We got a flyer in the mailbox the other day for lawn aeration and organic fertilizing services. I was really pleased to see that this company was offering an alternative to applying harsh chemicals to the lawns in this neighbourhood, especially when the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides hasn’t been banned in our municipality (yet). We have occasionally sprayed for grubs, and I cringe every time, because I realize this means our yard is not technically organic. But rest assured, this is the way of the future. It’s in everyone’s best interest to just hop on the organic bandwagon, if you have any sort of consideration for the environment. Pesticides run off into our groundwater and affect the environment in ways that are beyond the scope of a simple blog post to discuss. Do your research! Find out how the use of pesticides and fertilizers are being legislated in your area and be prepared to learn how to control pests in your garden organically. Even if it’s still legal in your town, city or village, consider the alternative by using homemade pest repellents in your garden this year.
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If anyone questions you going “organic”, remind them that children that are exposed to home and garden pesticides are up to seven times more likely to develop leukemia, and dogs that live in a home where weedkiller is used are three times more likely to develop lymphomas. I am impressed that these have been banned in some municipalities in Canada. I have not heard of any similar bans in the U.S.
Lynne Eldridge M.D.
Author, “Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time”
http://www.avoidcancernow.com
Yup, the weed man is out of business in Toronto, where the use of chemical pesticides on lawns has been banned. The Toronto Environmental Alliance has a good little article about it here: http://www.torontoenvironment.org/toxics/by-law
There is a huge discussion going on in town council about banning pesticides. In my garden (and I don’t live in town) I don’t use anything at all. It is the good old hoe, fork and shovel to tackle the weeds.