Meme-ic Monday: Lawn Pesticides

  I saw this meme and added it to my Facebook page. It speaks to something very important to me: environmental toxins.  (There are some good comments, too, where the image was originally posted. Ignore the disrespectful ones.)

So first off, I have no idea if the "80 million pounds" is correct. Memes don't cite sources and don't have a great reputation for accuracy. 

I do know that a lot of pesticides and artificial fertilizers are dumped on lawns every year. I see people do it. I see the little yellow signs that warn that pets and children should be kept off the grass. Even if it's "only" a million pounds instead of 80 million it's still far too much. 

The true part of this meme is that we are doing it to ourselves. No one forces a homeowner to spray herbicide to get rid of dandelions or add organophosphates to the soil. We make choices that have serious effects on those around us. 

Also, on the bees. The bees are endangered by all this spray. We need the bees and other pollinators to maintain our food supply. A choice between a perfect lawn and a sustainable supply of food? I know which way I'm going. 

I've written about this before in Pesticides, Lawns, and Pride. My thoughts on it haven't changed much.  

What are yours?

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On Mondays, I will be posting and responding to memes, one each week. They will be ones that grab my attention, perhaps either resonate with me or annoy me. If you see a meme you would like me to react to, let me know.

Mouse in the House

I am not afraid of mice. 

Correction. I was not afraid of mice. Actually, I used to raise them at the  Small Animal Center my 4H club ran in high school. We rescued them from closing shelters even. They were cute. The teachers used them in biology, to demonstrate animal behavior. In psychology class, we taught them to run mazes. I enjoyed the little critters.

But now there is one in my kitchen and I am terrified. Can't even walk in the room without being scared of it jumping out at me.

To be fair to myself, this is a wild mouse. Much more likely to spread disease than the domesticated kinds kept as pets.


So what to do?

First off, calm down and get some perspective. I mean, it's a mouse. Maybe a family of mice .. but still.

After that, get rid of the mice.

How to go about that?

After some internet research, I told the guy at the hardware store... local place, for sure...that I didn't mind killing the mouse, but I'd rather not have poison in my kitchen. He agreed and gave me a quick killing trap. I also picked up some steel wool for sticking in the hole I found under my sink. I want to use organic methods.

I have located the most likely spot for the nest, but I haven't looked there yet, because, for some reason, I am afraid of mice. 

*sigh* Back to step one. 

I am also rethinking killing the mouse. Maybe a live trap would be better. 'Cause even though I am afraid of him, he is kind of cute and I don't like killing any living creature. 

Then again he was bold as brass last night running about my kitchen and keeping me from my housework. My son wants to look for that nest. He also wants me to pay him for catching the mouse and getting rid of it.




What would you do?  




This is my seventh post for the April 2015 Ultimate Blog Challenge.

Getting Organized-- Kitchen: Part 2

My family got invaded by tiny ants. We found them along baseboards and in one cupboard. They especially liked our honey.

This happened at the start of our stay-cation and I first felt that it, along with the rain-outs of various planned activities were going to put me over the edge into a bad mood. However, my son loved attacking the ants with the vaccuum cleaner ("Can I do that?" "Have at it, kid.") We actually had fun trying different kinds of pepper to discourage them.

And I got a project done that I had on my list but just wasn't getting to. (If you also struggle with putting things off, check out my blogging buddy Karen's new series on Preventing Procrastination.)

I had been planning to clean out and reorder that cupboard as part of a an overall reorganization of my kitchen  Now, with everything out on the kitchen table, I had a strong impetus to do it.

We removed everything, washed everything down, and vacuumed ants repeatedly. Getting rid of them took a few days. We then contact papered the shelves. I threw out outdated food and put expired medications aside to take to the collection spot. Then I put everything back in an organized fashion.

I didn't have the presence of mind to have my son take a "before" photo, but you can take my word that it was a mess. Here are a couple of  "after" photos
.

