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The Apalachee Tortoise
Natural Matters by Ed
Deaton
An old blue, white, yellow, green and red van pulls into the drive. A rooster
crows. A husky bearded man, Panama hat at a jaunty angle, alights, smiling.
Howie Lawrence, the "yard bird," is ready to whisk you into his
world of natural organic delights.
Howie Lawrence exudes his Florida Keys/Bahamas past. He talks slowly,
deliberately, smiling, as much philosopher as yard man. His strong hands show
his affection for the soil, for Mother Earth, for growing things. Here is the
gentle guide you need to walk with you down the path of discovery, of
balance, of spiritual integration and a whole lot nicer natural environment
around your home.
"I learned to make soil combining leaf mold and mulch with layers of
compost, fish scraps and seaweed in garden beds chipped out of the cap rock
of the Keys," he tells us. "I had to learn the organic method of
how to make soil because there wasn't much soil in the islands.
Building soil is still the basis of my business, even here in nearly
rock-less North Florida." Howie says.
Howie's business, Natural
Matters, is an environmentally responsible horticultural business based on
the idea that humans are the stewards of the biosphere and must live within
nature. It's based on the notion that natural systems are interconnected;
that the health of one will affect the health of the other. Natural Matter's
service is about working with nature,
not in opposition to it.
Natural Matters avoids chemicals, builds soil and cultivates nature to allow
healthy, sustainable ecosystems to flourish. Howie's services are based on
science and years of experience. You're likely to choose Natural Matters'
environmentally friendly yard care if you have a concern for wildlife,
waterways and the environment, raising healthy children, growing luxurious
gardens, husbanding happy animals. His clients include health care and
environmental workers, members of New Leaf Food Co-op, Apalachee Tortoise
readers - people from all walks of life.
Specifically, Natural Matters provides landscaping, yard fertilization and
soil treatment, and integrated pest management services. These yard care and
gardening services are cumulative
and interactive. Natural Matters also has do-it-yourself organic products
such as Fertrell,
available. Howie suggests we, "use a common sense, wholistic approach to
living and earth stewardship. It saves resources, time and money and helps
foster changing social expectations. It's a healing, spiritual, natural,
socially connected way of life," he testifies.
You can find out more about Natural Matters at www.organicyards.com or
call (850) 671-7270.
The actual article can be seen
at:
http://tallahassee.indymedia.org/newswire/display/2966/index.php\
The Tallahassee Red Hills Independent Media Center
Business of the Month: Natural Matters
by Apalachee Tortoise
E-mail: info@apalacheetortoise.org
07 Feb 2004
Modified: 11 Feb 2004
This article was first published in the February issue of the Apalachee
Tortoise
by Ed Deaton
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Killearn Kloverleaf Magazine
Organic Lawns: It’s
Easy Being Green
From one Homeowner to Another
By Bob Ippolito
What is the definition of an “organic” lawn? According to some experts, an
organic lawn is treated and maintained without the use of harmful chemicals
or toxic products. Natural fertilizers, weed control and insect control
products are used in conjunction with nature to maintain and grow a vigorous
and healthy lawn.
We all know that a well maintained yard and attractive lawn would improve the
aesthetic quality of our property; but will also add up to 15% to our home’s
value, as well as, provide environmental benefits. According to the Better
Lawn and Turf Institute, lawns save energy by staying 30 to 40 degrees cooler
than bare soil and 50 degrees or cooler than streets, helping to keep our
homes cool. Grass also produces oxygen, with a 50-by-50 foot patch of lawn
providing enough oxygen for a family of four, the Institute says. Primarily,
how our yards look is important to most of us. How important? Important
enough for many of us to use harmful chemicals products that warn us to keep
off the grass for 24 hours or more, because these chemicals may cause
fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, cancer, birth defects, and
reproductive problems.
If we think about it, keeping our lawn care organic – makes sense, because
pesticides can be harmful to our health and environment. Additionally,
pesticides can reduce the biological activity in the soil, resulting in
slowed natural decomposition and leading to thatch buildup. Our lawns should
be a safe place, free from harmful chemicals for children, pets, and bare
feet.
The steps toward a healthy and attractive lawn are easy to follow.
It is best to let the grass grow by setting the mower blade to 3 inches.
Growing grass taller is an excellent way to reduce the need for herbicide
use, because tall grass is more stress tolerant – important during our
intense summer heat. Tall grass also has a larger root structure, which increases
intake of water and nutrients, as well as, providing shade to the soil –
thereby reducing weed seed germination.
