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LANDSCAPERS AVAILABLE WHO USE NON-TOXIC LAWN CHEMICALS

Green Alternatives to Toxic Lawn Chemicals

Did you know that on July 7, 2006, consistent with the national trend against conventional pesticides, herbicides, and other dangerous chemicals, our sister town of Clifton, N.J. officially renounced use of pesticides? Clifton Mayor James Anzaldi said:

“As a matter of policy and practice, we don’t use pesticides in the maintenance of our city parks. We want to protect water quality and public health, especially the health of young children who are more vulnerable to the hazards of pesticides than adults”

Happily, there is simply no reason to use a company like TruGreen/ChemLawn (or Davey, Lawn Doctor, etc.) for your lawn-care anymore. Numerous alternative lawn-care companies now exist that are fully committed to organic methods and materials, and operate in a completely honest, open, and transparent manner about what they use and how they use it, a practice that TruGreen/ChemLawn has a history of not doing. The existence or widespread availability of these organic lawn-care companies was not the case even five years ago, but happily, it is the case, now.

So, what are you waiting for? Why are you still permitting the use of dangerous chemicals on your lawn and shrubs? Call each of the organic lawn care companies below to find the one that provides the best fit for you, your property, and your budget. Invite each to come and examine your property, speak with you, and provide you an estimate. Do it right now, while it's on your mind and the relevant phone numbers are in front of you.

Ask Questions

If you elect to use a given company, below or elsewhere, before I can research it, remember to definitively ascertain that their lawn care services are completely and thoroughly organic, and use no pesticides whatsoever. This can be confusing because some companies offer several different program options, the true orientation of each sometimes obscured behind inaccurate or misleading marketing language; this is the case with NaturaLawn, for example.

Garden State Safelawns & Landscapes
www.Gardenstate.safelawns.net
265 Main Street
Gladstone, NJ 07934
Toll Free: 1-866-936-7007

I was told several years ago that this lawn care company WILL use manual tools if requested--the "old-fashioned" rake, broom, and reel (i.e. manual push) mower--instead of the mega-loud, hearing-eroding, polluting, global-warming gas equipment typically used (see "Request Manual Tools," below). Moreover, for small properties there will be little, if any, extra cost for using the superior manual tools! You simply cannot beat this deal!

The only gas-powered tool they must retain in order to restrain their price is the string trimmer (i.e. the "weed-wacker"). I consider this a fabulous trade-off, as the string trimmer will still pollute somewhat but is not loud and thus will neither irritate nor cause hearing erosion!
Contact Yuval Aharoni, their Lawn and Landscape Specialist, directly by telephone at 908-581-0896 or via email here.
Yuval says he used to use chemical pesticides, but no longer does because after work he wants to be able to "come home and hug my kids." The typical TruGreen/ChemLawn technician, covered in toxic spray or other materials as they may be, cannot do this.
He also states that the organic liquid materials that they use, while extremely effective, are so safe that he sometimes performs a customer demonstration by drinking them!

Rest assured, were any TruGreen technician foolhardy enough to drink any of the materials they use, that individual would be dead or incapacitated within a short period; likely minutes. Which lawn care agents would you rather have in the soil and grass your children are rolling around on, and volatilizing into the air they are breathing?

Lawn Alive
Will Gutierrez
PO Box 1148
Ridgewood, NJ 07451
Office: 201-670-4859
Cell: 201-424-0745

"We provide a variety [of] organic services for any landscaping need."

NaturaLawn
www.NaturaLawn.com
James or Cheryl Ebbinghousen, Owners
333 Main Street, Building #2
Little Falls, NJ 07424
Office Manager: Jim
Email: organiclawncare@naturalawn.com
Office: 1-973-339-9690

In 2009, my family enlisted this company to perform a lawn care service for us. While they did take time to explain their services, their technician made three mistakes, two of which were extremely serious, the other of which the company owner denied but I know occurred. As of 2011 I'm told that the technician in question, Louis, is no longer in their employ.

There was another discrepancy, as well, since my mother asserts that two different NaturaLawn employees told her that the chemicals used were nontoxic, which, if true, would have constituted the rendering of a falsehood.

Ironically, I attempted to help the owner of this company solve his own neighborhood toxics problem: he told me, surprisingly, that many of the families on his block use TruGreen/ChemLawn or similar companies. I encouraged him to download my free Healthy Lawncare pamphlet and distribute it to his neighbors.

In all, the owner chose not to charge my family for the service his company performed, which was appropriate given their serious mistakes.
Moreover, one of the two programs offered by NaturaLawn consists of use of hazardous synthetic pesticides and herbicides; confusingly, this program is called their "Organic Based" program. Do NOT select this program; select only their "Natural, Pesticide-Free" program, or select a different organic lawn care company from this page.
I would approach this company with caution.

