This new age electric mower is in the concept stage.

Americans love this kind of story http://www.cabinet.com/hollisbrooklinejournal/hollisnews/808634-308/lawn-mower-race-aims-to-cut-down.html out of New Hampshire about the local lawnmower races pitting the cops against the firefighters. There’s a lot to like, here. You read about a teenage girl aspiring to “take the trophy” from her father and about the “crowds of people” expected to gather together in a neighborly display. Finding something — anything — to do with my teenager these days is a challenge, and I bet he’d actually like to race me on a lawnmower.

The thing is, though, I don’t own one . . . at least not a gasoline model. The only mowers you’ll find in our garden shed are of the manual variety. The “reel” mowers are powered by humans, but not too sexy to race. My Black and Decker electric mowers do have battery powered engines to turn the rotary blades, but also require human power for the pushing — something my son finds denigrating in our neighborhood that is overrun by the fumes of fossil fuel-powered ride-ons every Saturday or Sunday. “You’re such a dork, Dad,” is a fairly familiar refrain around my house.

But with oil spewing into the Gulf and two wars being fought over oil-rich lands, shouldn’t we all be looking for ways to REDUCE fuel consumption rather than celebrating the shiniest, fastest ride-on mowers in town?

Here’s a race I’d like to see. This mower: http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/11/husqvarnas-panthera-leo-is-the-mower-of-the-future-for-your-la/ against this one: http://www.ampbyariens.com/#1. That would be fun.

First off, a quick definition: Giardaisis is an intestinal infection that can affect many mammals, but it’s most common in young dogs. In fact, most dogs do reportedly carry the spores of Giardia in their bodies but are not acutely impacted. The most common symptom is diarrhea.

The disease is transmitted from dog to dog through the ingestion of the Giardia cysts contained in spoiled feed or drinking water — and not likely from lawns. Cysts may also be found in streams or other water sources. Giardia cysts, according to the vets I spoke with, do not live for long after being voided in the feces. Therefore, the lawn probably does not contribute significantly to the transmission of Giardiasis. It’s certainly never a bad idea to clean up after your dog, however.

One vet did say that poisoning from synthetic chemical weed and insect killers in cats and dogs is often misdiagnosed as Giardiasis. The most common symptoms if pesticide poisoning occurs in pets include diarrhea, as well as weakness, trembling, vomiting, depression, chills, drooling and rapid breathing.

Perhaps the greatest celebration of all things organic for the past three decades, the Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine, plans to go all out this year to promote natural lawn care. Mark your calendar specifically for Saturday, Sept. 25, to attend three events presented by the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association:

10 a.m. – Organic Lawn Care How & Why, a hands-on explanation of the techniques and products with Paul Tukey, the founder of SafeLawns.org.

2 p.m. – Public Policy Teach-In “Organizing Opportunities For A Clean And Healthy Maine”

MOFGA’s Public Policy Teach-in on Saturday will: explain Maine’s Kid Safe Products Act of 2008, and the ongoing efforts to ban the use of bisphenol A; show how Maine is contributing to federal efforts to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act; highlight the growing toxics activism on college campuses throughout Maine; inspire participants to coordinate local bans on cosmetic herbicide use; introduce fairgoers to advocacy pros who can help with local organizing efforts; and provide an update on the Maine Board of Pesticides Control’s development of a comprehensive pesticide spray notification registry.

Panelists will include: Mike Belliveau, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, and founder of The Alliance for a Clean and Healthy Maine; Nancy Ross, Associate Professor of Environmental Policy at Unity College, current member of MOFGA’s Public Policy Committee, and past Executive Director of MOFGA; Paul Tukey, author, organic lawncare specialist and producer of the film A Chemical Reaction: The Story Of A True Green Revolution, which highlights successes of the anti-pesticide movement sweeping across Canada and into the U.S.; Meredith Small, Executive Director of Toxics Action Center; and Heather Spalding, Associate Director of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. A question and answer period will follow short presentations by each panelist. Sharon Tisher, Environmental Law and Honors Professor at the University of Maine – Orono, current member of MOFGA’s Public Policy Committee, and past president of the MOFGA Board of Directors, will moderate the panel discussion.

5:30 p.m. – Film Screening, A Chemical Reaction
Join filmmaker/activist Paul Tukey for a screening of his award-winning film, A Chemical Reaction.

Details about all these events will be forthcoming.

This Lawn Sign Will Be Printed on Weather Proof Vinyl

This T-Shirt Will Be Printed on Organic Cotton

Our artist, Corianda Dimes, is finalizing the logos for our Lawn Slogan Contest. Here are the close-to-final drafts. We welcome any comments before they head to the printer this week.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JustOneThing/thing-green-pesticides-lawn-garden/story?id=11211884

Paul Tukey is scheduled to join ABC weatherman Sam Champion on Good Morning America Wednesday morning.

With synthetic chemical pesticides being linked in new studies this year from everything to ADHD in children to colony collapse disorder in bees, Good Morning America will focus a segment Wednesday on newer classes of pesticides that are derived from natural ingredients. Barring any unforeseen news event that takes precedence, I’ll be on the air sometime between 7-9 a.m. eastern time.

