The National Coalition
for Pesticide-Free Lawns advocates safe, healthy, LIVING lawns and landscapes with the use of
organic and least toxic practices and products that nurture and protect
the health of children, families, pets, wildlife and the environment
from unnecessary exposure to toxic pesticides.
What
is the Coalition?
Why Did the Coalition Form?
What Do We Mean By Pesticide-Free?
What Has the Coalition Done?
How Can I Join?
What
is the Coalition?
The
Coalition is a growing popular movement of environmental, consumer,
and pesticide reform groups and concerned individuals, coming together
on all levels to educate the public, retailers, landscapers and policy
makers about the hazards of lawn chemicals and the viability of safe
alternatives. The Coalition is driven by a steering committee (see groups
linked on the left), coalition
members, and an Advisory
Board. In addition to advocacy on all levels, the Coalition
supports coordinated actions. For the Coalition's current national action,
see Take Action.
Why Did the Coalition Form?
Beyond
Pesticides and the steering committee of the Coalition came together
to create a united voice for the national movement against the aesthetic
use of lawn pesticides and to counteract the barrage of misleading advertisements
that portray toxic lawn pesticides as safe perpetuated by the chemical
lawn industry and service providers. We advocate safe and healthy lawns
and landscapes that nurture, not kill or harm, life. Sixty years ago
the use of pesticides on lawns was unknown. Spots of clover were acceptable
and dandelions were a source of play for children. Since then people
have been sold on the idea that lawns must be putting-green perfect
and that pesticides are a mandatory component. It is a false claim however.
There is plenty of proof that healthy, non-toxic lawns and landscapes
are realistically achievable. The aesthetic, or cosmetic, use of toxic
lawn pesticides causes second hand community exposure and environmental
pollution. Most of all, it is unnecessary. We believe it is our democratic
and human right to be protected from unnecessary and involuntary pesticide
exposure linked with acute and chronic illness.
What Do We Mean By Pesticide-Free?
Ideally,
pesticide-free means that no chemical weed or insect controls are used
on your lawn or landscape at all. We believe that if you work to prevent
problems using good cultural practices and you adjust your expectations
to allow for the occasional weed or insect, you should not have major
problems affecting your lawn. Non-toxic pest management tools are those
methods, products and techniques that do not put human health and the
environment at risk. Simple changes in your environment can significantly
reduce undesired insect or weed populations. Before reaching for a pesticide,
ask how much of a problem the insect or weed really is. Is it taking
over? If so, first consider making structural repairs that may be causing
the infestation, but most of all, find out why you're having the infestation
to begin with.
If
controls are desired, we consider the use of natural/organic materials
such as corn gluten, botanicals, and biological controls or least-toxic
materials like fatty-acid or insecticidal soaps, to be consistent with
the Pesticide-Free Zone sign. Of particular concern are toxic pesticides
sold over the counter and used by commercial applicators that are linked
with cancer, developmental and learning disabilities, nerve and immune
system damage, liver or kidney damage, reproductive impairment, birth
defects, or disruption of the endocrine (hormonal) system in humans
and animals. Not to mention the pollution of our drinking water, streams,
natural habitats and ecosystem. For a list of the health and environmental
effects of 30 commonly used pesticides see Resources.
Commercial
pesticides that are exempt
from registration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) are generally compatible with our philosophy as are products listed
by the Organic
Materials Review Institute which creates the allowed inputs for
USDA certified organic food. For individuals, the use of the sign is
based on the honor system and not monitored. If you have questions about
the suitability of certain products, please feel free to contact us.
What Has the Coalition Done?
Upon its official
launch in April 2005, the Coalition developed the Declaration on the
Use of Toxic chemicals and established a signatory campaign, see Declaration
Backgrounder. The Coalition then publicly called on the two
largest national lawn and garden retailers, Home Depot and Lowe's Home
Improvement, to begin a dialogue with us about offering a wider selection
of natural, non-toxic lawn products coupled with materials and employee
training on natural lawn care. Additionally, we asked the companies
to reconsider the sale of "weed and feed" products due to
environmental pollution and health hazards posed to children and dogs.
(See the letters.)
Over 5000 Take-in
Letters were brought in to local Home-Depot stores by our activist
network requesting a full range of natural products by the Spring of
2006, staff trained in non-toxic alternatives, do-it-yourself materials,
and an elimination of “weed and feed” products. In subsequent
conversations with the head of fertilizer sales, Home Depot agreed to
meet with an alternative product manufacturer, but has yet to meet our
requests.
In 2006, the Coalition
focused on building its base of activists with a Signatory Campaign,
diseminating information on alternatives, and bi-monthly Grassroots
Actions such as the Safe-Lawn Doorhanger Campaign, and Fall Organic
Land Care Campaign.
This Spring 2007,
we launched the first online Basic Organic Land Care Training for Municipal
Officials and Transitioning Landscapers. The response was terrific with
76 participants from across the country and Canada. We also started
our Policy Workgroup for citizens interested in passing local pesticide-use
reduction policies. We continue to work with our Coalition to promote
the agenda laid out in our Declaration.
How Can I Join?
If you would like
to join the Coalition and become one of the hundreds, perhaps thousands
or more, people in the country that actively want to put a stop to the
unnecessary, aesthetic use of lawn chemicals please read and sign the Declaration on the Use of Toxic Lawn
Chemicals. If you agree with that platform, you are welcome to join
us by selecting Yes! Sign Us Up. Your email will be added to the Coalition's
google discussion group viewable by the public, but only accessible
(to post) by members. You will also receive a monthly newsletter with
a timely lawns-related story and an action alert.
