Runny noses, itchy throats and even worsening asthma mean ragweed season is upon us. These last weeks of summer are among the most difficult for tens of thousands of Montrealers.
The town of Hudson has come up with a novel idea to try to give its residents some relief – it’s paying residents to pull their weight, by pulling out their weeds.
“Its five cents a pound, 10 cents a kilo, and whoever brings in the most, I am personally putting up $100 of my own money to sweeten the deal,” said Julie Schroeder, the town’s director of parks and recreation.
Schroeder is hoping to give residents relief.
Some residents are taking on the challenge with gusto. Seven-year-old Kyle Secours is known as Hudson’s own ‘Ragweed Terminator.’
Weighing in at only 51 pounds himself, he’s managed to slice and dice nearly three times his own weight – 139 pounds – in less than two days.
Kyle started in his own backyard and quickly developed an eagle eye for the nasty weed
“I say, ‘Stop Mom! There's ragweed!’” he said.
His mother Denise O’Brien certainly appreciates it – ragweed has been giving her a tough time for years.
“It's runny noses and sneezes,” she said. “I can sneeze up to 100 times a day.”
Kyle claims helping his mom is the main motivation, but admits the cash incentive doesn't hurt. He's on a mission to help, and is keeping his eye on the $100 prize.
One out of six Quebecers suffer from seasonal allergies, and ragweed is the main culprit; in Montreal alone, it affects 40,000 children.
That number appears to be growing, said allergist Dr. Phil Gold, director of the RI-MUHC Clinical Research Centre, adding that prevention and treatment beat weeding, hands down.
“That would be good, if we got rid of ragweed plants, but ragweeds are smarter than we are. We can't weed our garden and keep it weeded forever,” he said.
