quality and are maintenance-intensive. For these reasons the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and various state agencies recommend use of alternative sediment control practices where possible, such as silt fences, fiber rolls and geotextiles. Burned area emergency response Ground cover In-stream check dams Gardening Straw bale gardening is also popular among gardeners who don't have enough space for soil gardening. When properly conditioned, straw bales can be used as a perfect soil substitute. Hats There are several styles of straw hats that are made of woven straw. Many thousands of women and children in England (primarily in the Luton district of Bedfordshire), and large numbers in the United States (mostly Massachusetts), were employed in plaiting straw for making hats. By the late 19th century, vast quantities of plaits were being imported to England from Canton in China, and in the United States most of the straw plait was imported. A fiber analogous to straw is obtained from the plant Carludovica palmata, and is used to make Panama hats. Traditional Japanese rain protection consisted of a straw hat and a mino cape. Horticulture Straw is used in cucumber houses and for mushroom growing. In Japan, certain trees are wrapped with straw to protect them from the effects of a hard winter as well as to use them as a trap for parasite insects. (see Komomaki) It is also used in ponds to reduce algae by changing the nutrient ratios in the water. The soil under strawberries is covered with straw to protect the ripe berries from dirt, and straw is also used to cover the plants during winter to prevent the cold from killing them. Straw also makes an excellent mulch. Packaging Straw is resistant to being crushed and therefore makes a good packing material. A company in France makes a straw mat sealed in thin plastic sheets. Straw envelopes for wine bottles have become rarer, but are still to be found at some wine merchants. Wheat straw is also used in compostable food packaging such as compostable plates. Packaging made from wheat straw can be certified compostable and will biodegrade in a commercial composting environment. Paper Straw can be pulped to make paper. Rope Rope made from straw was used by thatchers, in the packaging industry and even in iron foundries. Saekki is a traditional Korean rope made of woven straw. Shoes Koreans wear jipsin, sandals made of straw. Several