The Pesticide-Free Pledge: 1,000 Heathy Lawns Challenge!

The group at Sustainable Peachtree Corners has set a goal to sign up 1,000 residents, schools, churches, businesses (basically anyone who has a lawn or garden!) to commit to going pesticide-free in 2009, and hopefully beyond!

To read our blog post about the 1,000 Healthy Lawns Challenge- click here.

For information and tool-kit about maintaining a pesticide free lawn, click here.

The Pesticide-Free Pledge:
"To the best of my ability I pledge to keep my home, yard and garden free of pesticides (this includes fungicides, herbicides, insecticides and other petrochemical agents that can cause cancer, reproductive harm, genetic damage, endocrine disruption and breathing difficulties).

Whenever pest control is needed I will consult with my local organic nursery or call a knowledgeable agent such as the Georgia Extension Office at the University of Georgia. I will further attempt, when asked, to educate others regarding my reasons for using organic control methods."

Please sign up by clicking on comments below . . .
Please include your name and city. And, if you do not already have a "Google identity," just select "anonymous" to leave your comment.

Thanks and welcome to a pesticide-free lifestyle!!

29 comments:

~Sustainable Peachtree Corners~ said...

Robin Fosdick
Norcross (Peachtree Corners), Georgia

Proud to be the first person signing up! We've been pesticide free for several years now, and happily display the pesticide free ladybug sign in our front yard (from www.beyondpesticides.com).

Anonymous said...

I also take this pledge and thank you so much for such an informative and educational article.
Charlie

Judy Knight said...

In Peachtree Corners, Norcross:

We've been pesticide-free for the four years we've lived here, and all the years before when we lived in California! Also have the pesticide-free ladybug sign in my yard (www.beyondpesticides.com) and highly recommend being able to let everyone run and play on your lawn, anytime!

Anonymous said...

We have been pesticide free since May 2008, shortly after being enlightened by Judy. We also have the pesticide-free ladybug sign in our yard (www.beyondpesticides.com) and encourage anything from running to card-boarding in our front yard.

Anonymous said...

I am pesticide free, both my lawn and my purchases!

Marlene Topping
Norcross, GA

Anonymous said...

Count me in! I just signed up for the lawn maintenance program with Earth Balance Organics.

Cindy Allen
Norcross, GA

Anonymous said...

I will be happy to earn such a positive sign in my yard - where do I get one? Also, the only thing I still want to prevent is fire ant infestation - what can we do about those dangerous things? I have small children as neigbors, a dog, etc.

leh113 said...

I was thrilled to read the article in today's paper & I want to join your challenge-I've managed to turn my vast lawn into a small parcel that can be mowed in 10 minutes or less by planting shrubs, perennials,& groundcovers...concentrating more on native plants to Georgia in the last couple years.I need info on disposing my old garden chemicals so I can TRULY earn the right to display a ladybug sign in my yard!
Thank you for taking the lead!

Anonymous said...

We've been pesticide-free since we moved here, and I feel even better about that decision since reading your article.
Katelyn Murphy-McCarthy
Norcross, GA

Pattie Baker said...

Well, you know I've been on board!

Anonymous said...

As long as I have owned a home, I have NEVER used pesticides. I've had a small garden for several years and would never think of putting pesticides on my vegetables. I am glad to see that there are others in the P'tree Corners area that think the same way that my family and I think.

Connie Martin Weathers said...

We have been moving in this direction for some time now. Just needed this incentive to go cold turkey. The ladybug sign will fit right in with our backyard wildlife habitat signs. Thanks for the nudge!

Todd said...

We will be taking the pledge and we are happy to have resources like this to help us in our decision.
Thanks! Tisha

Anonymous said...

Our family will take the pledge. Our lawn looks great weeds and all!

Thank you for the informative article.

Julie Barnash

Anonymous said...

I live pretty much in the woods and don't use pesticides. I may be weird, but I love bugs and critters and think they should be able to live their little lives without being poisoned!

Anonymous said...

My lawn is pesticide free except I use bait whenever I see a fire ant hill two in the last 6 years).
I may use herbicide on poison ivy and English ivy when I can't pull it all in the bamboo grove.

Anonymous said...

We have been pesticide free for several years, both in our landscape and elsewhere.
Tell me how I can ge the ladybug sign.

Anonymous said...

Angela signed pledge at GEHC homeschool event

Anonymous said...

Sara signed pledge at GEHC home school event

Anonymous said...

Katy signed pledge at GEHC home school event

Anonymous said...

Will Shipley signed the pledge at the Sustainable Norcross open house event 3/09.

Anonymous said...

Laurel from Berk. Lake.

Anonymous said...

Connie M. from Dunwoody, GA
also using a push reel mower!!

Ma2mny12 said...

We maintain a pesticide free small farm in the rural pacific NW
Love it!!

Todd Strickland said...

I have not used pesticides or any chemicals at all on my front lawn strip in a decade. I have also never watered it. It looks fine with a simple mow. I am actually looking into replacing all of the grass with a rock garden and plants that require no additional water/maintenance.

The amount of water, chemicals and pollution (both noise and exhaust emissions from mowers/weedeaters/blowers) to keep a typical lawn is astounding. At the very least, people might consider the following:

1) Reducing the lawn area and replacing with alternative landscaping choices.

2) Using pesticide-free treatments.

3) A voluntary neighborhood-wide window for mowing, blowing, etc. to reduce the level of noise and emissions in the air.

Leyani said...

I happily take the pledge. I just started with Earth Balance for my lawn care. Happy to be able to send my kids and pets out to play without worry.

Anonymous said...

Alvin R. Denver. Roosevelt, Utah

Anonymous said...

Alvin R. Denver. Roosevelt, Utah. I take this pledge.I`ve been doing what i can, to keep my lawn PESTICIDE FREE. Thanks for the information.

Mary Francell-Sharfstein said...

We've been pesticide free for years! Gardens Alive has a natural corn-based weed & feed product called WOW Plus that we like. It doesn't completely get rid of weeds, but as long as we keep the grass cut, my HOA is happy.