Green Acres Threaten Great Salt Lake By David E. Jensen
Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely observed, “What is a weed but a plant whose virtues have not yet been discovered?
O
nce nce upon upon aa time, time, every every
and and sinker, sinker, while while chemical chemical conglomerates conglomerates
American American wanted wanted the the
banked banked billions billions in in profits. profits.
same same thing: thing: aa house house in in the the suburbs suburbs with with
Today, Today, chemical chemical lawn lawn and and pest pest control control
aa lush, lush, green green lawn lawn surrounded surrounded by by aa white white
businesses businesses are are thriving, thriving, and and the the nostril nostril
picket picket fence. fence. It It was was the the American American dream. dream.
clenching clenching stench stench of of their their products products
For For many, many, it it still still is. is. But But are are all all those those green green
permeates permeates the the spring spring and and summer summer air air in in
lawns lawns really really necessary necessary nowadays, nowadays, with with their their
most most of of our our neighborhoods. neighborhoods.
excessive excessive water water consumption consumption and and chemical chemical runoff, runoff, and and what what are are the the alternatives? alternatives? After After WWII, WWII, chemical chemical companies companies were were
II asked asked the the guy guy from from aa prominent prominent local local green green lawn lawn and and pest pest control control company company who who was was spraying spraying my my neighbor’s neighbor’s lawn lawn
scrambling scrambling to to find find new new customers customers in in aa postpost-
whether whether his his product product was was safe safe for for kids kids and and
war war economy. economy. Now Now that that the the government government
pets, pets, and and he he assured assured me me that that it it was. was. But But
no no longer longer needed needed defoliation defoliation agents agents like like
when when II asked asked him him why why he he was was required required
napalm, napalm, or or nerve nerve gas gas and and other other substances substances
to to put put yellow yellow flags flags on on the the grass grass warning warning
of of chemical chemical warfare, warfare, these these companies companies
homeowners homeowners to to keep keep kids kids and and pets pets off off the the
focused focused their their marketing marketing on on suburban suburban
lawn lawn for for 24 24 to to 48 48 hours, hours, suddenly suddenly he he didn’t didn’t
consumers consumers instead, instead, targeting targeting them them with with aa
want want to to talk talk anymore. anymore. What What was was he he hiding, hiding,
chemical chemical revolution. revolution.
II wondered? wondered? And And why why was was he he wearing wearing what what
Cleaners, Cleaners, sanitizers, sanitizers, disinfectants, disinfectants, bug bug sprays, sprays, repellants, repellants, herbicides, herbicides, pesticides, pesticides,
was was essentially essentially aa Hazmat Hazmat suit? suit? The The chemical chemical potions potions that that turn turn our our nonnon-
fertilizers, fertilizers, sun sun screen, screen, pharmaceuticals pharmaceuticals
native native ornamental ornamental grass grass aa brilliant brilliant green green
(both (both good good and and bad), bad), and and aa thousand thousand other other
include include various various combinations combinations of of nitrates, nitrates,
chemical chemical products, products, including including DDT, DDT, ushered ushered
phosphorus, phosphorus, potassium, potassium, ammonia, ammonia, urea urea
in in aa new new standard standard of of living. living. “Better “Better living living
and and formaldehyde. formaldehyde. With With the the exception exception
through through chemistry” chemistry” was was the the sales sales pitch pitch — —
of of formaldehyde, formaldehyde, these these are are naturally naturally
and and Americans Americans bought bought into into it it hook, hook, line line
occurring occurring compounds compounds that that plants plants require require
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