Word of the day - kudzu! What is it and can it relieve our food AND oil crisis?

No, kudzu is not a samurai battle cry, it’s an Asian vine that can grow up to 6 feet per day and will survive just about anywhere.  It’s important because its long roots are high in carbohydrates ripe for ethanol production.  Its leaves are great feed for grazing animals and you can even make a jelly out of it that tastes like bubblegum!  So what’s the hold up on this miracle vine?

Due to its invasiveness, kudzu has already been called “the plant that ate the South.” Because of humid conditions and no natural predators there, kudzu is growing wildly out of control infesting vegetative lands with its deep roots and twisting vines and stifling the growth of indigenous plants.

Researchers and farmers are working together to quickly find ways to adequately harvest and control kudzu to fully realize it’s miracle powers.

Photo by a47nn.