I’m stepping onto my soapbox today, frustrated because I can’t enjoy the smells of Spring without the periodic stench of lawn chemicals.  I worry what they may be doing to my children, myself, you, and the environment.

Frustrated because I fear a fight to control it would be an overwhelmingly quixotic scenario here in a land where lawn is king, and dandelion is its nemesis.

I was walking in my neighborhood with one of my tinies.  The henbit is in full bloom, and the aforementioned dandelions are hitting their stride.  She gasped with amazement as we rounded a corner and saw a yard full of beautiful purple henbit flowers, dotted with golden dandelions.

Let me pronounce right now:  She has it right.  It is beautiful.  Healthy.  Biodiverse.  End of discussion.

I couldn’t explain to her in a million years why anyone would want to kill that swath of flowers, why a homeowner would be embarrassed by a lawn full of color like that.

Because it doesn’t make any sense.

I know there are at least two sides.  The EPA says it’s safe.  Livelihoods depend on the chemical and lawn service industries.

Reading this, I have to say, I don’t think it’s worth it.  I think those industries, particularly the lawn service industries, can refocus on environmentally sound lawn care, and they can make it affordable for the consumer.

I also believe an orientation away from the perfect lawn ideal must be a part of the reformation.

I won’t even insist you till up your grass and plant an organic vegetable and fruit garden (although it would be nice).

Just stop spraying.  It goes everywhere, it goes into my lungs, and I think that impinges on my right to clean air.

One of the most frustrating parts of this is that if I had a neighbor complain to the city about me on the days I spray fish emulsion on my garden, I think they would get a lot more sympathy and action than my complaining about their chemical service.  Maybe I’m exaggerating.  I hope so.

But I doubt it.