The bottom line is that consumers want safer products. Manufacturers are getting the message by delivering new products that are kinder for the environment and far less risky for human and animal health. Many times, the ingredients are food-grade products that are exempted from regulation by the EPA under FIFRA:
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/regtools/25b_list.htm.

The oil spill in the Gulf makes this another timely issue. Virtually all synthetic pesticides are derived from petroleum; a transition to natural products reduces our dependence on oil.

THE PRODUCTS
Earth-tone Insecticidal Soap from Espoma: A fast-acting contact insecticide that is approved for organic gardening, it may be applied to edibles up to the day of harvest and does not persist in the environment. INSECTICIDAL SOAPS work by breaking down the bug’s protective coating, causing it to dehydrate and die. It’s NOT dish detergent like many people think. This has been formulated with proprietary fatty acids.

Targeted Insects (This insecticidal soap helps control insect pests such as, but is not limited to):
Aphids, Mealy bugs, Spider mites, Soft brown scale Psyllids, Rose or pear slugs (sawfly larvae), Earwigs, Whiteflies, Thrips, and Tent Caterpillars.

Web address: http://www.espoma.com/p_consumer/earth_t_overview.html

Bulls-Eye Bioinsecticide from GardensAlive: Legend has it that a scientist on vacation on a Caribbean island found a previously undiscovered soil organism around an abandoned rum distillery. Though the organism, a bacterium called Saccharopolyspora spinosa, has never been found anywhere in the world since, the story — and host of new BIOINSECTICIDES — live on.

The active ingredient in Bull’s-Eye is Spinosad. Bull’s-Eye Bioinsecticide is for residential use in home gardens, lawns and ornamentals. Bull’s-Eye reportedly does not significantly impact predatory beneficial insects, predatory mites and spiders, while controlling target pests. The product doesn’t kill immediately since the insects must feed on it first.

Targeted Insects: Foliage-feeding worms (caterpillars), leafminers, Colorado potato beetles, thrips, fruitworms, cabbage loopers, borers, tent caterpillars, gypsy moths, webworms, spider mites, fruit flies and FIRE ANTS (a big one in the South).

Web address: http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=8756

Mosquito & Tick Control from EcoSmart: Here’s a brand that is taking the marketplace by storm because it’s made with eco-exempt FOOD-GRADE INGREDIENTS. The company makes all sorts of insect controls, but this one is especially valuable to gardeners in regions like the Northeast where Lyme Disease has become a major concern. The active ingredients read like a Simon & Garfunkel song: Rosemary, thyme, along with peppermint and sesame.

Targeted Insects: Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Gnats, Crickets, Millipedes & Mites.

Web address: http://www.ecosmart.com/shop/individual-products/mosquito-and-tick-control-32-oz.html

Fruit & Vegetable Insect Spray by Dr. Earth: Made from ESSENTIAL OILS including cinnamon oil, clove oil, garlic extract, coconut oil, mineral oil, wintergreen oil, safflower oil, molasses and water, this product blocks the insects’ neurotransmitters so they quickly perish.

Targeted Insects: Controls Aphids, Leafhoppers, Japanese Beetles, Caterpillars, Whiteflies, Mealybugs, Mites, Scale and others.

Web address: http://www.drearth.com/products/organic-insecticides-fungicide/

LawnSafe Insect Control by Firebelly Organics: Made from the oil of cedar trees, this product deters insect with an aroma that can be lethal to the bugs, but safe for humans and the environment. This is also a good product to apply BEFORE the insects arrive on the scene as a deterrent.

Targeted Insects: Beetles, Chiggers, Chinch Bugs, Crickets, Fleas, Flies, White Flies, Gnats, Grasshoppers, Mosquitoes, Moths, No-See-Ums, Roaches, Scorpions, Silverfish, Ticks, Weevils and even Snakes

Web address: http://www.firebellylawncare.com/product.php?item=18

LADY BUGS

Probably the most famous and common “beneficial” insect is the lady bug, which eats aphids, mealybugs, mites, scale insects and thrips. We will have a few bags of lady bugs from GardensAlive on the air with us: http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=5065&ss=lady%20bugs

THE DISCLAIMER

ALWAYS read the directions even though these products are safer and approved for organic growing. Don’t overuse them and be careful, especially, when you’re applying some of these products around bodies of water.

The goal ought to be to use as little product as possible and if you garden in a healthy, organic way, the need for even natural insect controls should be minimal.

OTHER COMPANIES WORTH CHECKING OUT FOR NATURAL INSECT CONTROLS:
Gardeners Supply: http://www.gardeners.com/Bon-Neem-Spray/GardenPests_Insects,18486,default,cp.html

Monterey Lawn & Garden (organic line): http://www.montereylawngarden.com/products/organic/

Bonide Garden Naturals: http://www.bonideproducts.com/products/product.php?category_id=917

Safer Brand: http://www.saferbrand.com/

Ortho EcoSense: http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productCategorySubSelf.jsp?itemId=cat10060006&navAction=jump

Spread the word. The screening is tonight at 6.