Organic Land Management
Recent advances in product technology and biological research have made natural or "organic" landscaping the preferred and responsible method of maintaining municipal properties. Once developed and properly implemented, a natural turf program costs less than a chemical program. Natural turf has far fewer pest infestation problems and is virtually indistinguishable from its non-organic competition.
The lawn chemicals typically used on fields have been associated with environmental contamination and significant human health problems, including certain cancers, neurological and developmental problems, reproductive harm and birth defects. Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to these problems.
The playing fields in East Meadow, New York, are maintained without using chemical pesticides.
It's important to remember that an EPA registration number on a product does not mean that the product is safe, even when used as directed. Rather, it indicates that there are safety concerns that require registration and monitoring. Over the years, several products with EPA registrations have been banned. Several states have now passed legislation prohibiting the use of pesticides on school playing fields, and many communities have made the decision to stop using them on town-owned land.
Branford, CT's Parks Department maintains all 24 of the town’s fields without the use of chemical pesticides of fertilizers.
Ogunquit, ME, banned the use of all turf pesticides on public lands in 2009. Five years later, voters passed an ordinance banning the use of non-organic pesticides and herbicides on private lands as well.
Marblehead, MA, enacted Organic Pest Management regulations in 2005.
New York City prohibits pesticide use in parks.
Takoma Park, MD, passed the Safe Grow Act, which places restrictions on the use of cosmetic pesticides for lawn care on public and private property.
Parks in Lakewood and Golden, CO, will transition to organic land management within six different parks in an effort to protect community health and the environment using methods they learned from Longmont and Beyond Pesticides.
Resources
Our parent organization, Grassroots Environmental Education, has a section of their website dedicated to managing organic natural lawns and landscapes.
Osborne Organics has been helping communities convert to sustainable turf management for over 40 years.
The Northeast Organic Farming Association, though its Organic Land Care program, has developed extensive standards for organic lawn care. They created an Organic Lawn Care Guide and offer certification through a five-day training course.
Beyond Pesticides' Parks for a Sustainable Future program provides training to community land managers to transition green spaces to organic land management.
Our parent organization, Grassroots Environmental Education, performed a comprehensive cost comparison between conventional (chemical) turf management and natural (organic) turf management. They have additional resources on their website concerning organic landcare.
View or download a sample Organic Pest Management policy for towns.
Non Toxic Communities helps towns advocate for clean air, water, and an environment free of toxic chemicals.
Visit the ChildSafe School Program to view a short video about pesticide-free fields.
References
[1] Malakar, M., et al. (2016). Environmentally-Friendly Natural Turf for More Comfort for Users: A Review. IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, 09(09), 09-15.
[2] Cheng, H., Hu, Y., & Reinhard, M. (2014). Environmental and Health Impacts of Artificial Turf: A Review. Environmental Science & Technology, 48(4), 2114-2129.
[3] Schneider, D., et al. (2014). Synthetic Turf vs. Natural Grass. Journal of Facility Planning, Design, and Management, 2(2), 81-84.
[4] Claudio, L. (2008). Synthetic Turf: Health Debate Takes Root. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(3).
[5] Landrigan, P. J., MD, MSc, FAAP. (2001) Pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): An analysis of the evidence that they impair children’s neurobehavioral development. Japanese Journal of Occupational Medicine and Traumatology, 49(2), 89-97.
[6] United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2018). About Pesticide Registration. https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/about-pesticide-registration
[7] Goldman, L. R. (2007). Managing Pesticide Chronic Health Risks: U.S. Policies. Journal of Agromedicine, 12(1), 67-75.
[8] Levin, R., et al. (2008). Lead Exposures in U.S. Children, 2008: Implications for Prevention. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(10), 1285-1293.