Ambrosia trifida, the giant ragweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.
 

Distribution

It is present in Europe and Asia as an introduced species, and it is known as a common weed in many regions. Its common names include great ragweed, Texan great ragweed, giant ragweed, tall ragweed, blood ragweed, perennial ragweed, horseweed,buffaloweed, and kinghead.

Description

This is an annual herb usually growing up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) tall, but known to reach over 6 m (20 ft) in rich, moist soils. The tough stems have woody bases and are branching or unbranched. Most leaves are oppositely arranged. The blades are variable in shape, sometimes palmate with five lobes, and often with toothed edges. The largest can be over 25 cm (9.8 in) long by 20 cm (7.9 in) wide. They are borne on petioles several centimeters long. They are glandular and rough in texture. The species is monoecious, with plants bearing inflorescences containing both pistillate and staminate flowers. The former are clustered at the base of the spike and the latter grow at the end. The fruit is a bur a few millimeters long tipped with several tiny spines.

As a weed

This species is well known as a noxious weed, both in its native range and in areas where it is an introduced and often invasive species. It is naturalized in some areas, and it is recorded as an adventive species in others. It grows in many types of disturbed habitat, such as roadsides, and in cultivated fields. Widespread seed dispersal occurs when its spiny burs fall off the plant and are carried to new habitat by people, animals, machinery, or flowing water. The plant is destructive to native and crop plants because it easily outcompetesthem for light.

Herbicide resistant giant ragweed populations were first identified in the late 1990s. Across much of the midwestern United States, populations resistant to group 2 (ALS-inhibitors) and group 9 (glyphosate) are present, though resistant to multiple herbicide modes of action has not yet been documented. There remains concern that herbicide resistance is more widespread than documented and many states like Minnesota offer free screening of giant ragweed for herbicide resistance. For chemical control, use of group 4 (2-4D) and group 10 (glufosinate) are effective.

As an allergen

Also, interest is great in preventing the spread of this plant because its pollen is a significant human allergen. It is one of the most familiar allergenic ragweeds, and residents of different regions begin to experience allergic symptoms as the plant spreads into the area.

Uses

Native Americans had a number of uses for the plant as traditional medicine. The Cherokeeused it as a remedy for insect stings, hives, fever, and pneumonia, and the Iroquois used it to treat diarrhea.

Giant ragweed has been used successfully as a compost activator and an ingredient in sheet mulch gardens.

Climate change: it's one of the most pressing issues of our time, an urgent and pervasive challenge that calls for innovative solutions and transformative action.

In this section, we will explore the intersection of climate change and urban development in Austin, Texas, through the lens of ReLeaf, a local company that's pioneering green solutions with their vertical gardens. The company's work provides not just environmental benefits but also a framework for social and economic resilience in the face of climate change.

Through insightful articles and imaginative SolarPunk fiction, we'll delve into ReLeaf's unique approach to mitigating the effects of climate phenomena like El Niño. Additionally, we will examine how the company's initiatives are creating a model of resiliency that can inspire and be replicated in cities worldwide.

So, join us on this journey as we explore how ReLeaf is reimagining the future, empowering communities, and combating climate change, one vertical garden at a time. Let's learn together, draw inspiration, and envision a future where climate resiliency is woven into the fabric of our cities.

This section tracks how values, habits, and public space change when a city commits to circular practice. In Austin, neighbors trade skills, repair before buying, and design for reuse. Rings of contribution replace price tags. Libraries, depots, and gardens become the new main street. The mycelial network carries stories, trust, and logistics. Culture moves from me to we without losing room for individual expression.

What you will find here: • Signals: new words, rituals, and cues that mark progress. • Practices: repeatable actions you can start this week. • Places: sites where the change is already visible. • Stories: Organic Fiction that lets readers rehearse the future. • Metrics: simple counts that show whether care is growing.

Use this to learn, copy what works, and leave your own trace. The shift is live. Help steer it.

Our Education section focuses on exploring the transformative role of sustainable practices and creativity in learning environments. We showcase initiatives like ReLeaf Cooperative that are pioneering ways to integrate environmental education into the everyday curriculum of Austin's schools.

Through SolarPunk Fiction and articles, we highlight how innovative concepts like vertical garden fairs are changing the traditional norms of schools and sparking a creative revolution among students. We delve into how these ideas can turn waste into wonder, providing practical, hands-on learning experiences for students, while cultivating their appreciation for sustainability and community.

Additionally, we explore revolutionary ideas like evolving copyright into "copy that," demonstrating how education can break from conventional paradigms and encourage a culture of shared learning and innovation. Join us in envisioning a future where education and sustainability go hand in hand, inspiring the next generation of eco-conscious innovators.

