Category: Newsletter

Landscaping Event Summary—Upper Nyack Green Committee

Post author By dianabarbara84
Post date May 19, 2025
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by Suzanne Buchauer

On May 14^th, 2025, the Upper Nyack Green Committee held a landscaping event in the Old Stone Meeting House, in Upper Nyack, NY. It was very fun to connect with people, hear from different perspectives and learn from each other. Each speaker brought in passion and enthusiasm for their topics and it was truly rich in content and a pleasure. There was a lively Q&A and discussion after the presentations and lots of opportunity to make new contacts and further learn or join in.

This is a summary of the Upper Nyack Green Committee Landscaping Event with links to articles and videos.

Harry Vetter, Chair of the Upper Nyack Green Committee, spoke about some of what the Upper Nyack Green Committee has achieved for our village:

A BRONZE CERTIFIED CLIMATE SMART COMMUNITY!

Encouraging gardening with native plants and plants for pollinators
Promoting the transition to renewable energy
Recent workshops on EV’s and Heat Pumps
Advocating for composting
Championing campaigns such as Community Solar
$70,000 in funding for Village projects such as solar panels on the DPW building
Secured free energy audits of two village buildings
Petition to reduce “noisy season” by curtailing seasonal ban on gas-powered leaf blowers
Planning to launch Street Tree Planting campaign

Patty Mann brought in information on Native Species. She has actively done research and is using this information on her own property, with great success, as many noticed during the tour of her garden on May 10^th, 2025.

Patty’s article and compilations of native plant links, called: Why Plant Native? And What to Plant, can be found here.

Suzanne Buchauer, will be giving a tour of her do-it-yourself (DIY), 10-year landscaping project, on Saturday, June 28^th at 10:00, at her residence (216 Wanamaker Lane). During the tour, you can see exactly what Suzanne spoke about during the alternative landscaping event, namely:

10-year do-it-yourself (DIY) landscaping project on private property
Saving oak trees project and the very large trees/forest strip on private lot—over 50 trees and over 25 varieties.
Personal protection tips from poison ivy, ticks and other biting bugs.
Backyard pollinator pathway and butterfly garden
Backyard composting of fruit and veggie—what works and easy tips!
Leaf composting ideas and how to use leaves in the landscape—leaving the leaves!
Organic mowing ideas—mow with high setting and often, to self-fertilize grass

Dana Harkrider, Founder of the Nyack Pollinator Pathway, brought in the following three minute video on pollinator pathways—it is very inspiring, knowing that each of us can make a difference, by planting certain trees, shrubs and flowers in our community, at our work and at home, as we can:

To learn more and join the pollinator pathway effort at your home/work or in your community, please learn more here:

https://www.nyackpollinatorpathway.org

Sue Ridge, from the Gardening Club of Nyack, spoke about the garden club work and the butterfly garden located at Memorial Park—Nyack, New York
To learn more about the Gardening Club of Nyack, please go to:

http://gardenclubofnyack.com

Marcy Denker gave us an overview of her work with The Nyack Tree Project, a community forestry partnership between local volunteers that has coordinated the planting and maintenance of approximately 400 trees along Nyack streets and in the parks since 2016.

Find out how to donate to the project at: https://nyackparks.org/nyacktreeproject

Nyack Tree Project FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100068874784349

Nyack2030.com is the website for the Village of Nyack’s climate action initiatives. Visit the website to learn about projects and explore the Nyack2030 Climate Action Plan. The Natural Resources chapter starting on page 42 describes the vision of sustainable landscapes and just the kind of community partnerships to build local expertise exemplified in the workshop.

https://www.nyack.gov/departments/sustainability/nyacktreecommittee

Below is the full Nyack Climate Project 2030 document:

https://www.nyack2030.com/resilience

Happy landscaping, everybody!

Tags garden, gardening, green landscaping, native-plants, nature, pollinators, tree planting

Educational Newsletter

What Can I Do To Save Money and Help Our Climate?

Post author By dianabarbara84
Post date February 21, 2024
No Comments on What Can I Do To Save Money and Help Our Climate?

