A Town Named Weed

Weeds and gardening go together. And, as one wit observed, weeding and church have much on common. Both involve much time spent on the knees, only the language differs. So what to make of the town of Weed, Siskiyou County, Northern California? With a motto of 'Weed like to welcome you,' it is located just south of the Oregon border 10 miles (16km) west-northwest of Mt. Shasta, the second tallest volcano in the Cascade Range and boasts a population of some 3,000.

Founded in 1901, the historic lumber town in recent times has become more laid back. Pupils attend Weed Elementary School, amuse themselves in Weed Skatepark cared for, along with other facilities, by the Weed Parks and Recreation District. Growing older, they can purchase Weed Tee Shirts and other souvenirs at Weed Store, down a pint or two of locally brewed Weed Ales & Lagers, perhaps at the Weed Ale House & Bistro. No problem keeping up with local news as the Weed Press is the town's official newspaper. There are, however, no horticultural associations. In the late 19^th century pioneer Abner Weed founded a lumber mill after noticing the areas high winds helped dry cut timber. In 1897 he purchased the Siskiyou Lumber and Mercantile Mill along with 280 acres in for the sum of $400. By the 1940s the now-named town of Weed boasted the world's largest sawmill. Alas, all things are not bright and beautiful in Weed. Beaughan Spring supplies the town with its sole source of public water. The pristine water is piped directly into homes. Recently, The New York Times reported that French billionaire Pierre Papillaud is demanding that Weed give up its Beaughan Spring water source so Papillaud's bottle water company could have more water to sell. Since la belle France commenced the modern craze for bottled water, this should surprise no one. And the price is fashionable too. It's said to come from the bowels of the Earth. Tastes like it, too.

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