Grass

This stuff goes by the name Guinea Grass. It's a type of panic grass, hence the name Panicum maximum. "Maximum" referring to its tendency to grow 6 feet tall. It's a highly invasive weed here in Hawaii, and here on the farm. Apparently when the first wwoofers (farm volunteers) were brought on board to rehabilitate the farm after years of neglect, this stuff was literally everywhere. Four months later, though gardens and trails and driveways and the coffee field have been cleared, it's still all over the place. It's the bane of a farmer's existence, given its hardy, deep root system, resistance to drought, and ability to resprout from buried rhizomes (ie runner roots). I haven't really had my hands on the stuff. Fellow farmmate Kevin has--on Day 1 he grabbed a handful of it without gloves and sliced his hand open. He bled all over the place. I'd rather get pecked by Mama Chicken personally.

I always really enjoy playing with the details in plants and other manifestations of nature. The beauty is of course in the details, and the practice of exploring them trains me to see more in the world around me. Guinea grass may be a nuisance but it's still wondrous.