This project began as a patch of burdock, a noxious weed with deep taproots and a persistent seed bank on a wooded wetland edge. Prior to burdock, the area had been invaded by both buckthorn and garlic mustard. Our directive was to break this cycle of invasive species and successfully restore the area with natives. We were able to work with our clients to create a chemical-free eradication plan for the invasive burdock by utilizing Mangalica woodland pigs, the type of pig used for making prosciutto.
As a company, our sustainability approach is to use chemical-free invasive removal processes wherever possible, but particularly when working near sensitive ecological settings like the wetland in this instance. Factoring in that the area was too muddy for removal via heavy equipment, and that sheet mulching is not the most effective solution for tap-rooted plants, we settled on using the Mangalica pigs, who will root for the burdock as a food source.
In collaboration with the farmer-owner of these pigs, we set up a temporary enclosure and allowed the pigs to root around for 10 days. The pigs removed almost all of the burdock plant material, including those difficult-to-remove taproots. Once the pigs finished their work, we came in and planted native vegetation. The area now is filled with native plants that are both beautiful and thrive along a wetland, including Cardinal flower, Sweet Flag, and irises.
The key to successful invasives removal for small-scale restorations sites such as this is our management plan. The most effective plan involves our frequent monitoring of the site in the first few seasons as the native plants fill in, giving time for the natives to outcompete and ensuring that the invasives don’t return.
