Peace and Environment News* April 1996
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Peace and Environment News * April 1996 |
by Yolande Henry
On Lorraine Avenue in Alta Vista, people on the street are getting together to eliminate the use of chemicals on their lawns. Led by Graeme Chisnall and Lynn Janes, residents are planning to return to a simpler form of gardening, retrieving the wisdom lost to high tech, synthetic solutions.
A native of New Zealand, Graeme was surprised when he came to Canada to see sterile, monoculture lawns of Kentucky blue grass and little else. Graeme and his wife Lynn are both avid gardeners. They began investigating permaculture, which is the science of regenerative and self-regulating natural systems. They applied this knowledge to their own yards.
Within a year, their backyard was turned into a flourishing garden of flowers, fruits, herbs and vegetables. Last year, their garden provided enough produce to feed them until this year's harvest. They didn't need any expensive lawn treatments, just good rich black soil obtained from their compost.
Graeme and Lynn are interested in promoting ecological gardening as an alternative to treating lawns and gardens with toxic chemicals. Chemicals affect the whole web of life, threatening natural biological controls and biodiversity. So Graeme, who is environmental director with the Alta Vista Community Association, began to educate people on a street by street basis. He hopes Lorraine will be the street to lead the way.
On February 21, at Featherston Public School, Graeme and Lynn hosted an information evening on organic lawn and garden care. It featured information from the Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton's (RMOC) Health Department, Appleseed—an organic lawn care company, Canadian Organic Growers and the Pesticide Education Network.
To inspire the residents of Lorraine Avenue, the evening featured a draw. The prizes were a truckload of soil and a backyard composter from RMOC, and a basket of organic produce grown in Graeme and Lynn's garden. At the end of the night, Lorraine Avenue residents were asked to make a commitment to treat their lawns and gardens organically. About twenty residents were there, and they decided to put a sign on their street saying Lorraine was only going to do what came naturally.
Other streets can join this challenge. When we adopt an ecological approach to lawns and gardens, we help to preserve the air, water and earth support systems upon which all life depends. What is healthy for the environment is in turn healthy for us.
To join Graeme and Lynn in this grassroots effort, call 731-6992 until May 1. After May 1, call 523-2864.
Converted April 11, 2000 - Lg
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