| Author | Message | ||
     tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4264 Registered: 12-2001  |
I saw a question under Please Help asking how long you should keeps pets and children of the grass after ChemLawn or some similar company napalms your lawn. If you have to ask this question, and it is a good question, isn't the real question "Why are we applying optional poisons to our lawns?" | ||
| The Libertarian Citizen Username: Local_1_crew Post Number: 2005 Registered: 3-2004  |
to kill things, duh! | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1429 Registered: 2-2005 |
Yeah... that is such a simple question I'm surprised anyone asked it. | ||
| algebra2 Supporter Username: Algebra2 Post Number: 4055 Registered: 5-2001  |
We chose not to for a few years and then our yard got all "weedy". So last year I told him to start it up again. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 727 Registered: 7-2005  |
I did this as a science fair project...the best cure for weeds is earthworms..no lie...dump a truckload on your lawn and it will be the healthiest ever grass boosters and pesticides kill off earthworms and lower soil quality also | ||
| hch Citizen Username: Hch Post Number: 244 Registered: 8-2002 |
Americans are obsessed with having the perfect lawn (and a better lawn than their neighbor's). | ||
| ML Supporter Username: Ml1 Post Number: 2990 Registered: 5-2002  |
where does one procure a "truckload" of earthworms? | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 729 Registered: 7-2005 |
lol you can get a bunch..i know they sell them online and such | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1431 Registered: 2-2005 |
I have to admit, my first thought was 20 cubic yards of earthworms wriggling around the yard for a few weeks - but seriously, you can buy 'beneficial insects' and worms online. It's actually pretty interesting; I don't recall the exact benefit, but apparently ladybugs are pretty valuable for your lawn. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 734 Registered: 7-2005 |
they eat bugs like aphids (sp.) and other little nasties those ladybugs are vicious | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13899 Registered: 1-2003  |
Great idea, Glock. Do you know someone who has done this and had success with weeds? http://froogle.google.com/froogle?&rls=en&q=earthworms There's a guy here on MOL with a screenname of "tourne" who professes all sorts of chemical-free gardening techniques. I hope he pipes in to comment on using organic helpers such as worms and ladybugs. A friend of mine once bought a box of red wiggler earthworms and kept a compost bin in her NYC apartment. It was cool! I watched the garbage transform, over weeks, from garbage to topsoil. | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1432 Registered: 2-2005 |
I don't know... chemical free gardening is dangerously close to some kind of hippie lifestyle choice. As Eric Cartman would say, "I hate hippies". I'm sorry I missed the good old days of DDT - as I understand it, DDT was like napalm without all the mess. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 735 Registered: 7-2005 |
http://www.google.com/search?q=dandelions+poor+soil+quality&btnG=Search&sa=N&tab =fw http://www.emeac.org/old-2003-08-16/Wetlands.html Pardon me for being a scout...and having a mother that is an avid gardener  and it worked in my science fair project... | ||
| greenetree Supporter Username: Greenetree Post Number: 7438 Registered: 5-2001  |
So, what does one do with a load of topsoil in a Manhattan apartment? | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13900 Registered: 1-2003 |
She didn't grow plants, so she ended up giving it to me. It would have been easy enough just to toss it in a nearby park, too. Funny that you assumed a NYC apartment was in Manhattan. | ||
| Oldstone Citizen Username: Rogers4317 Post Number: 680 Registered: 6-2004  |
ok, that's strange. if she didn't grow plants, why on earth was she composting in her apartment? she didn't want to throw garbage in the trash? i think anyone would assume that a nyc apartment is in manhattan. people usually say their apartment in bklyn or queens rather than nyc, no? when people think of nyc they think of manhattan. | ||
| Tom Reingold Supporter Username: Noglider Post Number: 13901 Registered: 1-2003 |
For one, it was her way of reducing the amount of trash she sent to the dump. For another, the topsoil she created was either benign or beneficial for the environment. For another thing, it was a lot of fun to watch. I'll take creation over destruction, given the chance. Strange, yes, but also rational. I just googled "worm bin" and got some nice articles. I could put a bin in my basement in the winter and keep it outside the rest of the month. I learned here on MOL that a compost heap might be a bad idea on our small lots here, since it could attract rodents etc. | ||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 567 Registered: 10-2005 |
Your interest in what other people are doing to their yards and why, makes you nosier and more judgemental than anyone who is simply trying to keep their grass looking nice, in whichever manner they please. | ||
| Peter G. Magic Citizen Username: Pmagic Post Number: 110 Registered: 10-2005 |
Case, I miss DDT too. As a kid I loved to run behind the truck in the spray and breathe in the fumes. | ||
| tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4272 Registered: 12-2001 |
Smarty, That isn't really true. Leafblowers and power mowers on the weekend destroy the peace and quiet of the weekend. Pesticides do affect pets and children unless you keep them off your grass. I am pretty far from supporting regulations, but I do think it is a bit silly what people do in the name of a green lawn. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 741 Registered: 7-2005 |
