GREENER GREEN GRASS

Greener Green Grass Why Organic Lawns Make Eco-Sense

by Julie Peterson

With its dependence on synthetic cals, many of which are deemed safe by fertilizers and pesticides, government agencies. The Pesticide-Induced America’s 63,000 square miles Diseases database at BeyondPesticides.org of lawns rely on fossil fuels, put pressure holds myriad studies linking chemicals to on water supplies and devastate soil, waterasthma, diabetes, autism, lupus, arthritis, sheds, animals and people. Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and

Fortunately, green turf can be cancer. Children are particularly vulnerable attained organically, with important to the effects of toxins due to their developbenefits. “In addition to protecting public ing organs. health, eliminating our use of pesticides Exposure to lawn chemicals also and fertilizers will allow us to build comes through the air, on indoor surfaces healthy soil and sequester more carbon and in water. A U.S. Geological Survey as we face climate chaos,” says Mackenzie report found pesticides in 99 percent of Feldman, executive director of Herbicideurban streams. In mixed land use areas, Free Campus, a San Francisco organiza100 percent of major rivers and 33 percent tion working to transition colleges nationof major aquifers were tainted. wide to organic lawns. While the culture around the aesThe Harm Done thetics of landscapes is strong, the tipping point has arrived. Homeowner desire for lush swaths of “People are becoming more aware monoculture grass has been fueled by lawn that their children are at elevated risk chemical ads equating model families with and that there are deficiencies in the laws flawless lawns. Unfortunately, the “green that govern toxic chemical use,” says Jay grass of home” isn’t an ideal dream, it’s a Feldman, executive director of Beyond nightmare. Research shows that it exposes Pesticides, in Washington, D.C. people to cancer-causing, reproductiveLawn chemicals are also feeding harming and endocrine-disrupting chemiclimate change. “Not only are they fossilfuel intensive to produce, they harm the biology in the soil and destroy its ability to sequester carbon,” says Diana Carpinone, president of Non Toxic Communities, a pesticide reform nonprofit, and founder of Non Toxic Dover, in New Hampshire.

Front Yard Activists

Recent lawsuits and climate change have given activists more power to effect sweeping changes in policy. “This isn’t just a niche idea. We have a mandate, given looming environmental crises, to transform our current chemical intensive systems to organic,” says Jay Feldman.

Organic turf experts have devised methods to grow monoculture grass. According to Ryan Anderson, a community outreach specialist at the Integrated Pest Management Institute of North America and leader of Midwest Grows Green, “Homeowners can keep their lawns organic by increasing cultural controls.” These include aerating, over seeding and mowing high to build the soil, turf and plant system.

While pristine lawns are possible, reconsidering aesthetics is another option. “We could let native plants grow and embrace plant diversity as fundamental to ecosystem resilience,” says Mackenzie Feldman.

Indeed, “weeds” are beneficial. Clover feeds nitrogen to grass, benefits soil organisms and stays green long after turf. Dandelions were once considered a source of food and medicine, and all parts of it are edible, including flowers, roots and leaves.

Instead of living with weeds, some homeowners are choosing to tear out lawns and put in indigenous plants to attract pollinators and other wildlife. But it takes time for society to adopt new views and front yards can be polarizing.

“You can’t go from zero to hippie in a day. People need realistic goals,” says Carpinone.

Whether someone rents, owns or only has access to shared green spaces, Shaina Rico, founder of The Generation Ground, an Austin-based organization helping farmers launch regenerative businesses,

feels everyone must “take ownership of our green spaces. If you are not the one managing the land, ask questions of those that are. What are we doing to support the soil biology? Can we achieve the goal without using chemicals? How can we increase soil organic matter?”

Greener Communities

Concerned citizens are asking local governments and school districts to eliminate chemical turf management protocols at Make a Difference Offset climate change and improve health for people and the planet by reaching out to the community or finding helpful experts to assist with local efforts.

Non Toxic Communities

sources to create healthier schools, lawns and landscapes throughout the country. Beyond Pesticides (BeyondPesticides.org) has a database of pest management and lawn service companies that don’t use organic yard and a sign-up for The Action about current issues.

The Integrated Pest Management Institute of North America

management solutions for farms, greenhouses, facilities and homes.