A brilliant strategist and field operative driven by conviction more than faith. Once a scientist within ReLeaf, Eva turned rebel after uncovering The Gardener’s manipulation of bioengineered ecosystems. Focused, sharp, and quietly defiant, she balances intellect with intuition, often serving as Langley’s moral compass and tactical equal in the fight to reclaim Future Austin’s freedom.

This Little Free Library is stocked and managed by Austin American-Statesman and Texas Book Festival staff. It needs some repairs to make the shelving better.

In this next section, we invite you to envision a world where homelessness, a complex issue deeply entrenched in economic inequality, lack of affordable housing, and inadequate mental and physical health support, is no longer prevalent.

We explore how ReLeaf, an innovative company in Austin, Texas, is actively working towards making this vision a reality. Through their creative and compassionate initiatives, they are not just tackling homelessness but also shaping a future where everyone has a place to call home.

The articles that follow will explore ReLeaf's unique approach. They demonstrate how employment opportunities and community engagement, stemming from their ecological solutions of vertical gardens, are offering a pathway out of homelessness. But they do more than that. They offer a window into a future where a secure home is a universal reality.

Imagine a world where the uncertainty of shelter is no longer a concern. How would that transform our cities, our communities, our interactions? What happens when every person has a place they can call their own? A place where they can grow, dream, and contribute to society.

We begin to see that it's not just about the elimination of homelessness; it's about the creation of a society characterized by security, stability, and dignity for all. A society where everyone has a meaningful role and the opportunity to live a fulfilling life.

Join us as we journey through this potential future, drawing inspiration from the steps taken by ReLeaf. As we move through this exploration, we encourage you to imagine the transformative power of a society that has effectively addressed and eradicated homelessness.

Planterns are whimsical upcycled creations—paper lanterns transformed into one-of-a-kind planters. No two are ever the same: each Plantern carries its own identity, tied to a unique ID that connects it to specific digital media such as Organic Fiction narratives, recorded music, and other creative works.

The soft glow and airy shape of its former life remain, now reimagined as a home for trailing vines, succulents, and blooms. Made from reclaimed materials, Planterns celebrate renewal—giving discarded objects a second chance and your plants a distinctive stage to grow.

Part art piece, part living sculpture, a Plantern is both physical and digital—a tangible vessel for life linked to a story, a song, or a world you can step into.

Our Prison Abolition section addresses one of society's most complex and controversial issues through the lens of SolarPunk fiction and thought-provoking articles. The content here explores alternative, transformative justice systems, underlining the necessity for change, and advocating for a world beyond prisons.

The SolarPunk tale "Shadows of Harmony" highlights unity and choice as key elements in reimagining a world where social justice and rehabilitation replace punishment and incarceration. "Trash Magic: The Eco Revolution of Austin's Cityscape" integrates societal transformation with environmental action, demonstrating the interconnectedness of our struggles.

Additionally, our articles delve deeper into this critical conversation. "ReLeaf: An Innovative Approach to End Hunger and Foster Sustainable Communities in Austin by 2030" outlines a vision where social equity and sustainability intersect, exploring potential solutions to systemic issues like food insecurity and mass incarceration. "Freedom Frameworks: Jay's Journey from Incarceration to Innovation" gives a poignant account of a life transformed, showcasing the potential within every individual when given a chance to rebuild and innovate.

Join us as we challenge the status quo, envision alternatives, and advocate for a more just and equitable society.

Welcome to the ReLeaf Cooperative, where we dive deep into an innovative and revolutionary model of sustainability and community building. ReLeaf is a pioneer in developing scalable engagement strategies that foster community participation and work towards addressing pressing social issues such as homelessness.

In this category, you'll find articles and Organic Media detailing ReLeaf's groundbreaking initiatives and visions. From creating sustainable gardens in Austin elementary schools to providing transparency in a world often shrouded in deception, ReLeaf serves as a beacon of hope and innovation.

ReLeaf's approach of intertwining real and fictional elements in their work—such as characters, materials, techniques, and labor—sets a new standard for cooperatives worldwide. Its business model, which compensates for labor and knowledge contributions, creates a lasting benefit and helps people who have historically been marginalized.

By meeting people with compassion, as resources in need of support instead of liabilities, ReLeaf has shown that everyone has the potential to contribute to society meaningfully. Explore this section to discover how ReLeaf is redefining the way we approach social issues and sustainability, with stories of inspiration, innovation, and hope.
 

Ruellia simplex, the Mexican petunia, Mexican bluebell or Britton's wild petunia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae. It is a native of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. It has become a widespread invasive plant in Florida, where it was likely introduced as an ornamental before 1933, as well as in the eastern Mediterranean, South Asia and other parts of the eastern hemisphere.

