I get it: Weeds suck. But are they Santa Fe’s biggest problems (as some of local elected officials suggest). Now, weeds among my sworn enemies because I am intensely allergic to them. But, the thing about weeds is that, we can pull them, cut them, or whack them, but they always grow back. You see, weeds come from these things called seeds that are basically weed embryos that form after the weed’s flowers are pollinated. Then, this stuff that falls from the sky called rain provides nutrition for the seeds, which then allows the weeds to grow. When there’s a lot of rain, and a lot of weed seeds, there will be a lot of weeds. We can then pull them, cut them, or whack them…well, you get the point.
Over the last few years, plant intelligence studies have emerged that provide some evidence that all plant life stores environmental data and then adapts as needed. Furthermore, plants appear to communicate both with their own species and also with other plant species. That is, plants are intelligent and sentient beings.
I’ve always suspected that weeds are smarter than me because they always manage to grow in places in which I don’t want them to be, such as my garden. The thing is, right now in Santa Fe, weeds seem to be a nuisance because they grow in parks. But you know what else grows in parks? Grass and trees. Since plants are intelligent and sentient, the grass probably tells its weed friends, “Hey, come over here, the ground is great and we get water even if it doesn’t fall from the sky!” So, the weeds go to parks and grow and grow, even if they get cut once a week. They grow back.
The truth is that Santa Fe is very privileged to think that weeds are among its biggest problems. To me, a bigger problem and a more salient one is that our young people have no reason to stay here. Sure, parks without weeds would be cool, but what about affordable housing, educational opportunities, and an economy through which our young people can support themselves? Rather than harping about weeds, our local elected officials should ask about Southside developments that appear to be exempt from the Affordable Housing ordinance.
Yes, weeds suck, but they aren’t going to do anything but redirect our tax dollars from things that could actually improve the lives of Santa Feans.
