Pesticides are toxic and persistent and are harming our children. They are
unnecessary and counter-productive, killing beneficial organisms.
Don't be fooled by this ploy, putting in place a quick, toxic "fix" that
won't even work. Ask for the real solution to the problem.Sincerely,
Meg Sears
832-2806ps My niece in BC plays soccer on an "all weather"
field of gravel throughout their rainy winter.
Palsen Park 2014 – Weed Infested, Dried Out Organic Park
“There are many practical solutions that don’t involve pesticide use”, said Meg Sears. “The solutions? Compost the yard waste and put it on sports fields. Aerate and add seed for grub-resistant species. Test the soil and supplement as needed. Nematodes curb grubs naturally. Palsen Park (at Palsen and Laird) is a test site for sustainable turf care that is showing great success.”
West Carlton High School 2014 – Sustainable Pesticide Free Fields are Organic Failures
From: alan davidson <datacommguy2001@…>
> >To: dunrobinshores@yahoogroups.com
> >CC: Meg Sears <meg_sears@…>,
> eli.el-chantiry@…,
> >peggy.feltmate@…
> >Subject: Pesticides on Ottawa sports fields
> >Date: Thu, 19 Aug 2004 07:51:12 -0700 (PDT)
> >
> >As always there are two different points of view on
> >this subject, and I happen to take the opposite
> one.
> >In our community, and on display for all to see at
> >this weekends West Carleton Soccer Association
> >Tournament at West Carleton High School are two
> >minisoccer fields being used all weekend for
> Under-9
> >and Under-11 matches. These are the two fields
> >adjacent to each other furthest away from the
> school
> >buildings. These two fields are excellent examples
> of
> >what happens to soccer fields when adequate
> >maintenance is not done. I suggest as many as
> possible
> >stop by at WCHS this weekend, support the Dunrobin
> >Scouts fundraising refreshment area and have good
> lok
> >at these two soccer fields.
> >
> >These two soccer fields have completely bare areas
> in
> >front of the goals extending to other areas of the
> >fields. There is little grass cover now after an
> >extended period of neglect, which has considerably
> >worsened in the last two years. Much of the thin
> >ground cover is weeds. These fields are usually
> rock
> >hard unless there has been very recent rain.
> >Goalkeepers cannot safely dive at all to save shots
> on
> >the rock hard grassless areas in front of goal.
> >
> >I'd like to see sports fields being maintained so
> that
> >they all remain in operation, since there is
> >increasing demand for sports fields, especially
> soccer
> >fields. I'm sure this applies across the City of
> >Ottawa in all communities. If this requires some
> > use of pesticides to perform adequate maintenance to
> keep
> >fields in a playable condition, I for one would
> rather
> >have this than sports fields degenerate further and
> >have to be taken out of action.
> >
> >Would you really prefer to see declining numbers of
> >available fields for children's sports teams?
> >
> >Alan Davidson