Ruellia simplex is an evergreen perennial growing 3 ft (0.91 m) tall, forming colonies of stalks with lance-shaped leaves that are 6 to 12 in (15 to 30 cm) and .5 to .75 in (1.3 to 1.9 cm) wide. Trumpet shaped flowers are metallic blue to purple, with five petals, and 3 in (7.6 cm) wide. There is a dwarf variety that is only 1 ft (0.30 m) tall.

Ruellia simplex is native to Mexico, the West Indies, western Bolivia, southwestern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. It has been widely used as an ornamental plant and has escaped from cultivation in the United States, Australia and parts of Asia, as well as several Pacific Islands. It has become invasive in some of these areas, forming dense, single-species stands of vegetation which threaten native plants. It is mainly a plant of wet places such as ditches, pond verges, lakesides and marshes, but can survive in drier conditions.

I'm a middle school librarian, and I first saw a free little library up in Seattle this summer. l've seen them popping up around town and told my husband I would love him to make me one. Never did I imagine he would produce such a fine piece of woodwork and construction, a mini replica of our house. 

Now I can be a 24-hour librarian.

The practice of designing ecological systems, technologies, and social models that not only sustain themselves but also grow stronger and more impactful as they expand.

TRASH MAGIC SKELETRON!

SKELETRON IS A SET OF SELF-REPLICATING GEOMETRIC CONSTRUCTIONS USING STICKS, CORDS, AND THE PRICIPLE OF TENSEGRITY!

DRILL HOLES IN THE ENDS OF STICKS! CUT CORDS TO ABOUT 18 INCHES(ONE CUBIT) IN LENGTH AND TIE THEM INTO SQUARE KNOTS TO CONNECT VERTICES!

USE THE PLATONIC SOLIDS TO CONSTRUCT WORLDS OF GEOMETRY!

BUILD FULL TRASH MAGIC UP AND DOWN EVERY RIVER VALLEY IN THE PLANET! AND CREEKS!

Tradescantia pallida is a species of spiderwort native to the Gulf Coast region of eastern Mexico. The cultivar T. pallida 'Purpurea' is commonly called purple secretia, purple-heart, or purple queen. Edward Palmer collected the type specimen near Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas in 1907.

Tradescantia pallida is an evergreen perennial plant of scrambling stature. It is distinguished by elongated, pointed leaves - themselves glaucous green, sometimes fringed with red or purple - and bearing small, three-petaled flowers of white, pink or purple. Plants are top-killed by moderate frosts, but will often sprout back from roots.

The cultivar T. pallida 'Purpurea' has purple leaves and pink flowers.

Widely used as an ornamental plant in gardens and borders, as a ground cover, hanging plant, or - particularly in colder climates where it cannot survive the winter season - houseplant, it is propagated easily by cuttings (the stems are visibly segmented and roots will frequently grow from the joints).

Numerous cultivars are available, of which 'Purpurea' with purple foliage has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Support this species by reading about it, sharing with others, and donating monthly or yearly to the ReLeaf Cooperative in honor of Tradescantia pallida. We deliver any quantity of these, for free, to any ReLeaf site (Free Little Library or other suggested location in the Shoal Creek, Waller Creek, and Fort Branch watersheds). We are currently seeking cooperative members in Austin and beyond to cultivate and provide Tradescantia pallida and other species for free to ReLeaf sites in their local watersheds. Inquire by email: bryceb@releaf.site. Thanks!

Dive into our Vertical Garden section where creativity meets sustainability. This is a celebration of the innovative approach of integrating plants into urban environments in a vertical format, a testament to human resourcefulness in the face of limited space.

Here, you'll discover a vast array of ideas on how to transform would-be waste materials into sustainable, beautiful, and thriving gardens. From DIY guides on upcycling aluminum cans into modular planters, to detailed articles and SolarPunk fiction exploring the transformative power of these gardens in various settings like Austin's schools and cityscape, the Vertical Garden category provides a deep dive into a green future.

Through the articles and stories in this section, we share and explore concepts, techniques, and innovations that align with a sustainable, circular economy, which views waste as an asset rather than a problem. Whether you are looking to start your own vertical garden project or just enjoy immersing yourself in hopeful visions of a green urban future, you're in the right place.

Join us as we explore and reimagine our relationship with nature and urban space, one vertical garden at a time.

In a world grappling with waste management crises, Waste Integration offers a novel solution. This philosophy looks beyond mere recycling or upcycling; instead, it weaves waste into the very fabric of our everyday lives in a meaningful and beautiful manner.

Explore a wealth of creative methods to turn your home and community into sustainable ecosystems, where every item has a purpose, and nothing goes to waste. From transforming scrap metal into functional art, to building modular planters out of discarded plastic, Waste Integration is a testament to human creativity and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.

With a combination of theoretical discussions, practical guides, and inspiring stories, our Waste Integration content shines a spotlight on this game-changing movement, demonstrating how each one of us can contribute to a more sustainable and circular economy.