Every year, hundreds of gallons of toxic cancer-causing chemicals are heavily sprayed on your lawn, plant beds around your house, driveways, sidewalks and all common areas like the dog park and golf course. It's an ugly truth with potentially deadly consequences for everyone, but especially for our pets and children. Numerous studies show a 70% increase in canine cancers due to lawn care chemicals. Click on this link for more information: Canine cancers linked to pesticides

Children and pets are much more at risk because it takes less dosages to affect their smaller bodies. Watch this short video to learn how toxins damage the developing brain by Dr. Bruce Lanphear: Little Things Matter

Do you have doubts about the dangers of these chemicals? There is plenty of scientific evidence and studies to support the claim that these chemicals cause cancer and a host of other diseases. There is also evidence that says areas sprayed are NOT safe when dry. Studies show that even after 8 days, it's still not safe.  And how do we tell if our grass is dry anyway? What about morning dew and the spray from our sprinklers that keep our grass wet?

Study: Sprayed areas aren't safe even after 8 days

Look at the news and you'll see that the company that makes Roundup is being sued by thousands of people who have gotten cancer using Roundup. This company is losing in court and having to pay billions of dollars because the evidence that Roundup causes cancer is overwhelming. If that isn't enough to convince you of the seriousness of the dangers of these chemicals, then I have to ask you: "What will?"

History of Roundup court cases till Oct 2020​

More information about court cases involving Roundup

I realize how convenient it is to make something go away simply by spraying it. But, we are paying a heavy price for that convenience. It doesn't have to be this way.

I've heard several arguments supporting the use of these chemicals and none of them stand up to the truth.

1. "The government (EPA) has approved the use of these chemicals." Here's the truth: The Ugly Truth About The EPA

2. "These chemicals have been used for 25 years." (assuming no harm) Just because somethings been done for that long doesn't make it right, okay or safe. What happened with the tobacco industry and smoking is a good lesson we could learn from.

3. "There are no organic methods of lawn care that work." There are many communities successfully making the switch to organic practices and there's plenty of evidence to prove their efficacy. And there is training available for any company that wants to make the switch.

HERE'S MORE CAUSE FOR SERIOUS CONCERN: Teal Lawn sprays around our neighborhood on an "as needed" basis. What this means is that somebody walks around the neighborhood spraying poisons on your yard, sidewalks, plant beds, driveways, dog park and other common areas and you'll never know when it's going to happen, when it's been done or where exactly the spraying occurred. According to Teal Lawn, they don't have to tell us. You, your child or pet could be walking on the sprayed area minutes after they've sprayed and you wouldn't know it. For Pete's sake, these are deadly poisons! How can it be okay to be so casual about using them?

Do you play golf? Read this short article: Golf courses and toxic pesticides  Here's a list of studies and fact sheets about golf courses and toxic chemicals: Fact sheets and studies about golf courses and pesticides

I know all this information paints a bleak picture. That's because it is bleak!

BUT I HAVE GOOD NEWS. There are safe alternatives for effective lawn care that will not cause cancer.

Communities around the country are using these safer practices with GREAT results. Since 2016 the City of Irvine, CA has successfully, and organically, maintained all pest pressure from weeds to rodents, on more than 570 acres of community and neighborhood parks, athletic fields; over 6,000 acres of open space, over 800 acres of public right-of-way, including street medians and parkways; 70,000 trees; and nearly 1.5 million square feet of facilities. The City of Irvine has demonstrated that you can have beautiful parks, athletic fields, and open space, that meet community expectations, without the use of harmful pesticides. Read this article on how concerned citizens made a difference: Why Irvivine, CA stopped using toxic chemicals for lawn care

New York City also banned the use of glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup. Click here for that news: New York City bans glyphosate

LETS BE ONE OF THOSE COMMUNITIES WHO DECIDES ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, "No more toxic chemicals on our lawns and in our community common areas."

WHAT CAN YOU AND I DO?

Raise our voices! Let the Master HOA know you want safer alternatives. Sign this petition.  Nothing's going to change unless we make it happen. If enough people take a stand, we can make a difference. It doesn't have to be hard. Raising awareness and looking at viable alternatives are the first steps. PLEASE JOIN ME in making Rosedale a safer place to live, for our children, our pets and ourselves.

Would you like to help make a difference? You can reach out to me at: stopchemicalsnow@yahoo.com Thank you for your support!

Non-profits with more resources:

https://nontoxicneighborhoods.org/​

https://www.beyondpesticides.org/

Corrections: The Master HOA, Teal Lawn and 2 city council members of Bradenton will be notified once we reach 100 signers, not every time someone signs the petition.