Good Monday morning to you! To start the week off, I thought I might provide you with a serious topic to ponder, as well as a few beautiful images from a wonderful Garden Center.
Yesterday, we traveled to Greenwich, Connecticut and the beautiful Audubon Greenwich, for a private screening of the movie “A Chemical Reaction”. This powerful documentary, created by Paul Tukey And Safelawns.org tells the story of a the small town of Hudson, Ontario Canada, and their decision to ban the use of pesticides, and the movement that it began across Canada and hopefully the world. I have been anxiously awaiting the chance to see this movie, and had high hopes for the message it would deliver and the inspiration it might provide to millions of lawn loving Americans. I was not disappointed, and I believe as time goes on we will look back to this movie and remember how it started a change in our collective psyche of the way we view lawn care, and possibly even the lawn itself. If you are interested in a healthier environment for you and your family, want to learn of the toxic effect lawn chemicals pose, or simply like to hear a good David vs. Goliath story, you will enjoy this movie.
On our trip down to Greenwich, we made a side trip to Hollandia Nursery in Bethel, CT.
This wonderful retail nursery, boasts beautiful display gardens, a great selection of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs, and further deepened my passion for retail garden centers. Enjoy these photos of their display gardens, and if you have the chance, I hope you will pay them a visit!
bhld.wordpress.com 
Thanks for the reminder, Scott – I definitely want to see this movie. I have a feeling once you see it, there’s no turning back, right? Nice slideshow, too – very well done!
Your welcome Rebecca. This movie hits on a number of important points from toxic pesticides to the power of community! I hope you get to see it soon. Thanks!
A Chemical Reaction is about more than chemicals. One person CAN make a difference.
Love the garden center. They are what they sell !! Simple concept. But Pink Floyd nailed it, “Hello, is anyone out there?”
Why so few garden centers BEING what they sell?
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
You are so right about that Tara, and I am thankful there are such people who care enough to act when a situation arises.
I have wondered myself also, why more garden centers don’t rise above the average and stand out!
Paul Tukey’s doc made a big impact on me as well.
I posted a link to your article on the Lawn Reform Coalition Fanpage.
Thank you Susan!
Scott,
So glad you wrote a post about our trip yesterday to Greenwich. I enjoyed our day out together and viewing the beautiful gardens at Hollandia.
I was overwhelmed with the message that “Chemical Reaction” made. And saddened at hard how it is to get people to hear the message and the truth in it.
The following statement was made by a member of Hudson’s town council ‘If we are wrong than the most damage that was done is that there are a few more dandelions around. But if we are right then we may have saved several lives.’ To me this simple statement is so profound and powerful. But how do we get the rest of the world to see it that way?
Love You!!
K
Overwhelmed is the reaction most will have when seeing that movie, let’s just hope it acts as a call to actions.
I had fun yesterday too!
Thanks for the kind words about the film. Much appreciated.
Paul, you are very welcome! Thanks for carrying the torch of a very important issue!
Scott,
The movie was very powerful and thought-provoking, wasn’t it? I came out of it feeling very optomistic that one person can make such a powerful change, just by being passionate and persistent.
I loved seeing your photos of Hollandia, I haven’t been there in a few years and forgot how beautiful it is. They remind me I really need to plant another blue spruce!
I agree Debbie, it was powerful and inspiring. We are thinking about hosting a screening of it here in the Farmington Valley. The more the word gets out…
Hollandia was beautiful! They do a nice job with display gardens and the sales area. One tip they could take from O’Brien’s though, is to label all plants in the display garden so customers can easlii walk over and purchase what they like.
I understand everyone’s concerns but if I want to spray pesticides(which kill insects) to kill fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes which all carry diseases that are even more harmful to my family to the pesticides (which after they dry which is 45 minutes to an hour they are non-harmful to humans) then I should have the right to do so. Personally I don’t want West Nile or Lyme Disease from Insects that are in my yard….also if I want to spray herbicides (which kill weeds) in my yard to make my yard look nice…then as an American citizen (which it’s a free country) then I will continue to do so…also I am in the process of becoming a licensed lawn applicator. I really think people blow things out of proportion…….The United States of America will not ban the use of pesticides and herbicides because it will put 100,000+ nationwide without a job!!!
I want to make a correction to what I wrote….the diseases that the fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes carry are more harmful than the pesticides that are used to kill them!!
Cody,
First let me say thank you for your comments. As an American citizen, and it being a free country, you do have the right to make the choice to spray pesticides, and to become a licensed lawn applicator if you wish. You are correct in pointing out that West Nile and Lyme disease are problems that need to be dealt with. I also hope, that you choose to look at both sides of this debate. Chemicals are not harmless to humans after 45 minutes to an hour, they enter the soil, leach into the ground water and make their way into drinking wells, rivers, streams and the oceans, where they affect not only fish and wildlife, but humans through drinking water. Yes people do blow things out of proportion, but they also minimize information if it will adversely affect their incomes or inconvenience their lives. In response to your comments regarding putting 100,000 people out of work, well that is simply a fallacy. If those 100,000 people chose to provide Organic Lawn care, then they would find that it is not only safer for humans and our environment, but that it is also effective and profitable. I don’t see the problem. Eventually science will establish indisputable links connecting the declining health of our population and the widespread use of chemicals and restrict or ban their use (as they have done with many to date), and until that time I, as an American in this free country, will continue to enlighten those that will listen (a growing number each day) on the dangers of pesticides and the efficacy of Organics. I wish you well is your future endeavors, and sincerely hope you look into organics as revenue stream for your business. Until such a time that you do, please remember to wear rubber boots, gloves and a respirator, and stay healthy.
All the best,
Scott
This issue and any other potentially controversial one boils down to making informed choices–emphasis on “informed.” The more you know, the better choice you can make. I do think, though, that as Americans we tend to think first of our rights rather than our sense of responsibility–and where our health and environment is concerned, we can’t afford to do that.
Well stated Jenny!
You hit the nail right on the head with “informed”. Society relies too much on sound bites and proselytizing, instead of education and free thinking. Thank you for adding some “informed” and educated words to this conversation!