Four fun and easy ways to save money and energy in your home right away!

by Suzanne Buchauer

“Help! The climate crisis seems too big, and I just don’t know where to start!”, you might hear or even say. How frustrating and draining! If only there was a way to save more money and help the environment at the same time…

When ready, here are four strategies to find relief from your worries about saving money and reducing your energy costs.
1) Make an attic stair insulation box or buy a kit.

A video showing how to make an attic stair insulation box.

EPA estimates that homeowners can save an average of 15% on heating and cooling costs (or an average of 11% on total energy costs) by air sealing their homes and adding insulation in attics, floors over crawl spaces and basements. (Internet search)

2) Stuff insulation up the fireplace if you don’t use it. There are also kits to do this:

Here, we put insulation up the chimney, and we will be adding another cover soon. We don’t use this fireplace.

3a) Dry laundry indoors, near the boiler, in the winter, or in the bedroom for some humidity.

In Europe, washing machines are not sold WITH dryers, generally. Becoming creative, you can find a way to hang even long bedding. We hang our laundry all year round and we use a dryer extremely rarely. (See pole for ideas on hanging sheets and bedding below, in tight spaces)

Project Laundry List estimates the average household could save 10 to 20 percent on utility bills by hanging the wash! Line drying laundry also protects the environment, protects the clothing, and conserves energy for your fellow man. (Internet search)

Here you can see several hanging rack options, which fold nicely: three-tiered tower; long rack, with sides that pull out; foldable long rack; plus, an adjustable V-shaped rack that fits into small spaces easily.

3b) Buy a pole to put up over door/window jams in tight spaces, to hang bedding. The longer sheets can be folded and hung on plastic hanger, until somewhat dry, then unfolded and turned around, or placed on the long racks to dry, spread out—Tip: keep the door open to the room where laundry is being hung, to help with circulation—near a heater is easy as well:

4) Buy cellular blinds, which will save significantly on energy, day and night—all year round. They are like blankets for the windows and REALLY make a huge, noticeable difference in feel (inside comfort), in cost and in energy savings. They keep the cold and heat out!

These shades can reduce wintertime heat loss by 40% or more. During a heating season, that equals an energy savings of 10%! During months when you rely on air conditioning, cellular shades reduce solar heat by 60%. Used year-round, cellular shades can lower your total energy consumption by as much as 15%. (Internet search)

Please let me know your energy saving ideas that are working at your home. Together we can make a difference.

suzanne@dyslexia-works.com
Happy exploring for ways to save on money and energy, in your
homes.

Tags climate change, conservation, heating and cooling

Educational Newsletter

Celebrating Neurodiversity and our Nature on Autism Acceptance Month

Post author By dianabarbara84
Post date April 11, 2023
No Comments on Celebrating Neurodiversity and our Nature on Autism Acceptance Month

by Suzanne Buchauer

While hiking the Long Path along the historical Hudson River yesterday, it dawned on me just how many autistic/neurodiverse individuals ended up contributing to our efforts to interpret, understand, and discover our world. The neurodiverse people below have helped broadened our collective knowledge, understanding, and wisdom about our natural world. It is a common trait of autistic individuals to be extremely focused, detail-oriented, and passionate about their particular topic of interest. Those are only a few of the talents, gifts and strengths of being neurodiverse.

Let’s take a moment to remember, to contemplate and celebrate neurodiverse individuals, whose love of animals and our natural world has made huge impacts on our lives.

Rachel Carson—Biologist, writer and ecologist

Carson’s passionate concern in Silent Spring is with the future of the planet and all life on Earth. She calls for humans to act responsibly, carefully, and as stewards of the living earth. Michael Fitzgerald of Trinity College in Dublin explored her life and personality with the traits and characteristics of what we call being on the autistic spectrum and wrote a subsequent research paper called: Rachel Carson was on the Autism Spectrum—You can read the paper here.

Greta Thunberg—Swedish climate activist

Greta has captured the hearts of many in the world. She is passionate about getting the word out about climate change. Greta is particularly well known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation.

Jane Goodall—Primatologist and Anthropologist

Jane Goodall was the first person to observe chimpanzees using tools—a trait that was thought to be uniquely human. The discovery helped shape the way we see animals and ourselves.

See this excerpt from Temple Grandin (Chapter 8: “Wildlife”) which discusses Jane Goodall’s work and the connection with strength based autistic traits.

