Safelawns Daily Post and Q&A Blog

How’s this for suspicious timing?

On the same week Scotts Miracle Gro tried to buy an image upgrade by sponsoring the National Wildlife Federation, word has come out of a federal court that the company will pay millions of dollars in fines for selling bird seed it knew was tainted with pesticides toxic to birds.

Though the company had no comment yesterday, it pleaded guilty to charges that it sold 73 MILLION UNITS of tainted bird seed from 2005 to 2008. According to an article in today’s Columbus, Ohio, newspaper, the company continued to sell the bird seed “despite warnings in the summer and fall of 2007 from a pesticide chemist and an ornithologist, both of whom worked for the company.”

The company also pleaded guilty yesterday to falsifying documents with the Environmental Protection Agency so that it could rush new weed ‘n feed and ant killing products to market back in 2006. When Scotts’ fallacy was revealed — after the products containing cancer-causing agents had already been on the market for two years — the company blamed the actions on a single female employee, who was abruptly fired after years with the company.

Many in and around the company called her an obvious “scapegoat,” who unjustifiably took the blame for an error that could not possibly have been hers and hers alone. In a 2008 article in the same Columbus newspaper, Scotts spokesman Jim King admitted the fired employee had a supervisor who reviewed her work, but the supervisor was not terminated according to people within Scotts.

“There aren’t very many people working for Scotts in that end of the company,” said our colleague at Scotts who asked not to be named. “But I knew the woman who was let go very well and it would be completely out of character for her to knowingly falsify records.”

When SafeLawns phoned the woman this morning, she pleasantly declined comment, as she has done previously with other media inquiries.

Meanwhile, our phone and email in-box has been lit up today as the story of Scotts’ latest transgression spreads across North America.

The company, many folks believe, must have known this ruling in federal court was coming down for several months. The timing of the sponsorship with the National Wildlife Federation, announced by NWF on Jan. 18, was clearly designed to draw attention away from what is believed to be the largest fine ever levied on a pesticide company.

“It is whitewashing at the highest, most obvious level,” said Rand Jordan. “I’ve yanked my NWF habitat sign out of my backyard. I’ll never, ever support them again.”

Many called on the National Wildlife Federation to return Scotts’ money and demand that the world’s largest purveyor of lawn and garden poisons change its ways.

“I’m sickened. Just sickened about the whole thing,” said Sue Leonard of Fort Worth, Texas.

Did any of you catch the beleaguered CEO of the National Wildlife Federation defiantly attempt to justify his recent deal with Scotts Miracle Gro that we reported on earlier today? Looking more like a man who will probably be forced to resign soon than someone we ought to trust with our important environmental decisions, Larry Schweiger declared, “I will not apologize for working with Scotts.”

The full interview, conducted awkwardly by long-time NWF staffer Kevin Coyle, can be watched here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/presidential-response-01-25-12. It really does come off as an incredibly interesting case study of an organization that just made the worst public relations move of its career — with little or no skill set in place for spin control. Every time Coyle tried to ask Schweiger about the toxicity of Roundup and weed ‘n feed, the CEO grimaced and said, “We don’t have to agree on everything in order to work together to find answers to the tough problems.”

Time and time again in the interview Schweiger insisted that it was better to deal with this devil, Scotts Miracle Gro, from close range. That way, he said, he can help Scotts become better environmental citizen.

“They want to change. They want to be a better company,” said Schweiger.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Jim Hagedorn, the CEO of Scotts Miracle Gro, signed up for that ringing endorsement when he signed the check over to Schweiger. Do you really think Hagedorn thinks his company needs to improve its environmental record?

More likely, though, Hagedorn wasn’t watching Schweiger squirm. Instead he was probably paying close attention in Florida today where his company is leading a fierce battle to overturn that state’s many bans on the applications of lawn fertilizer containing nitrogen. The fertilizer runs off during the rainy season and creates massive blooms of red-tide. That’s bad for the state’s fishing and tourism industry — something you think the National Wildlife Federation should care about — but a ban on the fertilizers in the nation’s second largest lawn care market has been also bad for Scotts’ bottom line.

