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Jun
Rockport, Maine Passes Pesticide-Free Policy
(Beyond Pesticides, June 16, 2008) Due to concerns of children being exposed to pesticides on the town’s fields, Rockport, Maine has adopted a new pest management policy that prohibits the use of toxic pesticides on town-owned property, according to the Knox County Times Reporter. The Rockport select board passed the policy unanimously. The policy mirrors that of Camden with a few slight changes concerning the pest management advisory committee. Alex Arau, the board member who introduced the policy, became concerned after realizing that pesticides were sprayed on the towns’ fields where children played in the grass and dirt.
Steve McAllister, Rockport commission member, told the Knox County Times Reporter, “Sixteen years ago, the conservation commission asked the selectmen not to use [chemicals]. We were assured that it was OK and told it was more important to rid the town of dandelions than worry about chemicals.”
“Times have changed and it is time for us to look at how we manage our fields differently,” Mr. Arau told the paper.
The growth of the pesticide-free zone movement around the country and the passage of pesticide-free public land policies are very promising. Most recently, the General Services Administration has begun implementing an organic lawn pest management program, using organic fertilizer on the grounds of all its federal buildings in the National Capital Region. Over four acres of Washington, DC’s National Mall has been maintained organically by the National Park Service (NPS) over the past year. Voorhees, New Jersey parks are pesticide-free and posted with “Pesticide Free Zone” ladybug signs.
For more information on being a part of the growing organic lawn care movement, please visit our Lawns & Landscapes program page. To find a service provider that practices least- or non-toxic methods, visit the Safety Source for Pest Management.
We are happy to report that our city of Milford, CT has not used pesticides on public property and parks for over 18 years. Our environmental group called Environmental Concerns
July 20th, 2008 at 10:11 amCoalition, an ad hoc group out of the Mayor James Richetelli’s office passed a Resolution by the Board of Alderman for advising citizens not to use chemical fertilizers or pesticides in 2002. We have been having a Freedom Lawn Contest since 1996, that is lawns and yards free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. If you go into our website you will see pictures of gardens and yards that are organic.
Some pesticides can be really harmful when exposed not only to children, but adults as well as other pets and animals. Organic pesticides is always a better choice for pest control.
December 27th, 2008 at 1:49 pm