Temple Grandin—Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University

She is a consultant for livestock handling equipment design and animal welfare.

Temple Grandin has contributed so much to our understanding of ourselves, animals and clearly explains how many neurodiverse people see the world. Her most recent book is called Visual Thinking, and is a must read for anybody who wants to understand themselves or others who are neurodiverse. Reading all of her books is super helpful as she compiles research to help us understand ourselves and the natural world. Here are my personal picks for all people, though they are children’s books. All children can benefit from these books about getting out into the real world and doing things with their hands:

Calling All Minds—How to Think and Create like an Inventor, by Temple Grandin

The Outside Scientist—The Wonder of Observing the Natural World, by Temple Grandin

Alex Honnold—Rock climber and solar energy advocate

Honnold admits to being “somewhere on the spectrum”. He has a love for climbing, the outdoors and for adventure. He is now a father and has stepped back from dangerous solo climbing for his family. He has founded the Honnold Foundation, which is a non-profit to reduce environmental impact and address inequality by supporting solar energy initiatives worldwide.

Dara McAnulty—Author and iWill ambassador

McAnulty works with young people and working to save our environment. He has experience with biodiversity, wildlife and the landscape of Fermanagh in Northern Ireland.

Daryl Hannah—Actress and Environmental Activist

Hannah is a board member of the environmental Media Association. She co-founded Biodiesel Alliance to advocate for sustainable biodiesel practices and coordinate communication for sustainable energy future that benefits all sectors of our society.

Yvon Chouinard—Rock climber, business leader, and philanthropist

Yvon is an “alternative self-made businessman (who) taught us inspiring lessons on how to perceive the world and our lives as an ephemeral journey. We are only guests on a temporary planet.” Yvon was reported to be a “loner and a geek” as a child. He found climbing by scrambling on rocks. He is well known as an inventor for innovative gear developments for climbers, like ice axes, crampons, etc. He founded Patagonia and has recently made history by donating 98 percent of Patagonia’s common shares, to a newly established nonprofit organisation, which will be the recipient of all company profits and be used in funds to combat climate change.

Charles Darwin—Naturalist, geologist and biologist

Darwin was an intrepid explorer and accomplished naturalist. His love of nature and his ability to explain his observations and findings, such as adaptation and natural selection was key to our understanding of modern science and our view of the natural world today and ever thereafter.

These are just a few of the people who are very likely humans on the spectrum and/or otherwise neurodiverse, and who love nature. We need neurodiversity and the innovative thinkers and doers who get out there and make invent, explore, and do. Thankfully, many big donors and doers love our environment, so with the increase in neurodiversity, there is a chance for us and our earth!

Being neurodiverse is very cool and in, useful and empowering; in the words of Temple Grandin:

“What would happen if the autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool?” You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socialising and not getting anything done.”
Temple Grandin

May all thinking types be celebrated, appreciated and embraced, this month and every month. Happy exploring everybody!

Suzanne Buchauer is a Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator and Autism Approach Facilitator living and working in Upper Nyack, New York. Visit: www.dyslexia-works.com.

Tags climate change, conservation, wildlife

Educational Newsletter

Earthing: The Surprising Benefits of Physically Connecting with the Earth

Post author By dianabarbara84
Post date March 20, 2023
No Comments on Earthing: The Surprising Benefits of Physically Connecting with the Earth

by Suzanne Buchauer

While living in Australia, the land of barefoot walking, I learned some fascinating and surprising things about going barefoot and touching the earth, directly. Yes, it feels so invigorating to wiggle one’s toes through the grass, and is so freeing to stretch out, on a rock, after bathing in a river; skin touching a smooth, warm, rock surface—yet there is more to going barefoot and lying on a rock than just fun—it is called “earthing”.

What in the world is earthing?

Earthing is when you directly or indirectly (with help) connect your body, to the Earth’s natural healing energies. This can be done by: going barefoot, swimming in a natural lake, stretching out on the lawn in shorts, or on a sandy beach, sitting on a log or stone, with shorts on, so that the skin touches the earth object’s surface. It is the direct contact with earth; that is key!

