The butterfly effect is the idea that small, seemingly trivial events may ultimately result in something with much larger consequences – in other words, they have non-linear impacts on very complex systems. For instance, when a butterfly flaps its wings in India, that tiny change in air pressure could eventually cause a tornado in Iowa.
However, this concept is based on a misunderstanding of the original work. The term "butterfly effect" was coined in the 1960s by Edward Lorenz, a meteorology professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was studying weather patterns. His point was that long-range weather forecasting was virtually impossible, in large part because humans don't have the ability to measure nature's incredible complexity. There are simply too many minute variables that can act as pivot points, cascading into much bigger consequences.
So, while people often think the butterfly effect means that tiny changes can have big consequences (and we can track this progression to see what change caused what), Lorenz was trying to say that we can't track these changes. We don't really know exactly what would cause a weather pattern to go one way over another.
When we start to consider how one small change can quickly result in a lot of unintended consequence, there's naturally cause for concern. Simply put, just keeping nature as close to its original state is really the most important thing. Ecosystems are vastly complex, and the loss of a single species might not have a perceived effect, but it could have cascading effects on the entire system.
Which brings us to several reasons why you should consider alternatives to commercial glyphosate weed killers. Glyphosate is the most widely used chemical worldwide and it seeps down into the soil where it remains, building up (soil persistence) with the potential for causing health problems. Pesticides, particularly those containing glyphosate, can enter into the food chain which is bad for your health as well as your family and pets. There are also significant questions around the impact and stress that glyphosate has on pollinators like bees, especially the impact on their gut health.
By switching to alternative weed control products, everyone wins. You help reduce the risk of the potential side effects to you and the environment while still ensuring the weeds do not take over your garden.
12 Alternatives to Glyphosate
There are several alternatives for controlling weeds around your house that do not include glyphosate. You may need to consider different options for different parts of your yard or garden as not all options may work in all cases.
Putting down a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch will cut off the sunlight weeds need to sprout. Any weeds that manage to germinate will suffocate under the weight of the mulch.
A handful of iron-based weed killers have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. Broadleaf weeds absorb iron more easily and in higher amounts than the grass in your lawn. As the iron oxidizes, it kills weeds within just hours after applying it.
Manually digging up weeds by the root may be the most effective way to get rid of them but it is also the most labor intensive, which may be a benefit depending on how you like to exercise!
Several brands of organic herbicides are available in the United States. They tend to use naturally occurring oils or acids to kill weeds. These products typically work on weeds after they’ve sprouted. However, they are not usually effective against perennial weeds.
Organic weed killing alternatives include herbicidal soaps that use fatty acids to kill weeds and industrial vinegar, which contains much higher levels of acetic acid than what you have in your kitchen. Acid-based herbicides burn down some young weeds. The mixture can still be toxic to humans and animals if swallowed. So it should be stored away from children and pets.
Corn gluten meal can kill grass weeds and broadleaf weeds. To use it, spread 20 pounds for every 1,000 square feet of garden. Wait five days to water the area if it hasn’t rained. It should kill weeds for up to six weeks.
Organic herbicides are most effective when weeds are still small and less effective as weeds get older, according to a study by the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
In summary, there are plenty of entirely feasible and viable alternatives to poisonous weed killers containing glyphosate. There are also plenty of reasons to switch – the environment, your soil, the ground water, our precious pollinators, your health as well as your family and pet’s health.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-Lorenz
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