Think about that. On the very day Schweiger defends Scotts in front of a camera looking like his tie is three clenches too tight, Scotts is a few states away making Schweiger’s decision looking more asinine by the hour.

Meanwhile, the Sierra Club asked everyone in Florida to take a look at this map that shows where the fertilizer runoff is having a huge impact:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&mpa=0&ctz=300&mpf=0&vps=15&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=211539618625491573613.0004b1b520a27d0c8cb86. Wouldn’t disseminating that kind of information be a better use of NWF’s time than defending its recent money grab?

Near the end of the interview Schweiger insisted that he’s been an environmental activist his whole career for the sake of his grandkids — like the kids everywhere who roll around in lawn care poisons at 30 million homes from Maine to California.

It seems to me, if I could make a suggestion to the National Wildlife Federation, that there’s an real opportunity at hand here if Mr. Schweiger really does care about his progeny and the planet.

He needs to stand up tall — and loud — and say he’s sorry. He needs to say he made a bad decision in taking the Scotts money. He needs to say he won’t take another dollar from Scotts or any company like it until the companies stop making products that can poison his grandkids.

That would effect change. That would (or might) MAKE Scotts take notice. That would fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Federation and restore the trust for tens of thousands of supporters who were disillusioned this week.

Until he does that the tie is only going to get tighter.

NOTE: Here is an update on this story, posted at 4 p.m.: http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2012/01/as-wildlife-federation-defends-its-greed-scotts-continues-to-assault-our-sensibilities/

The attempted whitewashing by the chemical companies has been rampant lately. First TruGreen ChemLawn tried to buy public opinion by sending millions of dollars to Earth Day. Then Scotts Miracle Gro did buy out Major League Baseball.

SafeLawns and its allies were able to block the insidious ChemLawn deal with Earth Day, but Major League Baseball didn’t flinch under a barrage of comments and still hangs “Scotts is Used Here” banners in Major League Baseball ballparks to give homeowners the illusion that they can have Fenway Park in their back yard just by dumping on some weed ‘n feed.

Now Scotts Miracle Go is at it again. In the past two days word has come down that the world’s largest purveyor of lawn chemical poisons has bought its way into the National Wildlife Federation’s heart. This is the non-profit organization that is supposed to be protecting our wildlife and promoting a healthy lifestyle, yet NWF is now grabbing fistfuls of cash from the very company that makes heading outdoors unhealthy for our kids.

The environmental community is outraged.

“As far as I’m concerned, there is no amount of greenwashing in the world that can clean up the reputation of Scotts,” wrote Carole Brown of Native Plants & Wildlife Gardens. “Why would the National Wildlife Federation want to enter into this deal with the devil? Well, they’re a non-profit organization that exists through the generosity of their donors. And what better way to fill their coffers than to enter into an agreement with a company that generates billions of dollars of profits every year? Who cares if that company makes those billions from dumping tons and tons of chemical herbicides and pesticides into our lawns and gardens, which then runs off wreaking havoc with our streams and watersheds? I care!”

We first heard about this yesterday from our friend and colleague, Joe Lamp’l, the host of Growing a Greener World on PBS. As we were touring our organic lawn trials at the University of Maryland, Joe told us the blogs were afire and folks were calling on SafeLawns to help draw attention to an obvious miscarriage of social justice.

Many other associates began calling us, too, and then posting their opinions on the National Wildlife Foundation Facebook page. Emotions are clearly raw.

“I really really looked up to the NWF as a kid (which I became aware of through reading Ranger Rick!!), and hoped someday I could have a yard certified as a NWF approved backyard habitat,” wrote poster Mary Lai. “It really breaks my heart to see the NWF partner up with a company like Scotts Miracle Gro. I know the economy is going through lean times, but this just isn’t the right way to get funding. ”

Many were calling on friends, followers and colleagues to make life miserable for the NWF. It was the kind of tactic that got Earth Day to cave two years ago and rescind the ChemLawn money. Some suggest tweeting a message to NWF on twitter, including @NWF in your message, or calling NWF: 1-703-438-6000 to chat with the organization’s headquarters.