This is not a new concept, of course. Thousands of years ago, “earthing” was recognised in Chinese records, which focused on “Earth Qi”. Other indigenous cultures throughout time have demonstrated that they have had a very easy and connected relationship with the earth’s healing energies. Dressing minimally, when possible, and spending time directly touching the earth’s surface was an easy way to gather the earth’s energy into people’s bodies, in the past and now.

For starts, it can be done anywhere you can find a bit of earth; or, it can be done inside your home, with the use of passive earthing contact technology, for sale through various vendors. Earthing can be a free way to heal many conditions. And, amazingly, you can even choose to purchase items to assist you to do it more often, indoors, to suit your personal condition or needs.

How can I easily connect to the earth?

You can connect directly to the earth with your body, or buy helping items, like blankets, copper inserted sandals, arm pads for desks. . .

How does it help us humans?

Connecting the human body with the Earth’s electric charge significantly stabilizes our human physiology at the deepest levels. Both qualitative and quantitative research studies document the effectiveness to our human body and mind. See the link below for research and discussion of benefits, including a visual mind map. The benefits are holistic, including: calming the mind, lowering stress levels, calming the heart, reducing muscle pain, enhancing immune response to speed wound healing, slowing free radical damage associated with aging, enhancing energy, reducing painful joint inflammation, balancing bone calcium, regulating hormones, calming digestion, improving blood oxygen, enhancing cell function, and improving circulation. To see the research on these benefits, check out the article linked here.

Earthing in Nyack, after the late January snow storm, 2022.

How can I actually do earthing if I do not like to be barefoot, it is cold, or I cannot go outside due to health or work circumstances?

There are products on the market to help with most human conditions. Yes, earthing can be done outside at any time, and inside with the assistance of: grounding blankets for day or night time passive earthing connection; mats for your bare arms, at your computer table; grounding mats for your feet, while sitting inside at your desk or table; sandals with copper conductive inserts, to connect with the earth, while walking outside; and more.

Nature path project, for the whole family, or for community locations

A nature path for yourself, your family, or your community is easy to make and fun for all. You can clear a path and make it around 15 feet or as long as you like. Divide the path up into segments by putting some stones or non-treated wood branches along the edge of the path and across the path every three feet, or so. You can make this path circular or straight. Once you have around five or six segments all cleared and boxed off, you are ready to begin collecting various conducting earth objects. You can collect and then put different natural items inside each section, which work as conductors to the earth below. Here are some ideas for the different segments in a nature path:

grass and moss
soft pine cones
smooth stones or smooth gravel
coarse sand
cedar or other bark
pine needles
mud

Deep mud earthing on a prepared and safe nature trail, which is a half mile long and has various earthing segments.

What about my freshly mopped floors inside and the mess of going outside, barefoot?

Yes, safeguarding the peace in the house and feeling refreshed can be managed by washing the feet after earthing. This can be as easy as using a nearby hose and having a towel ready at the entrance to the house afterwards. My personal preference, in all weather, is to provide my family members and myself with a foot-sized basin of warm, sudsy water, using biodegradable soup, of course, with a wash cloth in the basin, to clean the feet. Then, I have various towels at the ready, on the door step, for drying, afterwards. It is very refreshing and relaxing and keeps the harmony in the house. (No more muddy footprints through the house.)

Whether you decide to do your earthing by stepping outside and kicking off your shoes for a walk or just standing in the yard while on the phone; making a planned nature/earthing path at home or in a local park; or getting some of the inside earthing products; my hope is that you have been inspired to give it a try and find your own creative way of connecting with the healing energies of our earth.

Happy Earthing, to you all.

Suzanne Buchauer

Suzanne Buchauer is a licensed Davis Dyslexia Correction Facilitator and Davis Autism Approach Facilitator, dyslexia-works.com, who lives in Upper Nyack, New York.

Tags connecting with nature, nature, trees

Newsletter Op-Eds

Despair Won’t Solve the Climate Crisis

Post author By dianabarbara84
Post date February 2, 2023
No Comments on Despair Won’t Solve the Climate Crisis

by Talia Reiss

As young people post feelings of hopelessness about climate change, social media is becoming a cesspool of climate nihilism.

