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MY RANT
October 2009
Archive MY Rant
Gardening and Homeland Security
Let me begin this diatribe by saying that I understand fully the need for enhanced security these days, and I dutifully obey all the rules whenever and wherever I travel, even the one that requires me to remove my sandals because of one dimwit who tried – unsuccessfully -- to ignite a bomb in his boots!
But in my mind, the idea that we’re really all that much safer as a result of all those rules is questionable, because those that would enjoy nothing more than to hasten our demise are always looking for new ways to do just that. And the fact that huge gaps in security still exist – at our nation’s ports, within public transportation systems, along our borders – is unquestionable. Still, I accept the notion that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
So what do my opinions about homeland security – which I’m sure not everyone shares – have to do with gardening?
Well consider this. In 1978, Bulgarian journalist Georgi Markov died rather suddenly and quite mysteriously. A postmortem by Scotland Yard revealed that a BB studded with tiny holes was imbedded in his leg, apparently by way of an umbrella rigged as a pellet gun by clever assassins, which the media described as terrorists. And packed within those holes was a substance known as ricin.
Ricin comes from Ricinus communis, better known as the castor bean plant. Within the beans each plant produces by the buckets is a toxic protein that most toxicologists regard as the second deadliest substance known to humankind (see below for the deadliest substance of all). It’s 6,000 times more potent than cyanide, and 12,000 times more potent than rattlesnake venom. A mere one-millionth of an ounce is deadly to humans. Ricin was extracted for use in chemical warfare in World War I, but it proved too risky for both sides, although inventories still exist – oh my, another security gap!
But strangely, you can buy those very beans at virtually any nursery or garden center in the country. Just last week I counted 13 seed packets for sale at my local retailer, each containing a dozen seeds, enough to make several deadly doses. And online sources abound. Moreover, castor bean plants grow wild throughout much of the southern U.S., and they cover vast areas in tropical regions throughout the world.
So why is something so deadly so readily available? Shouldn’t we ban the sale of the seeds and eradicate the plants?
Of course not. For one thing, castor bean is a beautiful plant. I’ve grown it off and on for years in containers, and I’ll probably continue to do so. And given the viability of the seed and the range in which the plant grows, eradication would be impossible. Besides, there are hundreds of other plants, including dozens of popular garden plants, that are poisonous, some extremely so, including the ever-present yews and the oh-so poetically named lily of the valley.
If you’re concerned about the potential hazards of castor beans, just snip the flowers before they have a chance to set seed. (Actually, all parts of the plant are poisonous, but less so than the beans.) If you have children or pets, perhaps you should think twice before growing castor bean, or at the very least teach your kids and try to train your pets not to eat garden plants.
Let’s face it, eliminating risks is pretty much impossible. The real goal is to minimize risks, and the best way to do that – whether in the garden or at the airport – is to accept the notion that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to catch a flight…flip-flops and all.
Paul
P.S. So what’s the deadliest substance on the planet? That would be the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, the substance responsible for botulism. It’s estimated that one pound of the stuff would have the capacity to kill every human being on earth.
