Showing posts with label organic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label organic. Show all posts
Monday, April 5, 2010
spring farmers market on 4/10
Support local farmers within 200 miles of Chicago by buying organic produce and herbs, meat from grass fed animals, cheeses, soaps, syrups and fair trade products at the farmer's market hosted by Green Sanctuary Group of Beverly Unitarian Church, 10244 S. Longwood Drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday, March 22, 2010
new organic lawn care option in the neighborhood
Today I got home from a walk to find a flyer on my door that offered some welcome news. Scott Ware Landscape Design (773-445-8479), which is been primarily a design-and-build landscaping service, has decided to offer organic lawn care service.
I've been impressed with the quality of Scott Ware's designs and installations around the neighborhood. I should note that I am NOT a current customer and do not have any financial interest in the business. These comments are from the perspective of a neighborhood resident and gardener who is frustrated by the mainstream toxic approach to landscape care.
In the years since I moved to the neighborhood, I've seen many lawns that have not done well under the traditional approach used by most lawn services. These lawns are mowed on a fixed schedule, regardless of what the weather has been since the last mowing and how much the grass has grown. Cutting grass too short and/or too often is a common practice, which stresses the grass and affects its root growth, making it more vulnerable to insect damage and disease. When the inevitable happens, the lawn is then treated with chemicals to fight the insect damage and disease.
Many beneficial micro-organisms and animals are killed along with those that were targeted by the chemical treatments. Without the beneficial creatures, the grass becomes more vulnerable, and is treated with more chemicals. Worms are permeated with chemicals. Birds eat the contaminated worms and die. Later in the season, when the mosquitoes get bad, there are fewer birds around to eat them. Dogs and children who walk or play on the chemically-treated lawns may end up inadvertently getting the chemicals into their systems, with potentially bad results. This is somewhat of a simplification, but I think you get my point.
An organic, holistic approach is very different. If grass is allowed to grow a little longer, it can grow a healthier root structure, making it less vulnerable to insects and disease. In a dry period when the grass has grown less, it can be allowed to go longer between mowings. Many lawn-attacking insects have natural predators, including other insects and micro-organisms. Use of these biological controls does not involve toxic chemicals. Use of organic fertilizers along with a mulching lawn mower, which leaves grass and leaf bits behind to compost in the lawn, eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.
The flyer advertises "Lawns mowed only when they need it. Chemical-free weed and insect control." I think it's a great idea that they're offering this as a pilot program and hope it will be a big success.
I've been impressed with the quality of Scott Ware's designs and installations around the neighborhood. I should note that I am NOT a current customer and do not have any financial interest in the business. These comments are from the perspective of a neighborhood resident and gardener who is frustrated by the mainstream toxic approach to landscape care.
In the years since I moved to the neighborhood, I've seen many lawns that have not done well under the traditional approach used by most lawn services. These lawns are mowed on a fixed schedule, regardless of what the weather has been since the last mowing and how much the grass has grown. Cutting grass too short and/or too often is a common practice, which stresses the grass and affects its root growth, making it more vulnerable to insect damage and disease. When the inevitable happens, the lawn is then treated with chemicals to fight the insect damage and disease.
Many beneficial micro-organisms and animals are killed along with those that were targeted by the chemical treatments. Without the beneficial creatures, the grass becomes more vulnerable, and is treated with more chemicals. Worms are permeated with chemicals. Birds eat the contaminated worms and die. Later in the season, when the mosquitoes get bad, there are fewer birds around to eat them. Dogs and children who walk or play on the chemically-treated lawns may end up inadvertently getting the chemicals into their systems, with potentially bad results. This is somewhat of a simplification, but I think you get my point.
An organic, holistic approach is very different. If grass is allowed to grow a little longer, it can grow a healthier root structure, making it less vulnerable to insects and disease. In a dry period when the grass has grown less, it can be allowed to go longer between mowings. Many lawn-attacking insects have natural predators, including other insects and micro-organisms. Use of these biological controls does not involve toxic chemicals. Use of organic fertilizers along with a mulching lawn mower, which leaves grass and leaf bits behind to compost in the lawn, eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers.
The flyer advertises "Lawns mowed only when they need it. Chemical-free weed and insect control." I think it's a great idea that they're offering this as a pilot program and hope it will be a big success.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
organic plant sale 5/16-5/17
Gardening news from the Chicago Park District:
Buy all you need to garden organically at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse plant sale. The greenhouse will sell more than 150 varieties of organically grown vegetable, herb and flower seedlings at this annual sale on May 16 & 17. Plant prices range from $2 & up. Kilbourn Park is located at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. Click here for more information, or call 773.685.3351 or 773.685.3359.
Buy all you need to garden organically at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse plant sale. The greenhouse will sell more than 150 varieties of organically grown vegetable, herb and flower seedlings at this annual sale on May 16 & 17. Plant prices range from $2 & up. Kilbourn Park is located at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. Click here for more information, or call 773.685.3351 or 773.685.3359.
Monday, May 26, 2008
when is organic more worthwhile
Most of us don't have the $$$ to buy all of our produce organic. Some conventionally grown fruits and vegetables can be saturated with pesticides that can't be easily washed off. Others are less vulnerable, and are okay to buy when conventionally grown. I've eaten some conventionally grown grapes that had a noticeable chemical taste even after thorough washing.
If you want to know which are more likely to be contaminated by pesticides (hence worth buying in organic form), check out this article.
If you want to know which are more likely to be contaminated by pesticides (hence worth buying in organic form), check out this article.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
organic plant sale 5/17 & 5/18
Buy all you need to garden organically at the Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse plant sale. The greenhouse will sell more than 150 varieties of organically grown vegetable, herb and flower seedlings at this annual sale on May 17 & 18. Plant prices range from $2 & up. Kilbourn Park is located at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave. Click here for more info., or call 773.685.3351 or 773.685.3359.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
another good reason to choose organics or grow your own
Freshness and convenience have always been good reasons for growing your own fruits and vegetables. The food safety issues of recent years, such as e. coli and other types of contamination have given me a bit more motivation.
The recent EPA approval of this toxic pesticide is yet another reason to consider buying organic or growing your own, as well as being a good illustration of why the EPA under Shrub is an absolute mockery of the agency's stated purpose.
The recent EPA approval of this toxic pesticide is yet another reason to consider buying organic or growing your own, as well as being a good illustration of why the EPA under Shrub is an absolute mockery of the agency's stated purpose.
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