Get Your Yard Off Drugs*

Local newspaper editor Jon Hunter wrote about local water quality issues on the same day we received an ad in the mail for a chemical lawn service (which will remain nameless--no need to give them free advertising). Hunter writes the following in his 4/11/07 op-ed piece:

Lakes, streams and wetlands in Lake County all deserve attention, especially concerning excess phosphorus and sulfates. There are several sources of these challenges, including livestock operations, cropland, residential lawns and sanitary sewer systems. The city of Madison intends to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant. Lake development associations have formed task forces to improve water quality. And farm organizations are working to find environmental solutions for ag operations.

So, fellow Lake County residents, throw out (better yet, recycle) those chemical lawn service brochures and consider switching to natural lawn care. The city of Vancouver's website offers some great information to get you started, as does City Farmer. I know these aren't local links, but I know about them from my brief time living in Vancouver, a city that is making great strides toward sustainability.

Don't forget that synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are petroleum-based products, so eliminating them from your lawn care not only improves our area lake water quality, but it's also one way to combat our dependence on oil.

*Post title flagrantly stolen from here.