It’s obvious the NWF is already taking note of the concern and the organization’s PR team is out in force defending its decision and claiming that taking the cash doesn’t equate to a defacto endorsement of Scotts Miracle Gro or its products.

But, of course, it does.

Our board at SafeLawns has long insisted that we review the product offerings of the companies from whom we accept corporate sponsorships. And even though companies like Scotts Miracle Gro do offer a smattering of so-called organic products these days, the vast majority of their stuff is wildly polluting and incredibly toxic for our pets and our kids. So we’d never accept their money under any circumstances. The National Wildlife Federation shouldn’t, either — not until Scotts Miracle Gro stands up and denounces the production, distribution and sale of its products like Roundup, weed ‘n feed, Bug Be Gone and all the myriad products that have been proven to be toxic.

My gut feeling here is that NWF won’t cave to the pressure and it will keep the money. They’ll justify it when they crawl into bed at night with the notion that they’re “cleaning up” Scotts dirty profits. A lot of non-profits feel this way; they don’t care where the money comes from as long as they do good things with the money. Do you think the Catholic church does a background check on everyone before it passes the hat down the pew? Well, neither do most other organizations who otherwise try to do good work with whatever cash they can scrape together.

I’ve also heard impassioned arguments from folks I respect greatly who feel that it’s best to work with the worst environmental offenders from the inside out. Recently I heard Peter Seligmann, the charismatic founder of Conservation International, explain his decision to accept money and other support from WalMart several years ago. The result of his efforts was WalMart’s decision to adopt numerous green initiatives and the company is now the largest seller of organic food in the world.

Seligmann’s well-thought-out “keep your environmental enemies close” strategy has helped effect real change, in other words. WalMart may still be doing some bad stuff, but it’s better than it used to be. That’s how begrudgingly difficult progress happens.

The real problem in the Scotts Miracle Gro marriage with National Wildlife is that nothing in NWF’s rhetoric, so far at least, acknowledges that Scotts Miracle Gro has heretofore been killing the environment. Nothing in the press release states that there’s a goal in place to reduce environmental toxins sold by its newfound benefactor. All NWF appears to be presenting is a series of events that gives Scotts a chance to pretend to give a damn about the environment.

Scotts Miracle Gro continues to claim publicly that its products are safe when used as directed — and the whole damn environmental community knows it’s a lie. NWF knows it’s a lie, too.

So, yes. Please post your opinions to the NWF Facebook page. Leave a message on the organization’s web site: http://www.nwf.org/About/Contact-Us.aspx.

If NWF is going to keep this money then we need to make the organization understand just how soiled we think it has become.

With a new book (Tag, Toss & Run) and campaign (Lawn Games for LIfe) on the way for the spring of 2012, the SafeLawns spring calendar is quickly filling up and taking shape. Please take a look below and note when we’ll be in your area.

The season gets off to an early start this weekend, Jan. 28, at the Eco-Landscape California symposium in Woodland, Ca., just outside of Sacramento. Focusing on business sustainability, the conference features SafeLawns founder Paul Tukey and natural soil expert Jeff Lowenfels as keynote presenters. A screening of the award-winning film, A Chemical Reaction, will cap off the day.

Registration is nearing capacity according to organizers, but anyone interested in attending can click here: http://www.ecolandscape.org/eventsConference.html. The fee is $179.

Here is a look at the SafeLawns calendar (involving Paul Tukey) through early April (note: if you’re interesting in scheduling a talk, film screening, games festival or consultation, email Paul@SafeLawns.org):

Feb. 4 — Potomac, Md. — The Glenstone Foundation (www.glenstone.org) is hosting a private reception for the environmental community to showcase its landscape sustainability initiatives from 9 a.m. to noon. If you’re a member of the environmental community, an anti-pesticide activist or a curious or concerned environmental citizen who lives in that region, email Paul@SafeLawns.org and we can talk about getting you on the guest list. Paul T. will be a guest of honor, along with the University of Maryland professors who are conducting the organic lawn care study on the Glenstone grounds.

