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--94eb2c1b057a95872e055f83c460 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable A couple interesting notes on milkweed from Mary Holland, and a 2012 Article from Washington Post with some supporting info. Ian *A Win-Win for Milkweed & Monarchs <https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win= -for-milkweed-monarchs/>* Naturally Curious - 4.12.2017 Mary Holland https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-= for-milkweed-monarchs/ "Milkweed, a perennial plant that can adapt to adverse soil conditions, has recently been recognized as a viable source of fiber for fill for jackets and comforters. Winter coats insulated with a compressed layer of milkweed fluff are have been shown to be as effective at retaining body heat as those filled with down or polyester, and a Canadian company is now manufacturing and selling them. Although historically considered a =E2=80=9Cweed,=E2=80=9D milkweed came in= to its own during World War II, when overseas supplies of the insulating fiber from the kapok tree were cut off and milkweed fluff was harvested for use in life jackets. The U.S. government launched a program that enlisted the help of children: if they could fill up a large onion bag of milkweed fluff, they would receive fifteen cents. This incentive proved very popular, and the U.S. was able to stuff over 1.2 million life vests with milkweed fluff. However, after the war, the rising use of synthetics lessened interest in all natural fibers, and milkweed went back to being considered a less than desirable weed. Recently milkweed populations have been declining, in part due to herbicides and loss of habitat. However, with the growing interest in this plant as a source of commercial fiber it is now being planted as an agricultural crop, with some Vermont and Canadian farmers devoting acres of farmland to its growth. This, of course, is a boon to monarchs, as milkweed leaves are the sole source of food for monarch larvae. Not only is milkweed being cultivated, but the farmers growing it are making an effort not to harvest the plants until monarchs have migrated in the fall. A win-win situation for all concerned." <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/1209= 25.html> *Milkweed fruits: Pods of plenty <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/1209= 25.html>* Washington Post 25.09.2012 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/12092= 5.html --94eb2c1b057a95872e055f83c460 Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>A cou= ple interesting notes on milkweed from Mary Holland, and a 2012 Article fro= m Washington Post with some supporting info.=C2=A0</div><div>Ian</div><div>= <br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href=3D"https://naturall= ycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-for-milkweed-mon= archs/">A Win-Win for Milkweed & Monarchs</a></b><br></div><div>Natural= ly Curious - 4.12.2017=C2=A0</div><div>Mary Holland=C2=A0</div><div><a href= =3D"https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-= win-for-milkweed-monarchs/">https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpre= ss.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-for-milkweed-monarchs/</a></div><div><br></div>= <div>"Milkweed, a perennial plant that can adapt to adverse soil condi= tions, has recently been recognized as a viable source of fiber for fill fo= r jackets and comforters.=C2=A0 Winter coats insulated with a compressed la= yer of milkweed fluff are have been shown to be as effective at retaining b= ody heat as those filled with down or polyester, and a Canadian company is = now manufacturing and selling them.</div><div><br></div><div>Although histo= rically considered a =E2=80=9Cweed,=E2=80=9D milkweed came into its own dur= ing World War II, when overseas supplies of the insulating fiber from the k= apok tree were cut off and milkweed fluff was harvested for use in life jac= kets. The U.S. government launched a program that enlisted the help of chil= dren: if they could fill up a large onion bag of milkweed fluff, they would= receive fifteen cents. This incentive proved very popular, and the U.S. wa= s able to stuff over 1.2 million life vests with milkweed fluff. However, a= fter the war, the rising use of synthetics lessened interest in all natural= fibers, and milkweed went back to being considered a less than desirable w= eed.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently milkweed populations have been decli= ning, in part due to herbicides and loss of habitat. However, with the grow= ing interest in this plant as a source of commercial fiber it is now being = planted as an agricultural crop, with some Vermont and Canadian farmers dev= oting acres of farmland to its growth. This, of course, is a boon to monarc= hs, as milkweed leaves are the sole source of food for monarch larvae. Not = only is milkweed being cultivated, but the farmers growing it are making an= effort not to harvest the plants until monarchs have migrated in the fall.= A win-win situation for all concerned."</div><div><br></div><div><a h= ref=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/page= s/120925.html"><br></a></div><div><div><b><a href=3D"http://www.washingtonp= ost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/120925.html">Milkweed fruit= s: Pods of plenty</a></b></div></div><div>Washington Post</div><div>25.09.2= 012</div><div><a href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro= /urban-jungle/pages/120925.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/speci= al/metro/urban-jungle/pages/120925.html</a><br></div><div><br></div><div><b= r></div></div></div> </div> --94eb2c1b057a95872e055f83c460--
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