You may have noticed yellow flags all around our premises. As you might know, they are to warn us about chemicals that are being regularly sprayed, in hopes of killing the weeds.

This year they are spraying Prodoxaben which has been studied and found to cause tumors in rats. It has been classified as a possible human carcinogen by the EPA. 

However, these are pesticides are not just killing weeds. These chemicals are hurting our wildlife. Including our bunnies, butterflies, honey bees, and birds and it is not advisable for our dogs and children to be walking on.

Last year they sprayed Rangerpro particularly is Glyphosate N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine. Glyphosate has been known to cause detrimental effects to the human nervous system, especially after repeated exposure. [1]

 You also may have noticed we have not been seeing as many butterflies in our community and that is because they are not being supported.Glyphosate directly harms the butterfly population [6].

Recently, in our neighborhood, milkweed plants were pulled out by the roots and left discarded near the mailboxes. Milkweed is something butterflies heavily rely on and eat when they are caterpillars. [2]

Spraying pesticides make them sick as well and unable to thrive. It hurts the honey bee population as well which is another pollinator in our ecosystem. [3] The bird population continues to decline largely because we are not being hospitable to them. [4]

The pesticides over time go into the ground water which also affects us humans. [5] Pesticides provide numerous harms and very limited temporary benefits at best.

We don’t want any more pesticides being sprayed, and I’m asking for your help to sign this petition.

 We are trying to get the HOA to listen to us. We wish to let the dandelions grow. Pesticides are not the answer!

If enough people can voice these concerns we can make a difference and create change. Please join our petition if you share our sentiment and please contact our HOA ! Every voice can help. Time is of the essence. 

Kindest Regards,

One of your neighbors

Resources: 

[1]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9101768/ 

[2]https://www.nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Why-Native/Milkweed-for-Monarchs 

[3] https://www.pan-europe.info/blog/yes-glyphosate-harmful-bees#:~:text=The%20fact%20sheet%20shows%20that,larvae%20development%20and%20reduced%20weight 

[4]https://www.lauraerickson.com/way-to-help/32/ 

[5] https://www.usgs.gov/news/herbicide-glyphosate-prevalent-us-streams-and-rivers 

[6] https://environmentamerica.org/articles/for-struggling-butterflies-if-its-not-one-pesticide-its-another/#:~:text=Glyphosate%20drove%20the%20decline%20in,butterfly%20losses%20in%20the%20Midwest