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As professionals in the field of landscape gardening, I'd like to add into the conversation regarding residential use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers. We do not use these professional -- and we would like to NOT see petrochemical fertilizers available for sale over the counter to the residential public customers. Our experience is that it is the residential public with over uses products such as Roundup on weeds that could easily be pulled by hand. And, that if a fertilizer says use 1/4 cup to 10 gallons of water; they'll use 1/2 cup.

Overuse of these products pollute groundwater. Building soils with composting is much better.

Also -- this conversation can continue today at The Better Living Show at the Expo Center! They have a Conversation Cafe on sustainable living.

This is where I'll be and we'll be talking about sustainable gardening at the show all weekend.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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Another area which needs to be addesses in the consumption of consumer electronics (i.e cell phones, I-Pods, printers, monitors, PC's, calculators, etc.). The production of these products uses large amounts of water, petroleum products, and energy to produce. This all contributes to Co2 into our atmosphere. The Developed World/Americans are encouraged to upgrade their electronics to the latest and greatest all the time. What is not discussed is what happens to these products when they are "tossed out." These products contain large amounts of PCBs, Cadmium and other highly toxic materials which when disposed of in landfills and contribute to ground water contamination and toxic fumes going into our air. Unfortunately, most of this waste ends up in landfills in the developing world (China, Asia, Latin America and Africa) where they literally pile these items up and burn them. I have seen this in Latin American.

A change in consumer attitude toward the high consumpion of consumer electronics also needs to be a part of a global climate change policy.

posted 5 years, 3 months ago
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