.National
Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns
Lawn Care: Pesticide Hazards and Alternatives
Beyond Pesticides is working to halt the senseless use and exposure to lawn pesticides that are so pervasively used in the U.S. We do this by providing consumers and professionals with information on the hazards of pesticides, least and non-toxic land care practices, organic training, and an ever growing list of local professionals. In addition, we work to bring activists across the country together to work on pesticide reform activities through the National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns.
Lawn Fact: During a typical year in neighborhoods across the country, over 102 million pounds of toxic pesticides are applied in pursuit of a perfect lawn and garden. This figure, up from 90 million pounds in the year 2000, continues to growdespite the growing body scientific evidence of the public health and environmental consequences.
Take Action! Pledge your yard or park (or other community or business-managed green space) as organically managed. Tell us how many acres (or what fraction of an acre) you can declare as organic!
Alternatives
for Safer Lawn Care
- Read Your "Weeds"- A Simple Guide to Creating a Healthy Lawn
- Alternatives Factsheets (insect specific)
- Organic Gardening: The Basics
- Safety Source: Find a Lawn Care Company
- More Resources from Your Region
Hazards of Chemical Lawn Care
- Pesticides and Playing Fields, (Referenced word version)
- Children and Pesticides DON'T MIX
- Lawn Pesticide Facts & Figures
- Health Effects of 30 Commonly Used Lawn Pesticides
- Environmental Effects of 30 Commonly Used Lawn Pesticides
- Commonly Asked Questions on Chemical Lawn Care
- Five Reasons Not to Use Weed and Feed
- Beware of Organic Claims
- More Resources from Your Region
Organic Land Management: From lawns to landscapes and beyond
(2011 National Pesticide Forum)
Talks on organic land care from organic turf and parks to grazing goats and medicinal uses for invasive plants to traditional organic gardening for Native American youth. This presentation was given at "Sustainable Community: Practical solutions for health and the environment, Beyond Pesticides' 29th National Pesticide Forum, April 8-9, 2011, Denver, CO. Speakers: Chip Osborne, moderator, Beyond Pesticides board member; president, Osborne Organics, Marblehead, MA; Tom Kanatakeniate Cook, director, Slim Buttes Agricultural Development Program, Pine Ridge, Lakota Nation (SD); Timothy Lee Scott, author, Invasive Plant Medicine, Brattleboro, VT; Rella Abernathy, PhD, integrated pest management coordinator, City of Boulder, CO; Lani Malmberg, Beyond Pesticides board member; director, Ewe4ic Ecological Services, Lander, WY.
Pesticide Free Zones
Show
your neighbors that pesticide-free lawns are important for the health
of your family the environment and the community. Buy a Pesticide Free
Zone lawn sign for $13 and display it in your yard. At eight inches in
diameter, these aluminum enameled signs will not rust and will retain
their bright colors for years.You can also order "Want a green
lawn safe for children and pets?" doorknob hangers to distribute
through your community. Order
online or by calling Beyond Pesticides at 202-543-5450.