[NatureNS] Milkweed Tidbits

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From: Ian Manning <ianmanning4@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 4 Dec 2017 09:33:46 -0400
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A couple interesting notes on milkweed from Mary Holland, and a 2012
Article from Washington Post with some supporting info.
Ian



*A Win-Win for Milkweed & Monarchs
<https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win=
-for-milkweed-monarchs/>*
Naturally Curious - 4.12.2017
Mary Holland
https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-=
for-milkweed-monarchs/

"Milkweed, a perennial plant that can adapt to adverse soil conditions, has
recently been recognized as a viable source of fiber for fill for jackets
and comforters.  Winter coats insulated with a compressed layer of milkweed
fluff are have been shown to be as effective at retaining body heat as
those filled with down or polyester, and a Canadian company is now
manufacturing and selling them.

Although historically considered a =E2=80=9Cweed,=E2=80=9D milkweed came in=
to its own
during World War II, when overseas supplies of the insulating fiber from
the kapok tree were cut off and milkweed fluff was harvested for use in
life jackets. The U.S. government launched a program that enlisted the help
of children: if they could fill up a large onion bag of milkweed fluff,
they would receive fifteen cents. This incentive proved very popular, and
the U.S. was able to stuff over 1.2 million life vests with milkweed fluff.
However, after the war, the rising use of synthetics lessened interest in
all natural fibers, and milkweed went back to being considered a less than
desirable weed.

Recently milkweed populations have been declining, in part due to
herbicides and loss of habitat. However, with the growing interest in this
plant as a source of commercial fiber it is now being planted as an
agricultural crop, with some Vermont and Canadian farmers devoting acres of
farmland to its growth. This, of course, is a boon to monarchs, as milkweed
leaves are the sole source of food for monarch larvae. Not only is milkweed
being cultivated, but the farmers growing it are making an effort not to
harvest the plants until monarchs have migrated in the fall. A win-win
situation for all concerned."


<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/1209=
25.html>
*Milkweed fruits: Pods of plenty
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/1209=
25.html>*
Washington Post
25.09.2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/12092=
5.html

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_signature"><div dir=3D"ltr"><div>A cou=
ple interesting notes on milkweed from Mary Holland, and a 2012 Article fro=
m Washington Post with some supporting info.=C2=A0</div><div>Ian</div><div>=
<br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><b><a href=3D"https://naturall=
ycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-for-milkweed-mon=
archs/">A Win-Win for Milkweed &amp; Monarchs</a></b><br></div><div>Natural=
ly Curious - 4.12.2017=C2=A0</div><div>Mary Holland=C2=A0</div><div><a href=
=3D"https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/a-win-=
win-for-milkweed-monarchs/">https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpre=
ss.com/2017/12/04/a-win-win-for-milkweed-monarchs/</a></div><div><br></div>=
<div>&quot;Milkweed, a perennial plant that can adapt to adverse soil condi=
tions, has recently been recognized as a viable source of fiber for fill fo=
r jackets and comforters.=C2=A0 Winter coats insulated with a compressed la=
yer of milkweed fluff are have been shown to be as effective at retaining b=
ody heat as those filled with down or polyester, and a Canadian company is =
now manufacturing and selling them.</div><div><br></div><div>Although histo=
rically considered a =E2=80=9Cweed,=E2=80=9D milkweed came into its own dur=
ing World War II, when overseas supplies of the insulating fiber from the k=
apok tree were cut off and milkweed fluff was harvested for use in life jac=
kets. The U.S. government launched a program that enlisted the help of chil=
dren: if they could fill up a large onion bag of milkweed fluff, they would=
 receive fifteen cents. This incentive proved very popular, and the U.S. wa=
s able to stuff over 1.2 million life vests with milkweed fluff. However, a=
fter the war, the rising use of synthetics lessened interest in all natural=
 fibers, and milkweed went back to being considered a less than desirable w=
eed.</div><div><br></div><div>Recently milkweed populations have been decli=
ning, in part due to herbicides and loss of habitat. However, with the grow=
ing interest in this plant as a source of commercial fiber it is now being =
planted as an agricultural crop, with some Vermont and Canadian farmers dev=
oting acres of farmland to its growth. This, of course, is a boon to monarc=
hs, as milkweed leaves are the sole source of food for monarch larvae. Not =
only is milkweed being cultivated, but the farmers growing it are making an=
 effort not to harvest the plants until monarchs have migrated in the fall.=
 A win-win situation for all concerned.&quot;</div><div><br></div><div><a h=
ref=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/page=
s/120925.html"><br></a></div><div><div><b><a href=3D"http://www.washingtonp=
ost.com/wp-srv/special/metro/urban-jungle/pages/120925.html">Milkweed fruit=
s: Pods of plenty</a></b></div></div><div>Washington Post</div><div>25.09.2=
012</div><div><a href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/metro=
/urban-jungle/pages/120925.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/speci=
al/metro/urban-jungle/pages/120925.html</a><br></div><div><br></div><div><b=
r></div></div></div>
</div>

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