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Index of Subjects --089e0825ed60307abf055f8aa82b Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Very interesting articles Ian. I forwarded the links to a FB site that I subscribe to called MILK the WEED, a U.S. site dedicated to Monarch Butterfly and milkweed landscape enhancement as well as native plant and prairie gardening . Regards, Ron Wilson formerly Somerset NS now St Andrews NB On Mon, Dec 4, 2017 at 9:33 AM, Ian Manning <ianmanning4@gmail.com> wrote: > 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-w= in-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 o= f > 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 no= w > manufacturing and selling them. > > Although historically considered a =E2=80=9Cweed,=E2=80=9D milkweed came = into 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 he= lp > 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 fluf= f. > However, after the war, the rising use of synthetics lessened interest in > all natural fibers, and milkweed went back to being considered a less tha= n > desirable weed. > > Recently milkweed populations have been declining, in part due to > herbicides and loss of habitat. However, with the growing interest in thi= s > 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 milkwe= ed > leaves are the sole source of food for monarch larvae. Not only is milkwe= ed > 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/12= 0925.html> > *Milkweed fruits: Pods of plenty > <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/12= 0925.html>* > Washington Post > 25.09.2012 > http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban- > jungle/pages/120925.html > > > --089e0825ed60307abf055f8aa82b Content-Type: text/html; charset="UTF-8" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <div dir=3D"ltr">Very interesting articles Ian.<div><br></div><div>I forwar= ded the links to a FB site that I subscribe to called MILK the WEED,=C2=A0 = a U.S. site dedicated to Monarch Butterfly and milkweed landscape enhanceme= nt as well as native plant and prairie gardening .</div><div><br></div><div= >Regards,=C2=A0</div><div><br></div><div>Ron Wilson</div><div>formerly Some= rset NS now St Andrews NB=C2=A0=C2=A0</div></div><div class=3D"gmail_extra"= ><br><div class=3D"gmail_quote">On Mon, Dec 4, 2017 at 9:33 AM, Ian Manning= <span dir=3D"ltr"><<a href=3D"mailto:ianmanning4@gmail.com" target=3D"_= blank">ianmanning4@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class=3D"= gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-= left:1ex"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"m_-5101375459581725782gmail_signat= ure"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>A couple interesting notes on milkweed from Mary= Holland, and a 2012 Article from Washington Post with some supporting info= .=C2=A0</div><div>Ian</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><di= v><b><a href=3D"https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/= 12/04/a-win-win-for-milkweed-monarchs/" target=3D"_blank">A Win-Win for Mil= kweed & Monarchs</a></b><br></div><div>Naturally Curious - 4.12.2017=C2= =A0</div><div>Mary Holland=C2=A0</div><div><a href=3D"https://naturallycuri= ouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-for-milkweed-monarchs= /" target=3D"_blank">https://<wbr>naturallycuriouswithmaryhollan<wbr>d.word= press.com/2017/12/04/a-<wbr>win-win-for-milkweed-monarchs/</a></div><div><b= r></div><div>"Milkweed, a perennial plant that can adapt to adverse so= il conditions, has recently been recognized as a viable source of fiber for= fill for jackets and comforters.=C2=A0 Winter coats insulated with a compr= essed layer of milkweed fluff are have been shown to be as effective at ret= aining body heat as those filled with down or polyester, and a Canadian com= pany is now manufacturing and selling them.</div><div><br></div><div>Althou= gh historically considered a =E2=80=9Cweed,=E2=80=9D milkweed came into its= own during World War II, when overseas supplies of the insulating fiber fr= om 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, th= ey 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. Ho= wever, after the war, the rising use of synthetics lessened interest in all= natural fibers, and milkweed went back to being considered a less than des= irable weed.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently milkweed populations have be= en 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 no= w being planted as an agricultural crop, with some Vermont and Canadian far= mers devoting acres of farmland to its growth. This, of course, is a boon t= o monarchs, as milkweed l