By keeping our mower blades sharp, we can give the grass a cleaner cut. It is
best to mow when the grass is dry, and try to cut off no more than a third of
the grass height. If at all possible, we should mow in the cool part of the
afternoon or evening – cooler for us and better for the lawn. Cutting the
grass during intense heat can cause stress to the plant. Mowing when the
grass is wet or with a dull blade can cause the tip of the grass to shred,
giving the lawn a brown appearance as the tips dry out, and make the grass
more susceptible to disease.
Leaving the grass clippings on the lawn provides mulch, which reduces the
need for additional fertilizer since important plant nutrients are returned
to the soil. A mulching mower circulates the grass clippings in the mower
chamber to produce smaller clippings, which break down more easily.
Proper watering will help a lawn to develop a healthy root system. Unless we
have had no rain, we should water our lawns once a week, using a clay saucer
to ensure that at least an inch of water has been distributed. Watering
during the heat of the day may injure our grass, as well as, waste the water
to evaporation.
Before fertilizing our lawn, it is best have the soil tested. Kits are
available from local garden centers or from our local Cooperative Extension
Service office, at 615 Paul Russell Road (850-487-3006). It is best to use a
non-synthetic natural slow release fertilizer (see the list of referenced web
sites for ideas, such as: cotton seed meal, blood meal, fish emulsion,
activated sewage sludge). By using non-synthetic fertilizers and eliminating
the use of chemical pesticides, you will encourage beneficial microorganisms
and earthworms to inhabit the soil. The best time to fertilize is in the
spring or fall.
Aerating a lawn allows it to breath. It is best to aerate the lawn in the
spring or early fall, and leave the pulled plugs on the soil surface.
Aeration is the removal of plugs of soil, which allows oxygen to reach the
soil and promote root growth, proper drainage, and loosen the soil.
Control weeds by pulling them by hand, or use a fishtail weeder (great
exercise). A good solution to spot treat weeds is with an equal mix of
vinegar and water. If the lawn is healthy, the grass will overtake the weeds.
Most important, remember – no yard is completely weed free.
To control pests, plant shrubs to attract bug-eating birds, and employ
beneficial insects. Non-toxic pest control products, such as hot pepper and
canola spray oil can be used to rid the yard of pests. These products are
available at some garden stores.
(For a list of commercial suppliers of natural enemies, check the
advertisements in “organic” gardening and other horticultural magazines.)
Using beneficial nematodes in the spring controls grubs in the larvae stage.
Grubs feed on the roots of grass plants and can cause significant damage
leading to brown patches in the lawn. Some insect parasitic nematodes can
also help to control fleas in the yard – it seems to work in our yard (For
more information about the use of Insect Parasitic Nematodes go to the Ohio
State University site at: http://www2.oardc.ohio-state.edu/nematodes/.
Although there are many products to control lawn disease, generally known as
“fungus”, a good product in properly treating lawn fungus is Scott’s Lawn
Fungus Control. Why Scott’s? Because when a lawn is treated with insect
parasitic nematodes, the use of a fungus control may kill the beneficial
nematodes. The Department of Entomology at Ohio State University conducted a
study and found that the active ingredient in Scott’s is Thiophanate-methyl,
which had no effect on insect parasitic nematodes. Therefore, if a lawn must
treated, it is best to spot treat it and not cover the entire lawn -.
Unfortunately, we can never cure lawn fungus…control yes, cure no.
Maintaining a lawn can be very satisfying and rewarding. Some people may
prefer to hire a lawn service to mow on a regular basis, or to fertilize and
rid their lawn of weeds, pests, and control lawn diseases. If you do all or
some of the work yourself…consider that “organic” is safer and better way to
go.
“Lawns probably haven’t risen to the level of a major national environmental
issue – yet,” says, Paul Parker, executive vice president of the Center for
Resource Management in Salt Lake City, a nonprofit environmental group that
encourages collaboration among business leaders, government, and
environmental groups. For the first time, representatives from fertilizer,
lawn equipment, and the pesticide industries have joined with the Federal
Environmental Agency and environmental groups to form a “Lawn and Environment
Coalition”. In March 2004, the coalition unveiled the first-ever draft for
national lawn care practices to help Americans protect the environment while
we green our lawns. (http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/grants/lei/press_03-26-04.htm)
For more information, the following web sites are suggested:
www.organicyards.com
(Tallahassee’s Natural Matters)
www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu
www.commonsensecare.com
www.dirtworks.net/lawnfert.html
www.planetnatural.com/organiclawncare.html
www.organicstyle.com
www.scotts.com
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