Promoting a Pesticide Free Kimberley
By Carolyn Grant
According to Matt Honeyman, who is working for Wildsight this summer promoting a cosmetic pesticide free Kimberley, once you start doing the research into pesticides it really becomes a very simple decision not to use them.
Honeyman says he didn't really think a lot about cosmetic pesticide use before starting at Wildsight, but once he started reading the research about all the harmful side effects related to pesticide use -- such as cancers, reproductive problems and birth defects -- he had his eyes opened and he is enthusiastic about raising awareness in
"We are not talking about banning all pesticides," he said. "We're talking about cosmetic pesticides -- things that are used just to make things look nicer. There are pesticides for noxious weeds, bugs and fungus that are necessary."
But many of the standard pesticides used around many
"Landscape companies are regulated," Honeyman said. "There are regulations about when landscapers can apply pesticides and so on. Homeowners can just dump them on their lawns."
What Wildsight is doing this summer is just trying to get some awareness of the issue. They did go to Council last year and ask for a cosmetic pesticide bylaw, but so far haven't heard anything back on that.
Bylaws banning cosmetic pesticides are becoming more and more common, Honeyman said.
"They are usually voluntary at first and golf courses are usually exempt. Generally households can't use cosmetic pesticides but can get permission in special circumstances. Invermere is doing second reading on their bylaw this week.
Part of Wildsight's campaign involves education about other ways to deal with weeds.
"You can have a healthy lawn without pesticides," Honeyman said. "It's a little more labour intensive but it often works better. Pesticides often don't get the whole plant. There are ways to get rid of dandelions, like using vinegar or boiling water. And the best way is to hand pull them."
Once your lawn is healthy it's harder for weeds to get into it.
More and more people are signing on to the pesticide free Kimberley campaign including the Canadian Cancer Society, a number of businesses, Kimberley Minor Soccer, all the school PACs, many of the doctors and staff from the medical clinic and the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce.
If you are interested in more information on caring for your lawn the natural way, or more information on the harmful side effects of pesticides, call Matt at Wildsight at 427-2535.
© 2008 The Daily Bulletin (
