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April 2, 2003
the castor bean plant rebellion of 2003
When I was growing up in Wisconsin we would always grow castor bean plants near the house, as they had a very exotic jungley look to them. I tried growing some in the front yard here in DC last year with fantastic results regardless of the drought and horrid heat. My neighbors loved them too, and I promised to get them some seeds this spring, since they're so cheap.
But I've been busy with work lately, and there's only one store over on Capitol Hill that sells them. So when I heard that my coworker was going there, I asked him to get me some.
I wish it had been a deliberate joke on him, since it was April Fool's Day when he went in to Fragers' hardware and garden store and asked for some castor bean seeds. His request was met with alarm, as apparently the sale of castor beans in the District is now discouraged. It turns out that castor beans can be used to create ricin, a potentially deadly poison, third only in toxicity to plutonium and botulism. Ricin was recently found in a London flat, where a terrorist sleeper cell was busted. Castor bean seeds are also apparently banned there as well.
Well, I happened to save last years' seed pods just to see if they would sprout this spring. I'll give some seeds to my neighbors with the warning that they could get busted due to alarmist terrorist concerns. I myself will be planting them yet again in the front yard as an act of conscientious gardening objection of my rights to free horticulture. While I understand the concerns, I'm no terrorist and I don't know how to create ricin out of castor bean seeds, so let the Castor Bean Plant Rebellion of 2003 begin with a seed. I feel that the confiscation of nail clippers at airport gates and banned garden plants is a bit silly. So should I disappear mysteriously this summer, you know McCarthyism (apologies to Chrisafer) has ensued.
In other news, on Friday I'll be going to watch the Orioles play the Red Sox up in Baltimore thanks again to Fitz and Will. Yes Fitz, you got me and found my ad...so have many other bloggers it seems. Bask in the glory of the intelligent callipygeous curvature of my behind like everyone else. Or just kiss it...if I let you.
Today I got my car back from the collision center, and it's good to have my Big Girl back. Much thanks to Jon, who loaned me the use of his car for a week and a half without me even asking. I got him a big gift certificate to Fresh Fields so he can buy more gluten-free Borg paste. It's good to have an automatic back though, even though she's a gas hog.
I'll get to play rugby again on Saturday due to a more flexible work schedule. This time it's against a men's team and this time I want to play more than just a half, goddammit. Apparently practice attendance, physical fitness and tenure as a team member doesn't matter much to the coach. I hope my performance last Saturday will allow me more time on the pitch this Saturday. Sadly, while Saturday night is Madonnarama at Nation, my toes just don't have that twinkle after 80 minutes in cleats, so I'll have to pass or Die Another Day. Plus, I have to work on Sunday.
Posted by jimbo at April 2, 2003 7:24 PM
Comments
Hmm, Jimbo.
Ricin/Castor bean plants aren't really something to be fooling around with. Animals which happen to eat the seed (heaven forbid) will be subjected to horrible bouts of bloody diarrhea. As if having a bloody bumhole were bad enough, the laxative effects are so bad, some will just die of shock from loss of electrolytes.
On the other hand, the plant itself has ricin in it. Ricin has the wonderful effect of stopping protein synthesis completely. (Technically, it causes an overload of ribosomes). What makes it particularly toxic is that one molecule of ricin will terminate production of over 1000 ribosomes per minute. (For reference, human cells have over 1 million ribosomes). As you know, the inactiviation of protein synthesis process will kill the cell very quickly.
On the other hand, I should point out that ricin is used in cancer trials to kill off the bad cells.
Posted by: Dr. Tard at April 3, 2003 7:55 AM
I hate being an "ism."
Posted by: Chrisafer at April 3, 2003 10:54 AM
You've got an add as well?? Hmm.. Must have missed that one...
Posted by: Fitz at April 3, 2003 11:10 AM
So Dr. Tard...what you are saying is...I shouldnt put those castor beans Jimbo gave me in my 87 bean salad?
G.U.R.L.
Gay Urban Recreation & Living
Posted by: GURL at April 9, 2003 11:44 AM
I, too, faithfully grow castor beans each
year for the gardening effect.
Pink, mint, green, bronze, red and more!
Yes, they are poisonous, but so are
Poinsettias and yet can you imagine how
many give and receive these in homes each
holiday, around children?
We live in the country, so a tropical giant
in beautiful hues is quite a contrast to the
cows and chickens along the roadside.
We have developed a reputation for growing
them, in fact. People slow down while driving
by to gawk at the humongous plants in our
yard and gardens each year.
If one is deeply concerned about the seeds,
all it takes is cutting off the seed pods
before they form. If you have small children
or pets around, it is only common sense to
guard them against not only plants, but other
dangers. I don't think I can count the number
of children harmed each year by household items,
yet a garden plant in a mature home should not
represent harm. I have my castor beans outside
the yard where they pose no threat to my
little animals.
Jimbo, your comment:
"...an act of conscientious gardening objection of my rights to free horticulture."
Perfectly worded, I love it!
J.L. Hudson can appreciate a gardener
like yourself!
I don't plan to eat it, make poison out
of it or otherwise, so until I am informed
by law that castor beans are out, I'll
keep growing them.
Happy Gardening!
Posted by: A Responsible Gardener... at June 16, 2003 12:57 PM
I have two castor bean plants that I bought from a local Amish farmer. They are beautiful and as I have no plans for world domination and my animals seem to know innately not to eat them I see no problem with them.
My question: Can they be taken in this fall and kept as house plants?
Thanks
Posted by: charles at July 29, 2003 9:27 PM
In the past, I have had a castor bean plant and been unaware of its possible danger. I now have another this year and growing quite well, of course. There are no children around, but we have a 2 yr. old rottie. Do the pods or seeds fall to the ground and when? Would a dog have a tendency to eat these from the ground? I imagine I sound pretty dense but it is a striking plant. Thx.
Posted by: Dan Letters at August 6, 2003 10:22 AM
My castor bean plants did very well this year. It's my first attempt in growing such a beautiful plant. My question is: When are the seed pods removed and dried in order to plant new seeds next year?
Thanx for anyone's help!
Posted by: kansasgardener at November 6, 2003 11:02 AM