[Fwd: CONFESSIONS and the SF Bay]
- To: Mediterranean plant list
- Subject: [Fwd: CONFESSIONS and the SF Bay]
- From: J* S*
- Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 16:04:38 -0800
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Jan Smithen, gardening teacher
Los Angeles County Arboretum
jansmithen@earthlink.net
Sunset zone : 19
USDA zone : 10
Visit the Victorian Rose Garden website at :
http://victorian-rose.org/
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- To: j*@earthlink.net
- Subject: Re: CONFESSIONS and the SF Bay
- From: C* M*
- Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 08:57:09 -0800
- References: <384ED671.28A479AF@pacbell.net> <38500F9C.A176C5A6@xtra.co.nz>
The pesticides chlorpyrifos (Dursban) and diazinon are found in
increasingly dangerous levels in the San Francisco Bay and some of the
nearby creeks. Bay Area waste water treatment facilities have been unable
to successfully remove these chemicals to acceptable level with known
processes; in addition some of these pesticides bypass the treatment
process all together, soaking into the ground and eventually finding their
way to the Bay.
These particular chemicals have a significant impact on the food web,
killing the microscopic daphnia which are food sources for other creatures
(the daphnia feed on algae, doing their own part to keep the water in
optimal condition).
Because of this problem Bay Area water organizations are waging a campaign
to help educate customers and employees of hardware stores and nurseries to
alternative methods for dealing with the pests commonly controlled by
Dursban and diazinon. My part in this has been as a teacher, holding
classes for store emplyees here in the South Bay (I'm also involved in a
video project which is almost finished).
It would be too long to go into all the successful methods we've found that
gardeners and homeowners can use to manage the pests easily and
successfully. One example is the use of simple caulk (to seal up holes
where ants enter homes) and placement of ant baits in out of the way places
rather than drenching the soil with either Dursban or diazinon (directions
on these products suggest soaking a wide strip around the base of the home.
Another example is elimination of regular use of diazinon on the lawn to
kill white lawn grubs. (These are a problem only in the late summer.)
Ironically it's the poor health of the soil beneath lawns that make it
easier for these grubs to become a problem. Switching to low N-P-K organic
fertilizer and eliminating herbicides will help the soil become a healthy
living entity again. -- one in which the grub population is controlled by
natural predators. (We also recommend corn gluten meal as a herbicide; it's
harmless to children and pets as well.)
It's true what others here have said -- such as Charles Dill -- that
excessive populations are the root of many problems. However the problems
caused by pesticides are real and there are common sense alternatives
available that are successful. Nursery and hardware store employees tell us
that customers come in wanting to buy products that won't hurt their family
and pets. One hardware store has tracked sales for two years as they have
stocked -- and educated customers -- about less toxic products. They found
that their sales have actually increased. Pesticide sales have dropped
significantly but all types of other products have increased dramatically.
In doing research for my class I've also found that several of the
pesticide companies are developing alternative lines of products. Green
Light's "Rose Defense" (neem oil) is a huge success. Smaller companies are
marketing products, too. Example include Sluggo for snails (iron phosphate)
and Orange Guard (concentrated orange rind) for ants in the kitchen are
other indoor areas.
I've also heard rumblings that diazinon's days are numbered. Here in
California if you look at the label on it you'll find a warning that it
isn't allowed on golf courses or turf grass farms because of problems to
birds. It always amazes me that people will still buy it, put it on their
lawn turf, and then let their kids and dogs romp on the grass.
One last thing -- someone on the list is very down on the universities
because they do pesticide research. I'm very impressed with the University
of California at Davis who are leaders in research for IPM (Integrated Pest
Management). Techniques that can be translated for use in the home garden
find their way into books written and edited by Mary Lou Flint -- they've
been mentioned on this list recently as favorites in the book thread that
has been going on.
Regards,
Carol Moholt
