Forget Artificial Turf. Forget Pesticides. Organic Playing Fields Work

Photo: Klaus Larsen/ Istock

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In the last few years, we've witnessed a new concern on the playground: lead and other possibly toxic chemicals in artificial turf. (The Consumer Product Safety Commission says lead should be removed from artificial turf because exposure to lead impairs the brain and is particularly dangerous for young children ... but it also said that the amount of lead currently in artificial turf is safe. Go figure.)

Already, we've been concerned about the health risks of using pesticides on grass and the environmental side-effects of both pesticide and fertilizer use.

Now, an obvious solution has emerged in Branford, Conn.: organic turf.

"The town’s Parks and Recreation Department’s remarkable success in implementing an organic land management approach has resulted in healthier turf and lower maintenance costs," according to the Beyond Pesticides blog. "Later this month the town is expected to pass a resolution to ensure their commitment to the organic turf program."

The town's 24 fields are all maintained without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and the result — no surprise — had been healthier soil and turf that resists drought, disease and the wear and tear of children's feet.

To steer your town in this direction — or get tips for going organic in your own backyard — consult Beyond Pesticides' Lawns & Landscapes program page.

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