Time Outdoors: Preserving our pollinators
Yards are connected to the environment we all share, and what we put on them impacts the rest of our ecosystem.
Recently, I sat on the deck and took stock of our yard. It was one of those perfect early summer evenings that makes the gray, desolate winters here seem almost worth it. New England’s lush June blossoming should be ranked as one of the wonders of the world.
Bees were buzzing in the Russian sage, and, right on cue, a cottontail rabbit hopped out to munch clover. Birds flitted and chirped, and a chipmunk shot across the stone walkway and under the shed. The tomato plants in the raised garden swayed gently, a couple already over the first rungs of the cage. In full bloom, the dogwood in the corner by the gate looked particularly magnificent. Our little West Acton yard was bursting with life. I was pleased.
We use no synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. I spray a mix of vinegar, salt, and dish soap to control the weeds on our stone path, and because we have a small yard, I use a plug-in electric mower, blower, and trimmer. I say this not to brag but to show how easy it is to make changes and still have a lush, non-toxic yard that, at least in my opinion, looks great.
Zooming out
In aggregate, the U.S. has over 40 million acres of lawn, most of it devoid of the diversity of plant life that animals and insects need to thrive. Watering all this grass requires 9 billion gallons of water a day, and lawnmowers burn 1.3 billion gallons of gasoline annually.
U.S. yards are treated by a staggering 70-80 million pounds of pesticides annually. Bee-killing “neonics” and herbicides like glyphosate (Roundup) are particularly popular — and harmful. These pesticides and herbicides have negative health effects on people, pets, and our shared environment.
(Bees are also facing catastrophic natural hazards. USDA researchers say entire colonies are collapsing due to a parasite-borne virus.)
Studies show pesticide exposure is linked to various neurological diseases like Parkinson’s, higher cancer rates, and immunological impairment. This is why, here in Acton, I am stunned at the number of yellow “Keep Off — Pesticide Application” signs I still see, sometimes on lawns clearly used by young children. Perhaps homeowners are simply unaware of what is being applied and the potential risks.
I am similarly dismayed by all the mosquito control company signs. Super-toxic to aquatic life, the pyrethroids typically used by these companies kill all insects on contact (not just mosquitoes and ticks), including honeybees, butterflies, and the bugs that serve as an essential food source for hungry songbird hatchlings in their nests.
Responsible options
People have choices, and I know yards serve as manicured statements of order and tidiness. Some see weeds as the enemy, and mosquitoes and ticks are certainly no fun. I can understand the desire to have them gone. But these choices come at an environmental cost that extends beyond just those who reside at these properties.
Yards are connected to the environment we all share, and what we put on them impacts the rest of our ecosystem. Rain washes these toxins into our rivers and streams, and mowers and blowers hoist them into the wind.
As awareness and demand grow, most local and national lawncare companies, mosquito spraying services, and nearly all popular brands of home-use lawn care products have added safer all-natural and organic options to their lineups that work very well. Tick tubes and mosquito dunks are easy, effective homemade solutions.
Back to nature
Progress is being made, awareness is increasing, and new, safer options and product choices are on the market to meet growing demand. Along with a shift toward naturally formulated and organic lawncare products and services, the “re-wilding” of monoculture lawns, and the planting of native vegetation for pollinators is also becoming popular.
Last year, I presented on this topic to ConcordCAN, and the Acton Free Public Library has asked me to reprise this talk. If you are free June 18 at 6 p.m., please join me at the Goodwin Forum at the main branch for “Silent Spring II: The Hidden Dangers of Yard Pesticides.” I will cover alternatives and specific products that are effective and safe.
Time Outdoors includes just sitting and looking out on your yard. I hope yours is buzzing and hopping with life and that you see it as a connected, essential part of what we all share — and one that is safe for people and pets and wild animals.
Wilson Kerr lives in Acton and is an avid outdoorsman and amateur naturalist. This monthly column is written to help grow awareness of the wonders of nature. In this increasingly fast-paced and technology-packed world, it is important to stop and take in the beauty of our area and the animals that inhabit it. The author hopes this column will be read by families and used as a teaching tool and that you will spend more … Time Outdoors.
