Fire-Toting Bike Burns Up Pests

Fire-Toting Bike Burns Up Pests FARM HOME recreation 28-4-32 When Greg Reynolds is faced with fields full of broadleaf weeds or yield-reducing insect infestations, he doesn't turn to chemicals. The organic vegetable grower relies instead on a bicycle-mounted flame weeder. "One time, I had an outbreak of false chinchbugs. The entomologist warned that if I didn't get rid of them, they would establish themselves. I used the flame weeder on them. It ruined the crop, but the bugs didn't establish," says Reynolds. Building the propane-powered bike was pretty simple, according to Reynolds. In order to carry the propane tank, he had to stretch out the frame with a little cutting and welding. The front wheel also had to move forward to allow for placement of the tank support. He replaced the axle on the front wheel with a longer piece of rod. "I used a piece of old truck wheel for the tank to sit in," says Reynolds. "It sat on the bottom of the frame where the foot pedal would go. The torch was attached to a piece of angle iron welded to the front axle rod." With torch and propane supply in place, Reynolds can coast the bike through the field directing the torch at target weeds or pests. The bike eliminates the strain of carrying a backpack or pulling a cart through narrow row spacings. Reynolds raises a variety of vegetables on 20 of his 40 acres each year. To control weeds in his vegetable crop, Reynolds prefers a diamond-shaped hoe a friend picks up when he visits Holland. The 7 or 8-in. wide blade on the hoe and its long handle let him walk quickly down a row doing first one side and then the other. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Greg Reynolds, Riverbend Farm, 5405 Calder Avenue SE, Delano, Minn. 55328 (ph 763 972-3295).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.