture and kicks a weed every 3-4 paces, then he or she is losing more than 3- 4% of the production of that pasture. Losing that much from the bank account would be of concern to most people. It is not needed in a total program for a lasting rural system. The Mopi can stop that pasture loss. (We have many other techniques; this is just one. Be sure to look into other pasture and range management offerings.) The Mopi is a special tool that along with a pair of gloves, careful timing, and access to the Rural System's computer we can help you get improved pasture production, improved watershed conditions, prettier scenery and other good advantages. Part of the profits from its sale goes toward Rural System objectives for private lands.
With handles made from local certified forest woods, an end weighted to give desired striking power at the base of the weed, and two mower-blade teeth (like those in use on forest-fire fighting tools), the Mopi is an effective tool for attacking the large single plant in the pasture (e.g., the thistle). The objective is to easily suppress dominant weeds. They will never be eliminated so strategic suppression is the task. Most pasture weeds are from wind borne seeds, thus their strategy is to build leaves before roots (unlike acorns, for example, that have energy for root growth first). Knowing this and making an early spring attack before roots are well developed and leaves are conspicuous in the pasture, the Mopi reduces work, allows a good look and appreciation for the complexity of the pasture, and prepares it for 100% occupancy by productive grasses which can overtop and out compete most weeds if aided in their competition.
A later "whack" with the Mopi can further reduce plant vigor of weed species not eliminated or missed in the first pass through the pasture.
The Mopi is another example of returning to manual labor to replace the variety of fossil energy (mowing, herbicides, etc.) sources used in the past. The Mopi is constructed so that it has high embodied energy. With drying and a quick oil-rag wipe, it will last with proper use and care for 100 years and is expected to become one of the inheritables. Each is numbered. The handle, of course will be replaced over time.
We expect this tool will be found to have special uses elsewhere. Write to us about your use and we will include many interesting one here in the future.
Comments
Great for dandelions in the yard! (we think it is too wide.)
When the ladder is difficult to use, it's good for taking fruit from off the tree limb.
If you add the cost of herbicide not used to the gains in forage from the weeds' areas over the forage year, the Mopi can save you a lot of money.
Price
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