I have to disagree, tjohn. I feel that the power mowers and leafblowers make the 'burbs what they are. I remember when they mowed the lawns here on campus like a week ago. The smell of fresh cut grash wafting through the window after the roar of the mower subsided. Reminded me of home. | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1439 Registered: 2-2005 |
I would plant claymore mines to keep pets and children off my lawn if it wasn't for all these pesky laws. Seriously - if someone comes on MY lawn without my permission, they should get what they deserve... but NO, all of a sudden I'M the bad guy. It's just so wrong. | ||
| CLK Supporter Username: Clkelley Post Number: 2230 Registered: 6-2002  |
Well, I don't want to get into this in a big way, but it isn't just people who step on your lawn who are affected by pesticides. The pesticides run off into our water supply. Lawn runoff is a huge contributor to water pollution. Do what you like that's legal, but like tjohn I just don't get it. What's the point? It's just extra work and/or extra cash. I don't believe in using up more of either than I need to. My own gardening rules are: 1) If it's green and I can mow it with my reel lawnmower, it can stay in my yard. 2) If it isn't green or I can't mow it, I'll dig it up. (sometimes I even cut stuff with scissors, but I admit that's a little wacky) 3) If I plant it in my garden and it thrives there, it can stay. 4) If I plant it in my garden and it dies, it just isn't compatible with my lifestyle. My yard isn't a putting green, but it doesn't look too bad. It is green and pleasant. I have some nice flowers. | ||
| Glock 17 Citizen Username: Glock17 Post Number: 745 Registered: 7-2005 |
So is getting drunk.Extra work and cash. But that's OK isn't it. | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 585 Registered: 1-2006  |
I'm in the process of weeding the old fashioned way. I go out almost daily with a spade and dig up dandilions. I'm trying to get them when they're yellow, before they produce the seed thing. It's very calming, and when I look at the green grass with no yellow dandilions, I feel proud of all the work I did. My 2 year old "helps" me and rather than poisoning him, I think it's good for his little soul. If you have a slight case of OCD, like I do, it's very therapeutic. Organic lawn care is pretty simple. Grass has deeper roots than weeds. Water very infrequently, but deeply when you do. The advantage the weeds have is that they're tall. They monopolize the sun, but their weakness is in their roots. When there is no water, they die, but the grass gets to the deep water and lives. We bought out house last June and my mother looked at the lawn and suggested "starting over." Less than a year later it's as green as the Joneses. Yeah it's ego, pride in home upkeep. I also walk the busy street side everyday and pick up the garbage thrown from cars. What's wrong with that? J.B. | ||
| Darryl Strawberry Supporter Username: Strawberry Post Number: 7099 Registered: 10-2001  |
I hire people to make these decisions for me.. | ||
| Scully Citizen Username: Scully Post Number: 374 Registered: 8-2005 |
Peter G. Magic : I used to run behind those DDT trucks with friends when I was a kid too. Can't imagine what the long term effect will be... Oh well, can't win them all. | ||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 569 Registered: 10-2005 |
Rabid environmentalists are constantly trying to trump up the effects of anything they deem "Chemical"...When I took chemistry in 11th grade, I left with the understanding that everything, when broken down, is chemical in nature. I still think they are teaching that concept at CHS, but who knows these days? In a big report due out this week, the WHO will find that about 9,000 deaths can be attributed to Chernobyl incident, which will be far below the projections. They are now suggesting that the greater damage was the economic suffering caused to anybody who couldn't afford to leave the 100 mile radius area, due to the environmental fear caused by overdone projections, and forcing hundreds of thousands to live in utter poverty with no hope. Funny thing is, Greenpeace, in all it's wisdom, is pounding the table with their own report suggesting 100,000 deaths are directly related. Unfortunately, their numbers have included a large number of deaths over the last 20 years that aren't typically associated with Radiation. Hmmmmm. Now they are trying to say that the real damage might not be realized with some people for another 20 years....that doensn't pass the smell test to me. (Dying of cancer 40 years after any given incident does not strike me as being directly connected to aforementioned incident). But I'm not an Oncologist, so what do I know. And who still thinks no damage can be done by the misinformation distributed by overly radical Environmental Groups? Oh yeah...and now I'm learning from MOL that some of my neighbors resent and pass judgement o me for keeping my lawn neat, green and pleasant looking. WHAT A BACKWARD VIEW TO HAVE OF YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOU ARE TWISTED. | ||
| tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4274 Registered: 12-2001 |
Not at all. What you should be learning from MOL is that there are more environmentally friendly options for keeping you lawn neat than the Scott's chemical option. You also don't need a leaf blower and power mower to keep you lawn neat. (Have to admit that I do hire my neighbor's son with his power mower to cut my grass from time to time.) | ||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 570 Registered: 10-2005 |
Judgemental, and hypocritcal? | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1449 Registered: 2-2005 |
I think the real question should be, "are lawn chemicals gay-friendly"? | ||
| tjohn Supporter Username: Tjohn Post Number: 4275 Registered: 12-2001 |
Smarty, Not really. I use some pesticides, but not on the Chemlawn scale and not even on the whole lawn scale and I am constantly looking for alternatives. Anyway, I haven't passed judgement on power equipment. I merely stated the fact that it shatters the peace and quiet of a weekend. My judgement on excessive use of pesticides is that the practice is silly. | ||