March 5 — Philadelphia — Paul Tukey will showcase some of the games from his new book, Tag, Toss & Run, at the Philadelphia International Flower Show at 7 p.m. Although the official unveiling of the book doesn’t come until March 11 when co-author Victoria Rowell joins him on stage in Philly, word has it the publisher (Storey) will make books available by that evening. The talk is free with a show admission ticket.

March 10 — Portland, Maine — Paul Tukey will be the Saturday morning kickoff speaker at 10:30 a.m. at the Portland Flower Show, a show he used to run when he lived in Maine. The topic, once again, will be the new book, Tag, Toss & Run. If books are available, he’ll do a signing after the talk, which is free with a show admission ticket.

March 11 — Philadelphia — Co-author and actress Victoria Rowell will join Paul Tukey at the Philadelphia International Flower Show for a two-hour presentation beginning at 1 p.m. for the official unveiling of their book, Tag, Toss & Run. The event will include on-stage game demonstrations and a book signing. Have you ever played Quoits? It’s a horseshoe-like game played professionally by some folks in the steel towns of Pennsylvania — some of whom will be on hand for an exhibition. This event is going to be a blast! It’s free, too, with a show admission ticket.

March 18 — Boston — Victoria and Paul will be together again at the Boston Flower Show at the World Trade Center beginning at 3:30 p.m. Just like in Philly, there will be games demonstrations and book signings.

March 27 — Ridgefield, Connecticut — The local garden club in this quaint town on the New York border will host Paul Tukey for a discussion of sustainable landscaping. For more information about fees and times, contact Kitsey Snow at kitsey.snow (at) gmail.com.

March 29 — Madison, Wisconsin — A full day of events is planned, all focusing on pesticide reduction and landscape sustainability. In the morning, Paul Tukey will be meeting with several area schools for assemblies. At lunch, he’ll meet with municipal officials. In the afternoon, the Olbrich Botanic Garden will host a three-hour symposium for land care professionals from 1-4 p.m. A homeowner event is also being planned for that evening. Mark your calendars and check back for more details in the coming weeks.

March 30-31 — Chicago — The Chicago Botanic Gardens will host a two-day symposium focused on landscape sustainability. The first day will be geared for professionals; the second day will be more appropriate for homeowners. Here are more details: http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2012/01/major-american-lawn-landscape-conference-set-for-chicago-in-march/.

March 30-31 — New Haven, Ct. — SafeLawns is proud to co-sponsor the 30th National Pesticide Forum titled Healthy Communities: Green Solutions for Safe Environments with our friends at Beyond Pesticides at Yale University. A dynamic two-days or tours, lectures and panel discussions is planned for what will surely be an overflow crowd. Here are the details: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/forum/index.htm.

April 2-5 — Orlando, Fla. — Walt Disney World will host a week of SafeLawns talks on landscape sustainability and old-fashioned outdoor games presented by Paul Tukey as a part of its annual Epcot Flower & Garden Festival. Hour-long talks, followed by book signings, will be held each day at noon and 3 p.m.

A four-person team led by Gilles-Eric Séralini, professor of molecular biology at the University of Caen in France, recently revealed yet another study that links the weed killer known as Roundup to infertility — this time in males.

The report, titled Toxicol in Vitro, revealed that exposures of as low as one part per million of Roundup had the effect of reducing testosterone levels in male rats by more than a third. That exposure rate is well below the level a farmer or gardener would experience in a typical weed-killing session with a spray bottle or backpack sprayer.

Séralini, who has focused his research on Roundup for nearly two decades, has previously proven that Roundup kills placental cells and is also responsible for spontaneous abortion.