A "Turf War" in New York Pits Natural Lawn Advocates Against Chemical Industry
The passage in the New York State Senate of the Child Safe Playing Fields Act that bans the use of chemical pesticides on school playing fields and playgrounds is being called "historic" by the founder of SafeLawns.org

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, April 25, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The passage in the New York State Senate of the Child Safe Playing Fields Act that bans the use of chemical pesticides on school playing fields and playgrounds is being called "historic" by the founder of SafeLawns.org, North America's leading natural lawncare advocacy group.

"We need to protect children from the toxic effects of pesticides such as weed killers, insecticides and fungicides," said Paul Tukey, the founder of SafeLawns.org and author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual (Storey, 2007). "Numerous studies indicate these chemical substances are not safe for children, pets or the planet in general. I think this vote, coming during Earth Week, is highly symbolic and will lead to similar legislative action nationwide."

The bill (S4983C) passed on Tuesday (April 20) by the New York senate, is expected to be approved by the full legislature, even though it faces fierce opposition from the chemical industry. New York Governor David Patterson is widely expected to sign the bill into law.

Tukey, who consults with municipalities and lawn care professionals across the U.S. and Canada, said achieving adequate turfgrass playing fields with natural, organic methods is easily attainable. In the long run, he said, the organic process is less expensive and safer.

"Numerous examples of natural lawns exist across North America and the studies indicate that the playing surfaces look great," said Tukey. "Plus, natural lawncare helps bottom line due to a reduced need for mowing, watering and pesticide applications.

In fact, a new feature-length documentary called A Chemical Reaction, traces the story of how the small town of Hudson, Quebec, became the first municipality in North America to completely ban lawn chemicals. That law was upheld by the Canadian Supreme Court in 2001. Nearly two decades of organic lawn care later, the lawns in Hudson are looking quite green and healthy. "You don't need synthetic chemicals to have a nice lawn," said Tukey.

Today, lawn chemicals are now banned in more than half of Canada and are not sold in Home Depot and other major retail chains in that country. The same lawn chemicals are still sold in the U.S., however. Tukey hopes that the New York bill that prevents chemical pesticides on school playing fields will prove to be a step toward other restrictions on lawncare chemicals throughout the United States.

"As Americans, we have to ask ourselves why we are subjecting our kids and pets to toxic chemicals when our friends north of the border began outlawing these poisons nearly two decades ago," said Tukey.

DVD copies of the movie, A Chemical Reaction, are available at www.safelawns.org/chemical-reaction/.

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