These hefty-looking machines are Green Steam Weed Killers, and they will soon be patrolling the streets of San Francisco, annihilating unwanted weeds without the use of pesticides. The City’s Park and Rec Department recently purchased one for every Park Service Area. Created in Canada, these high-tech gardening machines are the first of their kind in the United States, and we can’t wait to catch one in action!

Robots of weed death! Wielders of killing steam! Hot slaughterers of oxalis! Each machine runs on a couple of gallons of water, a 12-volt battery, and a small propane tank. Apparently the direct application of high-temperature stream “explodes the cells” of the offending plant, killing it down to its roots. Whoa. The machines work well on sidewalk intruders that are surrounded by concrete.

It used to be that when we saw a bank of brown weeds, it meant an application of glyphosate. Now we won’t have to avoid that little patch of death. A set of solid wheels allows them to be easily carted around, and a brake prevents downhill runaways.

+ Green Steam

Via SFCitizen