You must build on The Creep.
-- The Overmind

But I'm a creep / I'm a weirdo / What the hell am I doing here? / I don't belong here
--Radiohead

As players of Blizzard Entertainment's popular RTS game Starcraft are well aware The Creep poses certain challenges. Whether as a requirement or an obstacle the slow advancing, strangely purple, jelly-like substance dramatically affects life in the Starcraft universe.

Quite similarly, as denizens of California's coastal regions are aware, Carpobrotus edulis, commonly known as ice plant, is having a dramatic affect on life in the Golden State.

Ice plant is a non-native, otherwise known as invasive, species that hails from South Africa. Brought to the United States to serve as ground cover for gardens and to retard erosion along railroad tracks ice plant has escaped into the wild and, like the slow-moving Creep, is gradually choking out native grasses and other indigenous plant life. In The Bay Area grasses such as Spike Redtop and Slender Wheatgrass are falling victim to its strangle.

To combat this encroachment volunteer groups have organized to take matters into their own hands. Armed with hoes, shovels, and, occasionally, gasoline and lighters, these volunteers spend a few hours each month removing and much ice plant as possible, before it advances and does more damage.

Unfortunately, the damage is not limited to other plants. Ice plant grows in thick carpets, with roots that do not deeply penetrate the soil. With enough rain, as is common in the winter months, especially in NorCal, ice plant patches have been known to slide down the side of slopes, taking dirt and plants down with them. One of its most damaging effects, then -- aside from usurping land from native plants, is to cause actually cause mudslides and erosion.

However, for all its detrimental qualities, ice plant isn't all-bad. Occasionally it is even recommended as ground cover to homeowners who live in areas prone to forest fires. Ice plant's fleshy stems retain moisture, much like aloe vera. When planted in non-contiguous patches it can help defend a home from advancing flames.

And amazingly, ice plant is edible. It tastes a little bit like sour apples and has an amazing ability to dry out one's mouth instantly. While I have not found a recipe which calls for ice plant I have found that steamed with a little salt it can be somewhat palatable.

If hoes and shovels don't slow the advancing Creep, perhaps a little salad dressing can.

Let's have a Celebration
Throughout the Nation

Celebrate Neurodiversity
For every child and adult

With Autism
And Obsession
And Compulsions
And Schizophrenia
And Manic-Depression
But why should we care?
Because Uniqueness is worthy
Of Understanding and Celebration
Because Empathy is important to all
Because they think their minds are nifty
Because a Righty is no better than a Lefty

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