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Manicured Lawn

That carpet of fresh, green grass outside your home may look lovely, but if you’re maintaining it with a battery of chemical-laden herbicides and pesticides, then your picture-perfect lawn may be harming your family’s health.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to keep your lawn and garden lush and pests at bay without exposing your family to harmful chemicals, or sending all that toxic runoff downstream.

Think it’s not already happening? Think again. In March, the U.S. Geological Survey revealed it had found pesticides in almost all types of waterways, as well as some drinking-water supplies. Other studies have shown that these chemicals are harmful to both humans and animals, including aquatic life and household pets. Herbicides and pesticides have been shown to cause hereditary changes in mice; lower birth weight in humans, fish, lizards and plants; harm the central nervous system; and kill fish.

Here’s what you can do to stay “green”:

• Don’t buy synthetic pesticides and dispose those you have safely by contacting your local sanitation department for advice.
• Use homemade mixtures, such as hot peppers and water, to repel bugs and weeds naturally.
• Use extra grass seed to keep weeds at bay.
• Attract bug-eating birds by building bamboo birdhouses in your yard.
• Use organic compost, not fertilizer.
• Grow your grass longer to promote a deeper root system and keep weeds out.

For more information on how to steer clear of chemicals while growing a fertile lawn and garden, visit www.thegreenguide.com/reports, www.thebeneficialinsectco.com, www.mastergardenproducts.com, and www.safepetproducts.com.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org