| Stephanie N. Citizen Username: Stephanie_n Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2006 |
{{Dying of cancer 40 years after any given incident does not strike me as being directly connected to aforementioned incident But I'm not an Oncologist, so what do I know.}} I have advanced thyroid cancer and as a result, have done a lot of research on this subject. From what I have read, diagnosis 20-40 years after exposure is pretty normal. Even though this wasn't the case for me, a lot of thy. ca. in adults is considered to be a direct result of certain medical treatments received as a child (in the 50s and 60s, radiation was used to treat acne and I think to reduce swelling the tonsils and lymph nodes) I am not undergoing treatment now, but my cancer is not in remission. I have proven resistant to the radioactive iodine typically used to treat thyca. But luckily, what I have now is too small to do any damage to me just yet, so it is not yet worth undergoing other treatment protocols that are not really proven effective for thyca. but in any case, this all just makes me a little more aware of potential contaminants in the environment and my husband and I won't be calling Lawn Doctor anytime soon! | ||
| Smarty Jones Citizen Username: Birdstone Post Number: 575 Registered: 10-2005 |
Stephanie, I'm sorry to hear about your condition, and with all due respect to your situation, I have to assume you are comfortable discussing this since you posted on the board. However, there seems to be a dramatic amount of speculation/misinformation on what does and does not cause cancer. Is it not reasonable to think that in Today's society, a list of hundreds of possible causes could be defined as being the cause of cancer, when the scope of time in question is 40 years long? Is the concern people have about Lawn Care products is that they might cause Cancer? Yet the biggest source of radiation in our lives, is coming from our household light bulbs/TV/etc.????? | ||
| Stephanie N. Citizen Username: Stephanie_n Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2006 |
Hi Smarty, If someone who lived near Chernobyl, died of cancer 40 years after the fact, it certainly isn't unreasonable to attribute the death to that accident, depending on what sort of cancer. I don't think Greenpeace should be maligned for disseminating that sort of information. The reason people rail against the use of lawn products as opposed to plastic products or light bulbs is because lawn care products are not as necessary in the way those other items are. I don't think it is wrong to want to reduce your exposure where you can. I do think it is hypocritical, though, if a person constantly crows about the dangers of chemical lawn care while being unable to cut down their exposure to other known carcingens. But I suspect that someone extremely vocal about lawn care is trying to reduce their exposure, as much as they are able, to those other items anyway. Now as far as speculation and misinformation - that is what messes with my head sometimes! I worry about my exposure to certain elements - I wonder how much of an impact the thing actually has, and then I wonder if it even makes a difference because I am unwittingly exposing myself to countless other carcingens anyway. And then I wonder what is the point, because the damage has already been done. But in my specific case, very little is known about the varient of thyroid cancer I have, so it may very well make a difference if I did have the ability to determine and avoid known carcinogens. And like I said, if my thyca starts to grow again, there are no proven treatment options at this given moment - I most likely will enroll in a clinical trial. | ||
| Factvsfiction Citizen Username: Factvsfiction Post Number: 108 Registered: 4-2006 |
Can you get high from them? See any local kids sniffing your lawn? Personally I think you should only be willing to put what you are willing to ingest on your lawn. Guess that explains the weeds. | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 616 Registered: 1-2006 |
Spade at garage sale: 50 cents. Bucket to put weeds in: free when you buy a plant. Time spent pulling weeds with your kid: priceless. J.B. | ||
| Elgato Citizen Username: Elgato Post Number: 41 Registered: 2-2004 |
For 2 years I have used an organic lawn product that stops the weeds from germinating when it's used early spring and fall with great success. Not perfect but now I see mostly grass instead of mostly plantain. I was getting desperate and about to use the traditional chemicals when I heard of 2 people who's dogs had both died of cancer of the foot/leg and both were convinced it was caused by the chemically treated grass. They don't put those little flags there to welcome people! We are exposed to so many carcinogens daily and have been growing up. Why on earth would any sane person want to expose future generations to our mistakes? | ||
| Jersey Boy Citizen Username: Jersey_boy Post Number: 626 Registered: 1-2006 |
Why? Because weeding is a huge pain. I know I've been singing its praises, but yesterday I weeded my entire lawn of dandilions only to find a whole bunch more today. When I find one of those seed stems empty, my heart sinks. And, now I look at my neighbors' yards suspiciously. If they have dandilions and I'm down wind of them... But, I will not give up. Maybe I should start a blog about my weeding obsession. I'm sure everyone here would find it fascinating. J.B. | ||
| Case Citizen Username: Case Post Number: 1466 Registered: 2-2005 |
Personally I think you should only be willing to put what you are willing to ingest on your lawn. Guess that explains the weeds. I can't think of a good meal that includes lawn soil and natural fertilizer (i.e. cow manure)... maybe I should check the cooking section. |
