1. Kudzu: Savior or Satan?

2. ► Originally introduced into US from Japan, 1876 ► Introduced into the South in New Orleans as fast- growing decorative vine, 1880s ► Member of bean family (legume) ► Used in early 20 th century to control soil erosion

3. Soil erosion in Mississippi, c.1930s.

4. ► Classified as a weedy vine, noxious pest ► Kudzu currently covers more than 2 million acres in the South ► South has been defined as region “below the kudzu line” ► Can grow a foot a day

6. Percentage of County Area with Kudzu

8. ► Roots grow up to eight feet underground ► Vines die in winter; generate new growth spring and summer ► Very hard to eradicate ► Covers anything that doesn’t move

14. Kudzu Products ► Baskets ► Furniture ► Shampoo ► Lotion ► Soap ► Wine ► Jelly ► Energy drink

17. Other kudzu-based products you might enjoy. Energy drink from Germany A world of kudzu- based recipes are available on the internet Moisturizing body lotion Skin repair cream Soap

18. ► Magazines ► Novels ► Albums ► Essays ► Journals ► Comic strip

19. Kudzu covers literature, films and music about the South.

20. Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Doug Marlette and his Kudzu comic strip, which satirizes small-town Southern life, its characters, situations, and universal truths.

22. ► Kudzu festivals in  Holly Springs, MS  Burningtown, NC  Blythewood, AR  Website: Deep Fried Kudzu.com http://www.deepfriedkudzu.com http://www.deepfriedkudzu.com