The Birds and the Bees...

The Birds and the Bees. No, this is about actual birds, bees, and YOU. Yes, it is spring (finally!), and, so we are starting to do something with our lawns, with our yards, maybe put out birdseed. But there is an increasing problem, which can only be dealt with on a grassroots level (pun intended). Pesticides. Insecticides. Rodenticides. All of these affect the circle of life. (*cue Lion King*). The birds and the bees. Have you heard about colony collapse disorder? That bees are dying off in record numbers? If you google it, you will find any number of links and articles, but here is one: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-bees-dying-2013041... You notice it talks about pesticides playing a part. But did you know that without bees we would not have a majority of crops? Almonds are already being affected. Prices on peaches and cherries are liable to rise, since we don’t have the bees to pollinate them. (Peaches and cherries are also among some of the higher-pesticide-using crops, so if you can, buy organic with those). So bear with me, and on to the birds. Are you someone who puts out seed for the birds? Well, guess what, you might not be doing them such a favor: http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=bird-seed-poiso... And even someone who is “environmentally conscious” still has Scotts, because I believed the label. I have some ‘organic’ potting soil from them. Birds are great, because they actually eat grubs and worms, they eat insects. They sing lovely twittery songs (and poop on our cars, and lawn furniture, but everything has a downside) So what does this have to do with you? Well, some of the highest use of pesticide is on the lawn. And it doesn’t just stay on the lawn. If you apply it, and it is windy, it blows onto the neighbor’s lawn. If you have a dog, or a child, and they are out there in the grass...guess what they are being exposed to? And it even gets spread around by the lawn services, even if you do not use it yourself. Do they hose their mowers down between jobs? http://www.beyondpesticides.org/lawn/factsheets/facts&figures.php It gets in the water, in the air, in your house. These are poisons. They are designed to kill. And in sufficient concentrations, they kill us. If you read the instructions for something, and it requires you to wear gloves, a mask, put signs up...then is that really something you want to expose your kids or grandkids to? So what can you do? How can you get a healthy lawn? Make compost. Start a compost bin. Its easy, and will help cut down on your trash too, if you put veggie waste in the bin (just, from personal experience, no corn, and easy on the melon rind). Then, once the compost is cooked, make compost tea. Put in more ground covers. Maybe put in a thyme lawn? Smells good, is durable... For shade, moss? There are all kinds of things you can do that are more minimal maintenance. Watch the seed you use too. Like the birdseed, a lot of garden seeds are treated with pesticide, rodenticides, and fertilizers... Read labels! Cut your grass higher. Water less often. You can use an electric mower, I have a fantastic one, http://www.neutonpower.com/. Virtually no maintenance. Leave the clippings on your lawn, or if you must, throw them into the compost. http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp There are some things I would love to do, have a little meadow area for birds... in an ideal world, someone would rent out sheep as lawn mowers! (Fertilizer and short grass! Which, incidentally is how the idea of a lawn got started. From the British village commons, where the sheep grazed) What are some of your environmentally friendly tips for a great lawn? Do you have a birdseed you like? Tell us in the comments!