Thistles grow fast into tall plants, with prickly thrones covering it, having a long singular root that goes deep into the soil then it spreads out aggressively and can increase the width of a thistle patch 6 to 10 feet in a season. As the root system spreads, it gives rise to new shoots. In fact, the plants can grow back from even a small piece of root.
I just turned 14 in the summer of 81, one of my responsibilities was to irrigate the crops on the Rocky Ford and Vernal farms. This June there was an unusual number of thistles that have overtaken our hayfields. So after watering, I waited a couple of days for the soil dry enough to drive on. I then began the painstaking and persistent labor that was vital for the growth of healthy crops of hay.
To completely rid the land of this highly prolific plant a number of actions need to take place.
First, it is essential to remove the entire root of the thistle, so I would dig a full shovel blade deep near the root, pull the thistle out, shake the dirt off, making sure to have the complete root system, if I saw any breaks in the root I would continue digging until I found the remaining pieces, and then put weed in the Yellow F-150 cattle truck.
Second, Improving the soil’s fertility will weaken the thistle, helping desired plants grow better.
Third, make sure to remove them before they go to seed.
I needed a plan after learning about this obnoxious plant. After, some trial and error, I realized that the sharp thrones can pierce through leather gloves, stinging my hands, fingers, and wrists and anywhere else that the thorns made contact on my body. So protecting myself become a concern, wearing the right clothes was helpful along with thick leather gloves was still a must.
I had to work somewhat slower than I preferred, realizing that I do not want to deal with this plant in the future. So the goal was to completely eradicate this weed the first time around.
To organize myself and to be as efficient as possible, I worked in a grid system, to reduce the gas used, by moving the truck. Each trip to the dump was loaded to the height of cattle racks on the truck.
What can we do, to remove the undesirable weeds in our lives?
When our lives are filled with undesirable (weeds), it takes an educated, sustained, and concentrated effort to completely rid ourselves of undesirable weeds of life.
First, we need completely remove the weeds in our lives, roots and all.
Second, we must also do what we can to help our neighbors remove their weeds, and to encourage our neighbors to help their other neighbors as well.
Can you imagine if farmers and the irrigation companies worked together, to reduce the pollination of fields with weeds? How uncontaminated and fertile land can become, for the next generation of plants to grow.
It's not just our fate its the fate of every one of the 7 billion people that are on Earth. If everyone is networked with say that's 1,000 people and my 1000 friends also have 1000 friends in thier Network. this put us one step away from a million and two from a billion. Yes, you may be just one person in their vast world, yet you can have a great influence for good.
What connections are you making, relating this analogy to your own life?
What weeds do we need to remove from our lives?
Why does helping our neighbors remove their weeds help us?
Ether 12:27 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.