Pushki- cow parsnip (Anchorage, Homer: work, home, oil)

[ltdontcare]

So last time we were in Alaska, my wife and I looked at a little log cabin in Homer, West Hill and Rebar/Reber. It would have been the perfect start that I could have built on, 1 1/4 - 2 1/4 acres with damage that I could have fixed for less than $10,000. They wanted $159.000. I offered $125.000. It sold 9 months later for closer to their price. Hey don't look back, right?

OK, so I still kick myself in the ass for not buying it... anyway.the yard was full of 3' - 4' high pushki. How would you rid yourself of that much of that nasty plant and not get it on you?

Larry
stuck in Newark, DE for another year or so...

[Rance]

I don't know....but I'll try and find out!

[BudinAk]

Originally Posted by ltdontcare

So last time we were in Alaska, my wife and I looked at a little log cabin in Homer, West Hill and Rebar/Reber. It would have been the perfect start that I could have built on, 1 1/4 - 2 1/4 acres with damage that I could have fixed for less than $10,000. They wanted $159.000. I offered $125.000. It sold 9 months later for closer to their price. Hey don't look back, right?

OK, so I still kick myself in the ass for not buying it... anyway.the yard was full of 3' - 4' high pushki. How would you rid yourself of that much of that nasty plant and not get it on you?

Larry
stuck in Newark, DE for another year or so...

There's some of that plant around here too. We used to just chop it down with a machete, or a weed whip works pretty good. Never had a problem touching or handling it, but I guess it affects some people. Spraying with weed and grass killer would probably work.

Bud

[rotorhead]

The active ingredient in cow parsnip doesn't affect everyone the same. Some folks are virtually immune, for others its almost as bad as poison ivy. If you're one of the unlucky ones, the key is to remember that its the oil from the leaves and stalks thats the problem, and most importantly it takes exposure to UV light to activate the irritant chemicals. If you work on an overcast day and protect your skin from direct exposure you'll be far better off than working on a sunny day in shorts and a t-shirt. As long as you can wash it off before you get a good dose of sunshine you'll probably be OK.

The plants themselves are pretty tender, especially compared to other weedy stuff like black birch or willow, or God forbid, devils club. Any decent string trimmer should make short work of them if you catch them early in the season and a bushhog type mower will get them regardless of season. Wear goggles, long sleeves and pants, gloves and boots, and plan on changing your clothes and taking a shower right after you're done to prevent the worst of the skin irritation. The Anchorage Daily News did an article on cow parsnip in the Outdoors column some time back, might still be in the archives. Its a free site, doesn't hurt to check.