Organic Turf & Insect
www.OrganicTurfandInsect.com
Tom Pote
PO Box 519
Chester, NJ 07930
Office: 1-908-879-7004

Tom's company is unique, in that he does organic lawncare AND organic pest control, including termite treatments! There is simply no need to ever call a typical "exterminator" again!
NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Accredited Organic Lawn Fertilization & Organic Pest Control for Businesses & Homes.
100% organic services.
Tom states his mission as:

We are spreading the word that 100% organic fertilizers, and insect and weed control are here to stay and that toxic synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are on their way out. We at Organic Turf and Insect Busters are committed to quality and customer satisfaction. We see ourselves as a company of the future, continually bringing to the people we serve the very best in organic lawn, landscape and insect control care.

We have a vision of a world free from toxic chemicals and a mission that will bring beauty to lawns and landscapes while providing a pure, healthy and safe place to live. All of our products and methods are 100% allowed products and methods approved by the USA Government Nation Organic Program, CCOF, OMIRI and NOFA. We have passed an exam and receive continued training that gives us accreditation by NOFA-CT and NOFA-MA Standards for Organic Land Care. The definition of organic as pertaining to these organizations is "the use of practices and substances which are biologically enhancing to the soil, to the plant life, to humans and animals. Practices that result in residue or by-products which are harmful or detrimental to humans, animals, the biological life of the soil and ecosystem are not used."

Green Harmony Now!
www.GreenHarmonyNow.com
Jose German
Montclair, N.J.
CustomerService@Mail.GreenHarmony.Com or GreenHarmonyNow@aol.com
973-233-1106

Sustainable Eco-Friendly Gardening & Landscaping Services.
Member of the Ecological Landscaping Association (ELA).
Member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA).

Organic Landscape & Design Co.
www.OrganicLandscapeDesign.com
Madison, N.J.
973-593-0268
Anthony Vitale, President

"While other landscapers may offer an occasional organic fertilizer application, we offer a 100% organic service. This includes fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, topsoil, mulch and our homemade organic compost used in our exclusive lawn restoration program."

"When you just put down pesticides...you're killing all the good insects. There is no biodiversity. The only way to sustain a dead lawn is to use petroleum-based chemicals, which have a long half-life," says Anthony Vitale, owner of Organic Landscape and Design Company in Madison. Repeated dosages increases the amount of chemicals in the soil, which take a long time to break down. The chemicals can be absorbed through the skin, and can become concentrated indoors after being tracked in on shoes, pets, and clothing, Vitale explains."

NL & G Landscaping/"Organic Bug"
Gus Hernandez
32 Crescent Street
Rochelle Park, N.J. 07662
v. 201-291-9707
Email: lawndog12@msn.com

I have not yet contacted this company to ascertain the degree to which they utilize organic materials, and whether they are willing to use quiet and non-polluting manual tools.

Clean Air Lawn Care
www.CleanAirLawnCare.com

Another lawn care company for whom quiet and non-polluting mowing, trimming, and leaf collection is just as essential, and key to their appeal, as the organic growing agents they use.

Not available in New Jersey, yet, however. Please see one of the above companies.

(Franchises available.)

Lawn Doctor
www.lawndoctor.com

CAUTION - NOT RECOMMENDED
The materials used in their so-called organic lawn care uses synthetic, not all-natural and organic materials: "This organic lawn fertilizer draws at least 30 percent of its nutrients from natural and organic sources. The balance of the nutrients are from synthetic (man-made) sources" (http://www.lawndoctor.com/organic_lawn_care.html).
Confusingly, they state their "natural" lawn care does use a completely natural fertilizer (http://www.lawndoctor.com/natural_lawn_care.html). This is confusing because organic lawn care is supposed to be more pure than natural lawn care, not the other way around.
This is another company that wants to have it both ways, and can't figure out what its commitment to human health and the environment actually is. Again, either you're committed to organic methods and materials, the organic approach, or you're not.
With a company like this I'd also have great concerns that the materials they use may be genetically-engineered, or contain nanotechnology components. You don't want your family used as a guinea pig for these brand new, untested, and in certain respects bizarre technologies and the materials produced from or with them.
Last: some years ago my family hired the Lawn Doctor operator who services North Jersey. He damaged our lawn, and then refused to provide a refund. We had to sue him, and were made to understand that he is frequently sued. I'll secure his name and post it here.

TriOrganics
www.TriOrganics.com
1-888-998-7487

I have not researched this new company. Proceed with caution. Preliminarily recommended is their Organic, not IPM-based, lawn care program.

LANDSCAPE COMPANIES SERVICING NORTH JERSEY WITH QUIET, NON-POLLUTING EQUIPMENT

You've likely never experienced the deeply wonderful and amazing feeling from awakening on a quiet Saturday morning, looking out your window, and realizing that your landscaper has been mowing your lawn in complete silence for the last twenty minutes! Until you happened to look out your window, you didn't even know he was there.

Clean Air Lawn Care is a company that uses either manual or electric tools, but as of Summer 2011 they do not yet have a franchise presence in New Jersey.

In fact, such companies are very difficult to find, at least in the Northern New Jersey area. Consequently, you may wish to purchase a reel (i.e. push) or electric mower and simply do the work yourself. You can also check Craig's List or similar Internet sites, or your local newspaper classifieds and help available sections to find a local handyman, small-scale landscaper, or even a reliable high-schooler willing to landscape your property using quiet tools. They may have the mower and other tools, or you can provide them.

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