Herbicide-Free Campus

(HerbicideFreeCampus.org) is working to transition every campus in the country to organic. The Great Healthy Yard Project (tghyp. com/downloads) has downloads on how to grow without gunk and encouraging others to do the same. parks and schools. Nonprofit campaigns such as Beyond Pesticides, Non Toxic Communities and Herbicide-Free Campus can sometimes send a spokesperson and provide ample data to overcome common objections. “We can show that organic is viable and economical. Organic systems end up reducing costs over time,” says Jay Feldman, who helps install community pilot sites.

Transitioning to organic practices requires a focus on soil health, building up microbial life and organic matter, understanding the ecosystem and creating a balanced ecology. Once in place, it’s a functioning system that doesn’t need much management.

“You can have a beautiful, organic, green lawn that’s safe for all living things,” says Carpinone.

Julie Peterson writes about wellness and Reach her at JuliePeterson2222@gmail.com.

(NonToxicCommunities.com) offers re

dangerous pesticides, lawn signs for the of the Week to contact elected officials

(ipminstitute.org) provides low-risk pest

environmental issues from rural Wisconsin.

Beyond Pandemic Immune Support for a Healthy Life

by Peter Amato

Over the past few months, news reporting has rarely referred to the importance of the immune system. Boosting the immune system, especially during a pandemic, is crucial. While health is an “inside job”, it’s human nature to want a quick fix and try to make someone else responsible for one’s health, but in the end, we are the ones in control of getting and staying healthy.

There is never going to be a synthetic drug or a vaccination that could compare to taking control of our own health and bullet-proofing the immune system. While the body knows exactly how to protect itself and is resilient when under attack, it functions best when the immune system is fully charged and healthy.

Nutraceuticals

Years ago, the quality of food intake would help determine the quality of health. Today this is only partially true. The typical American diet is rooted in processed food, wheat and dairy, and comes up short on nutrition. Add to that challenges that stem from our external environment, for example, depleted soil nutrients, GMO food and heavy metals. Restoring nutraceuticals provides key support for a strong immune system. Nutraceuticals are pharmaceutical grade organic vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, digestive enzymes and probiotics that everyone needs.

Nutrition is linked to the immune system directly by supplying the building blocks the body needs to function at peak performance, and indirectly by influencing gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome is responsible for communication between the brain and immune system. It also influences how much cortisol you produce, therefore affecting energy and sleep. Too much cortisol weakens the immune response. The health of microbiome influences the health of the intestinal wall which is a physical first line of defense against disease.

Autoimmune

Micro deficiencies of zinc, selenium, iron, copper, folic acid, as well as a void in necessary vitamins A, C, D and E, are all linked to a weakened immune system. Research has also shown that low vitamin D levels also lead to a multitude of autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune disease happens when the body attacks itself from the inside. There are over 125 identified autoimmune diseases, and that number is climbing. These diseases impact many different areas in the body, and commonly result in inflammation, chronic pain, organ or tissue damage, and overwhelming fatigue.

Mental health is also important in building a strong immune system. Healing past trauma is often the missing piece of the autoimmune disease reversal puzzle. The body responds to emotional levels, and learning how to heal emotional hurts allows us to reclaim our bodies and help eliminate pain, fatigue and inflammation.

Insomnia

Deficient sleep not only increases the chances of getting sick, it also prolongs recovery. The body produces and releases cytokines during sleep. Cytokines are proteins that target inflammation. Sleep is important part of boosting the immune system, strengthening digestion and calming the autonomic nervous system. Relaxation is so critical to help alleviate stress that meditation is highly recommended. Research shows that meditation decreases inflammation and bolsters immune function.

Natural Immune Boosting

Even beyond a pandemic, boosting the immune system is essential for a healthy life, and can be accomplished naturally through proper nutrition, essential nutraceuticals, proper balance of vitamins and minerals, restful sleep and stress reduction.

Dr. Peter Amato, founder of Inner Harmony Wellness Center, is a board-certified doctor of Natural Medicine, holds a PhD in MindBody Medicine, an MA in Transpersonal Psychology and a BA in Nutrition. He pioneered of one of the nation’s first integrative wellness centers. His approach to healing interweaves functional medicine, energy medicine, psychology and neurology.

Location: 131 Reynolds Rd., Dalton, Pennsylvania. For information call 570- 319-6073 or visit InnerHarmonyWellness. com. See ad, page 9.