Knapweed! What's it good for??

When we first moved to the PNW I was fascinated by all the wildflowers. Knapweed did not escape me. From July to October it blooms pretty purple flowers, but I quickly learned it is a farmer's bane. Knapweed is invasive and highly toxic to horses and cattle. It spreads through root and seed then send out a hormone chemical that prevents other plants from growing near. It loves acidic, sandy soil, but can thrive in almost any condition. So how do we get rid of it.

Most people resort to soil additives to change the pH, in this case lye. Another is to old style, pull it out by hand. But we have discovered one farm animal that does eat knapweed... rabbits! As long as it is introduced slowly, rabbits will devour knapweed. By putting our bunnies in "tractors" they nibble all the flower heads off the stalks. Then we can set the rest out to dry, so we can add it to their straw bedding over the winter.

We are hoping this will control the knapweed from our property. It is a great plant for hummingbirds and pollinators, so it's nice to have another use on the homestead.