THE LAZY GANG PROJECT

ITS AIMS
The project (which is on-going) aims to demonstrate that the main weed species listed in the Weed Act (1959), can be controlled without the use of chemicals, in both conservation & agriculture. The project has involved the design and manufacture of ergonomic tools by the Lazy Tool Co Ltd, combined with many monitored demonstrations of their use. The method we are advocating is descibed as the Removal of Individual Plants or 'RIP', and is applicable to all areas of sustainable land management (pasture, meadow-land, temporary grass, crops). The listed weeds are Docks, Spear thistle, Creeping thistle, Ragwort. The vital 'demonstration part' of our project has required the finding, training and organization of labour, for work on SSSI's, Countryside Stewardship schemes, Organic farms, and the development of nationwide links between clients & gangs.

ITS ACHIEVEMENTS
The project has involved the development & making of three main tools, for which we hold the Design Patents
1). The Lazy Dog for removing tap-rooted plants
2). The Chisel Hoe for dealing with Creeping thistle, and
3). The Super Weedhook for plants growing in hedges or fencelines.
[Other tools that we make include radically new Rakes, Garden Forks, Hoes,Trowels].

We developed the three main tools and evaluated the effect of using them on our farm, several years before producing them for sale. This evaluation of the tools, was also an investigation into the viability of handwork for the control of weeds (a concept considered old fashioned, at the time). In 2000, we advertised the services of a demonstration gang, alongside the tools, and this service was taken up by several areas of the 'no-chemical sector' of farming and land management. A workforce of four was sent out on trials & contracts throughout the country, often covering large acreages (see web-site www.lazydogtoolco.co.uk). The gang created a demand for its' services, which could only be met with a 'contracting business' (which was not our intention). Those trials and contracts (which are on-going), and are today being recognized nationally. The idea of applying hand labour to weed control is gaining respect for its ability to be both selective and efficient. A large part of this is due to the use of ergonomic tools.

A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The above mentioned contracts demonstrated to land managers that the use of the tools was worthwhile, and taught us enough us to begin advising on the the long & short term viability of RIP. We have been publishing the results of our on-going field trials on the Lazy-Dog website, and are kick-starting new gangs in 8 parts of England & Scotland. By working with the Soil Association, English Nature, the National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, National Parks, we are beginning to provide links between clients & gangs. Our work is starting to have an influence on weed control in several parts of Europe, the USA/Canada, and we are still developing the designs of our tools, for different areas of work. The tools are made to unusually high standards in our own farm workshops, by people from the local farming community.

Demand for the tools has risen, along with the quality of the design & making. The original Lazy Gang Project is gradually developing into a nationwide effort to promote Green Weeding Brigades using Lazy Dog skills (alongside others). by working with the Machinery Ring Organization (for example). These Brigades are being taught the skills & disciplines of using Lazy Dog Tools, and we are passing on our experience of when & where the methods are applicable. Everybody points to the difficulty of finding & organizing labour (which is no small task), but we have found that it does exist in a multitude of forms. We find that the key to finding good labour lies in locating good leaders. Good leaders find and motivate a workforce in their areas.

Statistically speaking our own trials & contracts have covered some 580 acres on sites as far apart as Kent, Wiltshire, and the Borders. This does not include maintenance or trial work on our own farm and adjacent Common Land, which is organic'. Some 6000 Lazy Dogs and Chisel Hoes are now used by land managers (& gardeners). Our tool-making business employs 3 men from the farming community, a part-time book-keeper, my wife and myself as unpaid managers. We are collaborating with several local firms, both in this country and in Europe..

BENEFITS:
1. More people are being encouraged to be connected to the land, and a labour shortage is being addressed.
2. The project is helping to consolidate a fragmenting rural community and is expected to provide a boost to the rural economy.
3. More weeds are being successfully removed without chemicals, which is good for the the land, wildlife etc.
4. The managers of SSSI's, Countryside stewardship schemes, Organic farms, are becoming beneficiaries as they realize that the method works well…..
5. Tool-making skills are being increased.

LONGER TERM:
1. We expect that 'Lazy-Dog skills' will become more widely recognized as an alternative to the use of chemicals in weed control, and accepted as a legitimate countryside skill, like hedging, walling, etc.
2. We hope to encourage & develop the concept of self-sufficient Green Weeding
Brigades and work-forces, nationwide.
3). We hope the development of our tool-making will continue, and that demand will mean we can employ more people and expand to purpose built workshops..
Innovation : We think our tools are radical, ergonomic and innovative (see website), and meanwhile, the Lazy Gang Project is taking a thorough new look at an old method of weeding. We are adapting and designing new tools for different areas of weed control (arable/grassland etc) almost daily.

WHAT DID WE LEARN?
We learnt a great deal about weeds, and about when & where the Lazy-Dog method was appropriate.
We learnt that 90% of Spear thistle, Dock & Regwort control can be done outside the growing season.
We learnt that land management & farming without chemicals requires a far greater degree of management care, with 'crop cover' being the all important factor in weed control.
We learnt that large quantities of Ragwort could be pulled in the winter (as a rosette), making the follow-up work in the summer so much easier.
We learnt that it is difficult to successfully estimate the cost of controlling a problem, and have produced a 'work-rate predictor' for reference.
We also learnt that if a big weed infestation develops in farming (from crop or management failure), it is sometimes better to cut losses by bringing in the plough, mower or forage harvester.
We learnt that in permanent grassland, the first year of attacking any bad infestation is expensive on time & effort.
We did (and are doing) extensive trials on Creeping thistle, Spear thistle, Ragwort & Docks. While doing this, we learnt (& are learning) that very few sites present exactly the same problems.
We learnt about tool design & have continually adapted & changed specifications to achieve optimum results.
We learnt about hard physical work, gang leadership, management, recruitment & training.

ACCREDITATION & AWARDS
We received a match funded award of £10,000 from the County Council Farm Diversification Project in 1999. We received £20,000 from DEFRA in 2003 to help us kick-start Green Weeding Brigades. The workshop & gangs were featured on Gardeners World TV and in the Yorkshire Dales TV Diary (2002).
Important purchasers of tools
Soil Association members, the National Trust, English Nature, FWAG, Wildlife Trusts and many of our County Councils.
Important monitors, supporters and users of our field work & trials. (see website)
A.D.A.S., The Soil Association advisors, H.D.R.A. English Nature. Organic farmers.

This report was written by Philip Trevelyan, Hill Top Farm, Spaunton, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, YO62 6TR . Tel: 01751 417351

Reference to our website will give a better idea of where we are going, and have detailed documents on it, such as the 'work-rate predictor' and weeding guides, referred to above. An important feature of this site is our on-going report to DEFRA.