Abstract: A weed barrier formed from a porous, biodegradable vegetable parchment is provided. The vegetable parchment may be placed in contact with soil and adjacent a plant or seedling to be cultivated. The parchment has a tensile strength of between about 15 to about 120 lbf/inch, a dry burst strength of between about 10 to about 90 lbs/sq. inch, and a wet burst strength of between about 4 to 60 lbs/sq. inch, which provides the necessary barrier to prevent growth of weeds through the parchment, while the porosity of the parchment allows both air and water to penetrate for proper growth of plants.