News Room
When Grass Isn’t Greener
Faced with large, unhealthy pine trees that grew too close to their home and had to come down, Hillary Wyon, A.L.M. ’08, and her neighbors joined forces to redesign their abutting yards—nixing the ubiquitous suburban lawn. “The people who lived here before us had the perfect lawn; they were very much the Roundup mentality,” says Wyon, who lives in Belmont, Massachusetts. “But we wanted to be chemical-free because it’s better for our pets and vegetable gardens. And watering lawns is such a waste.”
Wyon and her partner, Paul Williamson, had researched indigenous drought-tolerant grasses and ground covers, along with moss lawns. In the end they planted a combination of chamomile, thyme, and mint. “It’s really soft, low-growing greenery,” Wyon notes. “And when you walk on it, the leaves get crushed and produce fragrance.”
by Nell Porter Brown
Harvard Magazine March-April 2011
Genetic engineering: The world's greatest scam? (video)
Once GE plants are released into the environment, they are out of control. If anything goes wrong - they are impossible to recall.
GE contamination threatens biodiversity respected as the global heritage of humankind, and one of our world's fundamental keys to survival.
Call to ban pesticides linked to bee deaths
The House of Commons is to debate the impact on bees and other insects of the new generation of pesticides that has been linked to bee mortality in several countries.
The Government will be called on to suspend all neonicotinoid pesticides approved in Britain, pending more exhaustive tests of their long-term effects on bees and other invertebrates. The subject will be raised in an adjournment debate in the Commons next Tuesday on a motion tabled by Martin Caton, the Labour MP for Gower.
Although the chemicals have been banned in several countries, including France, Germany and Italy, and the Co-op has prohibited their use in farms in Britain from which it sources fruit and vegetables, the British Government has refused calls for them to be suspended as a precaution. The food and farming minister, Jim Paice, will respond for the Government.
'Meadow' lawns deserve recognition
Is there a way for lawn people to get along with meadow people? More to the point, can we find a way to redefine what a lawn actually is?
A bit of background: I've had intensive university training in turf management and years of workshops and hands-on experience related to professional lawn care (including golf courses), weeds, diseases, insects, weather problems, challenges with heavy shade, miserable soils, plus irrigation and other equipment woes.
Dandelion tea sparks promising cancer research at University of Windsor
- The biochemistry department at the University of Windsor is studying dandelion root extract which may be effective in killing leukemia cells while leaving normal cells healthy.
Dr. Siyaram Pandey overseas students Pamela Ovadje, left, and Sudipa Chatterjee add dandelion extract to leukemia cells.
WINDSOR, Ont. — Extract from Essex County dandelion roots dug out of local lawns by a University of Windsor scientist and his team of students make cancer cells “commit suicide,” according to early research so promising it earned one of four grants given Tuesday to local cancer researchers.
Read more: Dandelion tea sparks promising cancer research at University of Windsor
Ban pesticide-use in public parks and school grounds - campaigners
The widespread use of pesticides in public parks, gardens, sports grounds and children's playgrounds should be banned, say campaigners.
By 2012 the UK is required under new EU laws to have created a national action plan for reducing pesticides. The EU's directive also requires member states to ensure the use of pesticides is minimised or prohibited in certain specific areas.
Read more: Ban pesticide-use in public parks and school grounds - campaigners
Grassroots - Playing It Safe
Pesticides tied to ADHD in children
Pesticides tied to ADHD in children from Harvard SPH on Vimeo.
July 2010 -- Marc Weisskopf, assistant professor of environmental and occupational epidemiology, discusses a study that finds children exposed to higher levels of pesticides known as organophosphates could have a higher risk of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Organic Landscaping at Harvard
Organic Landscaping at Harvard
Over the past several years, the Landscape Services team in the Facilities Maintenance Operations group (FMO) at Harvard University has been transitioning its maintenance programs from conventional to fully organic methods.
How To:
- Build a Tea Brewer (PDF)
- Create Your Own Organic Tea Brews (PDF)
Source: http://www.uos.harvard.edu/fmo/landscape/organiclandscaping/
Fertilizer warehouse fire forces evacuation
Toxic smoke from a fire at a fertilizer and herbicide plant in Lévis, south of Quebec City, has forced about 50 people from their homes.
The blaze broke out at the SynAgri warehouse in the city's Charny district at around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday and quickly spread out of control, completely destroying the facility.
“People who see smoke around their homes due to the fire, we're asking them to stay inside,” said Lévis fire department spokesman Yves Despés.