“We could be extinct in less than 30 years,” exaggerated one Tiktok user. Though concern about eventual human extinction is justified, there is no evidence to suggest that it will happen in the next 30 years. Another TikTok user wrote, “Climate and environmental [advocacy] seems so hopeless in a corporate ruled capitalist world. It feels like we’re just sitting back and watching it all end.”

No one can blame young people for their eco-anxiety. Recent trends reported by the Environmental Protection Agency show that climate change is escalating quickly, and most people can see the consequences in their own communities. In 2022, the world saw unprecedented heat waves, floods, wildfires, earthquakes, and tropical storms.

This is a scary reality, which is precisely the reason that people deny climate change. Pretending climate change isn’t real allows people to avoid anxiety about the future and absolves them of any responsibility to fix it. But publicly pouring out feelings of despair isn’t going to change a climate denier’s mind; it actually does quite the opposite. Logically speaking, if people deny climate change because they don’t want to feel fear, giving them more to be afraid of will only make them more likely to deny climate change.

Not only does climate despair discourage people from joining the movement, it can turn existing environmentalists away from the movement, too. When we push the narrative that the planet is already doomed, it tells environmentalists that our efforts are pointless and that we are helpless in the face of an unstoppable catastrophe. From there, it’s easy to become paralyzed by fear. Instead of actively pursuing a more sustainable lifestyle, we begin to disengage from the problem because it feels overwhelming and anxiety-inducing.

It’s true that individual action alone is not enough. According to a 2017 article published by The Guardian, 100 companies are directly responsible for 71% of global greenhouse gas emissions. So why should we bother with individual action?

Consumers hold the power in our capitalist system. Corporations rely on consumers to make a profit, so when we stop contributing as heavily to harmful industries, the financial pressure forces profit-hungry corporations to compromise. So even though small actions like opening the windows instead of turning on the air conditioner or eating a few vegetarian meals a week can feel futile, we’re playing a vital role in making industry more sustainable.

Making changes in our personal lives reinforces our commitment to the environment and keeps us engaged in the broader movement. At the very least, individual action can help us feel like we’re in control, which empowers us to fight harder for systemic change. Local organizations like Keep Rockland Beautiful, Rockland Sierra Club, and 350 NJ-Rockland are great places to get involved.

It’s okay to feel anxious about climate change, but spreading despair on social media is not the solution. We have good reason to be hopeful: with the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, we have taken a historic step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change on low-income communities. We can solve this, but only if we channel our eco-anxiety into a movement that will push us towards a more sustainable future.

Talia Reiss is a senior at Nyack High School and editor-in-chief of the Nyack Spectrum.

Tags activism, climate change, conservation

Newsletter

What is Grasscycling?

By Judy Ryan

August 6, 2021

As environmentally conscious citizens, we dutifully carry our bins of plastic, glass, metal and paper to the curb each week. In addition, many village residents drag to the curb heavy bags of grass clippings.

It turns out that’s a chore we can give up without guilt. Grasscycling means leaving grass clippings in place to nourish our lawns with nitrogen and other organic nutrients. Clippings also hold in moisture, and if we add proper lawn watering techniques, we can significantly reduce water usage. According to Planet Natural, the EPA “estimates that watering lawns accounts for 30-60% of water [usage] in summer.”

I’ve gleaned my information from a myriad of excellent websites (listed below). Information is available from environmentally focused organizations, but also from businesses selling lawn products. Some are geared to those obsessive about their lawns, and some are for the rest of us. Cornell Cooperative Extension offers three detailed pages of information about lawn care without pesticides. Gardening Know How assures me that “you’re probably already [grasscycling] and just didn’t know. Essentially, it is “mow and go.”

An old adage is that not removing grass clippings can lead to thatch (a mat of tangled grass), but grasscycling can actually prevent the growth of thatch. Only if clippings settle in clumps is there a risk of thatch. In that case, use a rake to spread out the clumps evenly over your lawn.

