Readers may remember news that the first town in the U.S. had banned lawn pesticides on public and private property, just two years ago, followed by news of the campaign to make the ban countywide (the town being Takoma Park and the county, Montgomery County, Maryland).
Well, this month the county-wide ban PASSED – the first in the U.S. From the press release:
Property owners have a right to maintain their own property, but they do not have a right to inflict harm upon their neighbors. Residents will still be free to hire any lawn care professional to treat their lawn or to manage their own lawn care, but they can do so now with the confidence that their family will be better protected,” said Council President George Leventhal.
I love how he puts a positive spin on what opponents regard as a reduction of personal freedom. That’s George in the photo above, behind a banner in the 2015 Takoma Park July 4th Parade.
So how did this happen?
85% (over 4700) of all letters and petition signatures received by County Council supported Bill 52-14. The Bill was backed by overwhelming support from residents, families, health professionals, CASA de Maryland, Montgomery County Council of PTAs, and the Safe Grow Montgomery coalition of over 40 other local organizations and businesses, including the Montgomery County and Maryland Sierra Club, watershed groups, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Beyond Pesticides, and many more.
It also happened in large part because of these two young mothers.
Catherine Cummings (L) and Julie Taddeo marching for the county ban.
Though not JUST young mothers, and Catherine urged me to mention that the county effort was led by “a group of diverse people, coming from points of view including pet owners, environmental activists, grandparents, and dads.”
So is the battle over? Too early to know. The county executive has to sign the bill, which will happen (or not) this coming Monday. Municipalities within the county can all opt-out if they choose, so lobbying continues to make sure that doesn’t happen.
From RISE home page
The industry lobby Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE) was naturally a huge opponent. (And like the word “wholesome” in food marketing, what the hell is a “sound environment”?)
From RISE home page
One important environmental group in the county declined to support the law because they wanted to continue to use herbicides to kill invasive plants – though that use was clearly exempted from the law. And Catherine tells me the county’s “parks department hates this” and worked against it.
But others continue to rally to the cause and one organic turf consult, Chip Osborne in Massachusetts, is offering his services to the county free of charge.
So will this go nationwide? Not any time soon. A whopping 43 states have laws banning any county or city pesticide restrictions that go farther than those imposed by the state. The pesticide and lawn-care industries have been very busy, and very successful.
Just as with many other areas (education, health care), the US is far behind many European countries on this.
We’re getting there, slowly but surely…
This is such a great story! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! There’s not much in life that I hate and I consider myself to be a pretty flexible person, but I HATE pesticides. I’m the only person on my perfect, pristine subdivision who does not spray and it drives me bonkers. They spray to avoid dandelions, of all things! It baffles me. Dandelions are that offensive? C’mon, you can eat them. Even make jelly out of them.
Dandelion Pollen-Covered Honey Bee Eye Wins 2015 Nikon Small World Photomicrography Contest
http://www.nikonsmallworld.com/galleries/entry/2015-photomicrography-competition/1
BTW, for those interested in photography, DiscountMags has another one of their very good sales this weekend. I’ve bought many magazines through the site when they have deals and there are no auto-renewals.
For some reason my link to the site did not post.
You can google discountmags dollar day blowout.
Outdoor Photographer is a nice magazine and it’s very cheap.
BTW, Susan, Montgomery County’s public employee mowers always mow the grass at the lowest setting. throughout the year. The grass is probably lower than the concrete pavement bordering and certainly is terrible for the creeks next to where they do much of the mowing. That’s the next thing they need to change. My neighbor does the same thing. He likes the carpet look. And, of course, by doing this, his yard is pollinator free and thus, bird free. At least he uses no pesticides. Maybe it’s because I have my “pesticide free” sign in my yard prominently displayed. I do think these signs work.
http://lghttp.17653.nexcesscdn.net/808B16/cdn_images/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/e/5/e505_hi.jpg
It will be a cold day in hell before my county would adopt anything like this. They won’t even approve a county wide comprehensive plan because it is seen as the first step towards zoning.
Wow, It’s interesting and inspiring to see that communities are actually getting these laws/regulations passed. It makes me sick every spring to see lawn trucks up here just spraying away. It must be like 40% of the lawns up here in the northeast get sprayed each year! Keep up the good work!