Step 4: Buy Organic, Garden Organically

Practice natural yard care

First let’s go outside to get our lawn and garden off drugs! Follow these tips:

• Practice the Five Steps to Natural Yard Care (external).
• Reduce pesticides use as much as possible. Scientists have found 23 pesticides in our local streams, many at levels that can damage wildlife.
• Remember that children and pets pick up residues from lawn pesticides on their hands and paws, and we track them inside on our shoes.
• Use compost (external). You don’t need chemical fertilizers to have a beautiful yard.
• The consumer guide “Grow Smart, Grow Safe” (external) ranks 600 pesticides, fertilizers and soil amendments, helping you find less-hazardous products.

Eat healthier and greener

Now let’s go back inside and look at ways to reduce hazards on foods we buy:

• Consider organically-grown food (external PDF). Research shows that children who eat organic food have much less exposure to pesticides.
• Look for organic produce at increasingly-affordable prices at your local grocery store or your neighborhood farmers market (external).

Thanks to the following organizations for resources used on these pages:
Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County   Washington Toxics Coalition   Take Back Your Meds Coalition   Natural Yard Care program   King County Wastewater Treatment Division

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