Here are some tips from Planet Natural:

Don’t cut the lawn too short. Cut no more than 1/3 of a blade. Taller grass exposes more leaf surface to the sun, and also shades the soil from rapid evaporation.
Make sure your mower blades are sharp, so as not to tear grass.
Let grass clippings settle on their own – only take a rake to clumps.
Water thoroughly but not often. Thorough watering encourages deep root systems; it’s shallow roots that can lead to thatch. And make sure grass is dry before you water. It’s best to water in the early morning, when the air is cooler and water won’t evaporate too quickly.
It’s a good idea to add high quality organic fertilizer in the spring, but you’ll need less because of the nitrogen in the clippings.
It isn’t necessary to buy a mulching mower, but if you do, it can mulch leaves directly into your lawn in the fall. This also contributes to a healthier lawn … but more about that in the fall.
We don’t see old-fashioned push mowers much any more, but the newer ones are lightweight, easy to maneuver, and their spinning blades are ideal for clipping grass. You can skip your walk that day!

A blog on Lawnstarter’s website quotes Cassy Aoyagi, a landscaper in Los Angeles, where droughts are intensifying: “Grass is 80% water, so in essence you’re watering your lawn a bit by leaving clippings in place.” According to Planet Natural, “Much of [our] money for lawn products goes to those that degrade the soil, pollute any water they reach, and pose … health threats to humans, … pets, and wildlife….” The writer states that “60-70 million birds die from pesticide poisoning each year in the US alone.”

Yard waste in landfills is another major issue on a planet filled with garbage. Since 1980 yard waste in landfills has been reduced from 27 million tons to 10.8 million tons according to the Lawnstarter blog. Many states have passed laws limiting or banning yard clippings in their landfills. Composting grass clippings has become common. But leaving most of them in place remains the healthiest option for your lawn, as regular mowing and mulching “provide a barrier to weed seeds, preventing them from taking root.”

Since we’re heading into late summer, you may want to check the Cornell University Cooperative Extension website to learn how to prepare and plant your lawn in September, as the air cools. Even us “mow and go” folks can follow some of its simple tips, like loosening soil compaction and incorporating topsoil, if needed, into the soil beneath. Others can dig into its extensive information about a truly beautiful pesticide-free lawn.

Grasscyling is not a burden. It makes lawn care easier, requiring only that we leave grass clippings in place, water with care, and fertilize organically only in spring. It turns out that the practice of leaving grass clippings on our lawns is a win for our lawns, a win for our environment, and a win for the health of everyone.

http://www.lawnstarter.com/blog

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com

https://www.planetnatural.co m

https://www.rocklandcce.org

Tags green landscaping, water conservation

Newsletter

Why Regulate Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers?

Post author By jlryan4181
Post date April 7, 2021
No Comments on Why Regulate Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blowers?

KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA

The Village of Upper Nyack will hold a public hearing April 15, 2021, to consider the adoption of a “Noise Law of the Village of Upper Nyack.”

https://www.uppernyack-ny.us/home/news/proposed-noise-law-village-upper-nyack-1

Included in the law is a section regulating gasoline powered leaf blowers by date and times of operation. The hearing will be conducted on Zoom, and is open to all Village of Upper Nyack residents. When I co-founded the Upper Nyack Green Committee, I knew little about noise and air pollution from gas blowers. I was concerned about pollution from cars, factories, and coal plants, I cared about preserving trees, worried about soil erosion and the health of animal species. It was fellow Green Committee members who educated me about the health risks of gas blowers. In fall, 2019, they presented a gas blower regulation proposal to the Upper Nyack Village Board about those risks.

(https://www.uppernyack-ny.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif5116/f/news/uppernyackleafblowerregulationproposal.pdf)

I didn’t know that the exhaust from two-stroke engines, which characterize most gas blowers, contains fine particulate matter, heavy metals and carcinogens. I didn’t think about the fact that the dust they threw up (which did burn my eyes) was of course soil particles, containing fertilizer, mold and even feces. I had no idea what a dangerous mix my developing grandchildren were breathing into their bodies. And I didn’t know that the sound level was was as high as 95 to 115 decibels, substantially higher than the maximum of 85 decibels that is safe for our ears. We would all prefer to be free to do what we like on our property. We’d all like to use whatever equipment is most efficient on our lawns and gardens.

We’d certainly like to use any we own, whenever we like. But in the last year, we’ve learned a global lesson in the importance of giving up our freedom for the sake of community health and safety. Gas blowers may not be as deadly as the Coronavirus, but their steady use does threaten our health, and the safe development of growing children. Furthermore, there are folks who suffer more than others from the pollution from gas blowers: people with asthma, allergies, and other respiratory conditions.