My family and I have agreed that when anything is taken out of the cabinet it will be returned to the same half shelf (unless it is used up or needs refrigeration after opening.) This is a crucial step in maintaining organization.

Anyway, I am happy to have accomplished this!

What projects have you completed recently?

Photos by J. Parry

Eco-Friendly? Take a Close Look!

I was at a shop the other day and a display of gardening supplies caught my eye.

Amidst the pesticides there was a bottle labeled, along with it's brand name, "Earth Options." It was a pale green color and was decorated with pictures of  flowers, while the others of the same brand were black or red and sported an aggressive stream of liquid and a dead bug. It proudly declared that it's active ingredient was derived from chrysanthemum flowers and that it was suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Enough to intrigue an organic gardener, which appears to be its intended audience.

Look close though. In the small print, the label informs you that the product is potentially hazardous to humans and can be absorbed through the skin. It is toxic to aquatic life and so must not get into runoff. It may, according to the label, enter run off "for weeks." It is toxic to bees and special precautions must be taken not to spray it when they are around.

This doesn't sound very environmentally healthy.

Of course, nowhere on the label does it say that's "organic," "eco-friendly," or even "safe for children and pets." But I am pretty sure it was meant to look that way.

So keep a close watch on your products!

What deceptive labels have you seen?

Pesticides, Lawns and Pride

I got into a conversation the other day and almost (thankfully only almost) violated all the principles I was encouraging people toward in my recent post on Respect.

The topic was pesticides, something I feel rather strongly about. I mean really strongly about. I think the various weed and insect killers we put on our lawns are pretty horrifying things. Unhealthy, bad for the environment, poisonous.

The man I was talking to actually applies pesticides for a living. He feels strongly, too. Sparks came near to flying, but we did both manage self-control.

Here's the thing, This guy needs to feed his family, so he treats other peoples lawns. He told me that 48 hours is a good safety margin for going back on the lawn after treatment, as long things as dry. He doesn't fertilize his lawn at home at all though. He keeps pesticides out of his truck by using a trailer, wears protective clothing and gets tested for cancer every year. Apparently, the man he bought the business from is having serious health problems related to the chemicals. But the man insisted that the lawns are safe.

I disagree. Studies have shown ill effects from treated lawns. One, in 1987, showed that children who live in houses with treated lawns are 6.5 times more likely to develop leukemia than other kids.


One thing is true. This man is not the enemy.


We have a culture that values perfect lawns. Many people like theirs to look like the gorgeous pictures they see in home and garden magazines. They want to keep up with their neighbors. They want compliments. Manicured lawns are considered the epitome of outddoor beauty in many areas. I know that I am working to have a presentable, even pretty, lawn.

This drive toward maintaining beautiful lawns goes back to one thing: the deadly sin of pride. The desire to prove ourselves better than others. Many other things are rooted there, not just lawns, and it is one of the more pervasive iniquities.

But one result is pesticides, which lead to soil destruction, ill health and a host of other ills. I need to look at how my actions contribute to the overall understanding of what makes a home "beautiful." Perhaps, in order to reduce pesticide use, we as a culture need to redefine the "perfect lawn."

Somehow, we need to conquer pride. Jesus offers us a different path, if we are willing to follow.



What are your thoughts on pesticides?
How do you combat pride in your life?

Ants Be Gone

I had an ant problem. Briefly.


Ants seemed to like one of my windows. Just one. There is a bush near that window, and likely that had something to do with it.


I am an organic-solutions sort of person so I decided to try that first. So… I cut back the bush so it doesn’t touch the house. I washed the sill and stool cap of the window to get rid of any scent markings left by ants. Then, I sprinkled cayenne pepper on the sill and the bottom of the sash. No more ants!

Just thought I would pass that along in case anyone else wants to get rid of ants without resorting to poisons. I have no idea if it will be consistently effective or if it works with all types of ants. But it could be worth a shot.


Have a great day!