For those of you who missed #knotweedgate, an episode when the town of Weston unknowingly planted Japanese knotweed in the town center, the bottom line is we have a large, extremely difficult invasive issue in this town. What we all know now is that the culprit for the town center debacle is the fill coming from an area in the town-owned brush dump that is filled with knotweed. And if we do nothing, the knotweed will literally and systematically take over, causing a major issue for native plants and even concrete and stone foundations (watch out, Merriam Barn!).

If this situation concerns you and you want to help out, please join the Knotweed Warriors (Knot Warriors?) in their first run at curtailing this nasty invasive. This Saturday, the Knot Warriors will attack the Japanese knotweed that is growing in, and taking over the brush dump near the old Merriam Barn foundation. Those who attend the volunteer event will be regaled with Charles and Herbert Merriam history whether they like it or not. The Owl is a big fan of Merriams. There will even be the glimmers of a good horror movie plot when poor Charles Merriam had to bring his cows down to the lower pasture for … doooooom. Yeah, not telling you unless you show up.

Volunteer Knot Warriors should muster at oh-9-hundred or 9 am on Saturday by parking their cars at the scene of the Blair Witch Project. Yes, the Brush Dump. Long sleeves, long pants, heavy-duty knotweed-ass-kicking boots, and yes! Tools! Weapons! Have a machete? Bring it! Have large loppers and sharp clippers? Bring them! Gloves! Wheelbarrows! Bring your kids! (probably age 12+ given the numbe of cut-ty things around).

The Conservation-strategized plan is to cut the knotweed down to the nubbins and then it will get administered some poison in August. This will have to be followed up every three years until it is well and truly dead. Weston is being invaded by this stuff, so take advantage of some free identification and education moments, take out some of your stress on those plants, and enjoy some social time with your favorite Conservation heroes (that would be Rees Tulloss, Conservation Commissioner, and Jordan McCarron, Conservation Administrator) and some not-to-be-named (knot-to-be-named? So fun) WFTA super stars.

Saturday, June 5, 9 am – 11 am at the Brush Dump (across from the Community Gardens at 60 Merriam Street). Want to sign up? Contact Jordan McCarron, Conservation Administrator for the Town of Weston at mccarron.j@westonma.gov.