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"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, April 14, 1998 - 9 Thinking organic A healthy, attractive lawn needn't require the use of chemicals, speaker says By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Seeking alternatives to chemical-based lawn care can help families avoid health problems, a speaker told environmen- talists last week. Barbara Karthein, a local landscape designer and member of the Scugog Green Team, told 30 peo- ple at the OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Farming and Rural Affairs) office in Port Perry last Tuesday (April 7) that she began to consider the effects of chemicals when her hus- band became ill about two years ago. "It was out of the blue... but probably triggered by a combination of new con- struction, business machine exhaust, flu and new carpeting," she said. "He became very sen- sitive to a wide range of chemicals. It isn't life threatening, but it has caused many changes in our life." Ms Karthein named formaldehyde, ozone, and pesticides as a few of the chemicals present in the everyday environment which can have an adverse effect on some people. She was speaking at a Green Team workshop aimed at informing people on the potential dangers of chemical use on their lawns, and convincing them that organic treat- ment is the best, and safest, way to go. People have to decide "that health is more important than cosmetic good looks," the speaker said. Ms Karthein also gave tips on managing lawns naturally -- "getting our lawns off drugs" -- which included helpful tips on using the best possible soil, aerating your lawn, using supplements and proper watering tech- niques as well as the best grass seed. In attendance at the meeting were representa- tives from north Durham lawn services such as Port Perry Feeds, Down To Earth and NaturalTurf. Green Team members also discussed plans for their annual "Dear From page 1 with the food bank, Ms Wanninkhof says that there wasn't much to carry back to the Scout Hall on Simcoe St. where the food bank works out of. "Only five people came by on Saturday; I've never ever, ever seen it so slow," she said. "Over the food drive we collected eight tins of apple juice and we usu- ally get lots of that, cases of cereal.... this year we hardly got any. "I felt really bad for the Scouts and other vol- unteers who came out to help," she said. Both the Port Perry and Caesarea halls of the Scugog Fire Department as well as the three local grocery stores were accepting donations from April 9 to 11 last week. Region-wide results were just as poor. Food drives throughout Durham will continue this week in numerous communities. And even though shelves in Port Perry are still stocked from last December's Christmas food drive, Spring food drive results the worst in 15 years: volunteer Ms Wanninkhof said the food is going to have to be stretched to make it through the summer months. "We only have the spring, fall and Christmas drives and we rely on them to stock our shelves for the year," she said. "There is no problem right now, but we have to make what we have now last until Thanksgiving. "We may be okay now, but a month from now? I don't know." While donations can- not be accepted at the area fire halls any longer, non-perishable food can still be dropped at Reid's Independent Grocers, Port Perry IGA and Mike's Food Basics. Cash donations may be sent by cheque, made payable to Operation Scugog, to box number 353, Port Perry, LIL 1A4. Items most in demand at the food bank include tins of apple juice, cereal, peanut but- ter, canned meats, fruits and vegetables, spaghet- ti sauce and pasta, and Kraft Dinner. Neighbor" campaign -- which sees them circulate letters urging homeown- ers to consider alterna- tives to chemical lawn treatment -- and a Earth Day project, among other events. In the fall of 1997 they received funding from the Durham Region Works Department to produce a booklet called "Healthy Lawns, Healthy Lives, a) Close to 30 interested people came out to the local OMAFRA office in Port Perry last Tuesday evening for a workshop on how to free your lawn of pesticides. Attending the meeting where members of organizations from throughout the region including, from left, Uxbridge's Sheila-Marie Richardson; Penny Reid, Scugog; Barb Karthein, Scugog; Whitby Mayor Marcel Brunelle; Marian Dell of Whitby; as well as Whitby's Janice and Bob Shaw. In the rear in also Shelly Unger of Whitby. SSRIS Healthy Planet -- A ES Homeowner's Guide to Growing Lawns Without Pesticides", which should be published and avail- able in the next few weeks. A BARGAIN HUNTER'S DREAM Staff, families & friends are bringing their collections to VANEDWARD DRIVE Port Perry SAT., APRIL 18th (check Friday's paper for full details) PLAN NOWTO ATTEND! ON yy). EE Tn Priced Natural Gas or Propane Units to Sell! OVERRIDGE Fireplace Warehouse 1-800-638-4751 180 Casimir St., Port Perry (905) 985-0715