Most of us hate the noise of blowers, but there are villagers who suffer acutely from the sound. Those with tinnitus, or a debilitating condition called hyperacusis, have a sensitivity to sound that can be highly painful. I have a friend whose younger brother suffers from a sensory processing disorder, accompanied by hyperacusis. He screams when he hears a blower, and doesn’t stop until it does. Others with hearing issues suffer as well. Many properties in our village are contiguous to three or four others. Sometimes two or three blowers will move across one lawn, just six or eight feet from each other, tripling the decibel level.

Why regulate only gas blowers? For reasons of everyone’s health. Electric blowers don’t blow exhaust into the air around us. And they aren’t as loud. They do blow soil particles, and particles of whatever else the soil contains. They can erode garden beds. But they are not the same threat to the community. In a letter to the New York Times, responding to a discussion of Covid restrictions, Lisa Lombardi wrote, “Your freedom stops where it puts others at risk.” This is the message in Upper Nyack’s proposed Noise Law, which includes the regulation of gasoline-powered blowers.

Newsletter

How Lawn Pesticides Impact Health and Environment

Post author By dianabarbara84
Post date March 4, 2021
No Comments on How Lawn Pesticides Impact Health and Environment

By Addison Chappell

Landscapers often use pesticides to produce perfect, bright green lawns for their clients. But what exactly are they spraying? Is it safe? These are questions homeowners should be asking.

Beginning in spring, and continuing through fall, legions of landscapers and lawn services move into action. It is estimated that in 2019, the lawn care industry generated a combined total revenue of just over $99 billion, with each household spending an average of $503 on lawn care and gardening activities (Mazareanu). Pesticides account for about $6.8 billion of that amount. In the US alone, more than 70 million pounds of pesticides are dumped on some of America’s 30 million acres of lawns each year.

Many of pesticide companies promote their lawn products as “green” or “environmental”. The truth may be the opposite. In March 2020, a Washington DC non-profit group, beyondpesticides.org, whose mission is to work with allies to protect public health and the environment by transitioning to a world free of toxic pesticides, sued one of the biggest lawn care companies, TruGreen, for misrepresenting the safety of the toxic chemicals it uses.

Under New York state law, the pesticide company is required to notify you in advance whenever a pesticide application will be applied to your neighbor’s lawn. Companies are also required to put up small signs for at least 24 hours that indicate a lawn has been sprayed. This notification lists all the chemicals that are used on the lawn. Many of these chemicals are dangerous. They include carcinogens such as Talstar (Bifenthrin), reproductive and developmental toxins such as Barricade 4FL (Prodiamine), and endocrine disruptors such as Sevin (Carbaryl). A sizable number of these chemicals are banned in other countries.

The impact on the environment is also profound. Pesticides can contaminate soil, water, turf, and other vegetation. In addition to killing insects or weeds, lawn pesticides can be toxic to a host of other organisms including birds, fish, beneficial insects, pets, and other non-target plants.

What can you do:

Here are some things you can do to avoid these toxins:

Leave it alone! Your lawn is an ecosystem that supports a wide variety of plants and insects. Let them thrive naturally and see what happens. You can still achieve a green lawn!
Convert it! Use some of that lawn space for a vegetable garden. Growing your own food is both rewarding and healthy. If that’s not for you, convert some of that grass into a flower bed with native plants that attract pollinators.
Use Nature! Find a certified natural alternative that is proven not to be harmful to your health or the environment. Sometimes this means adding another native plant to the mix to discourage pests, or it might mean changing the pH balance of your lawn slightly to dissuade certain plants from thriving.
Get involved! Help to educate your neighbors on the use of pesticides in lawn applications. Demand meaningful legislation from lawmakers to outlaw these toxic substances and to encourage the industry to move to more organic and healthful alternatives.

We need to rethink the importance of perfect green lawns. We should be asking ourselves: What impact are we having on the environment? Are there better ways to maintain our lawns? Are pesticides worth the risk of endangering both human health and the environment?

Read More:

To learn more about the risks of pesticides, check out some of the articles below:

Tags green landscaping, water quality