permaculture

["Kevin Topek" <ktopek@bellsouth.net>]

Randy,

    I respectfully must disagree with Lawrence's 10 year waiting period on
chemically treated yard waste. If you subject the grass clippings to
thermophillic decomposition (above 140 F), most of the long chain molecules
will disassociate. Heavy metals will still be present, though diluted by the
total volume of organic material. Besides, what don't kill ya, will make ya
stronger.

    You may want to only use herbicide and pesticide treated compost
materials on ornamental plants, as opposed to food crops. Do not let your
livestock forage through the contaminated material, to avoid bioaccumulation
of toxic compounds. It is a shame to waste valuable organic resources, but
my wife, Mindy, does insist on being picky from whom you "steal" your trash
from. If you have witnessed a recent application of toxins, wait a mowing or
two. I am a firm believer that a good hot compost pile will mitigate a
number of toxic ills.

Kevin Topek

This is from Mindy:

Most approved herbicides and pesticides are designed to breakdown to carbon
dioxide and water within three months of application. The yards using
Chem-lawn type services should be fairly safe because the companies only use
approved chemicals and there is financial incentive to use the minimum
amount of chemical per application. These services use nitrogen fertilizers
very heavily which is bad for local water quality, but not a problem for
composting. The problem with neighbors is the random redneck neighbor
(usually older) who has banned chemicals in the garage and loves to apply
them randomly and aggressively. If this sounds familiar, avoid the organic
matter from this yard altogether.

In any case, I agree with my husband (as much as it pains me). Hot compost
the material for 3 months and, when in doubt, use on ornamentals and trees.

Once the neighbors see you using their yard waste, they may become
interested in what you are doing and begin cutting back on herbicides and
pesticides. This is a good chance to increase awareness in your neighbors, b
ut this could backfire as they may begin composting themselves or allowing
their clippings to stay on the yard.

Good luck.

M.


----- Original Message -----
From: Randy <donahuer@ols.net>
To: permaculture <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2000 8:57 PM
Subject: Chemical Residuals


>            Hello-
>
>                  I was wondering whether or not you could advise me on a
> matter concerning the residuals of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
> Nearly all of my neighbors use chemical fertilizers on their lawns
> regularly. A few of them use broadleaf herbicides annually to kill clover
in
> their yards. Then there are those proud chemical elitists who spend
> ****loads as members of chemical clubs, dowsing their yards repeatedly to
> achieve aesthetic perfection.
>                  My question is. . . would it be safe to use clippings
from
> those lawns that had been treated with say glyphophosphates? What length
of
> time should I wait after they spray to use their yard debris? Please don't
> tell me three years or something like that. . .
>
>                   --Donahuer@ols.net
>
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to permaculture as: ktopek@bellsouth.net
> To unsubscribe send a blank email to
leave-permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu
> Get the list FAQ at:
http://www.ibiblio.org/ecolandtech/documents/permaculture.faq
>