Story Archives of 'organic'

There’s something new underfoot at Harvard University. Literally. The august, shady green of Harvard Yard is getting an organic facelift.

Bacteria and fungi fed by compost have replaced pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, and replenished the soil and grass traversed by thousands of students and faculty each day. What started as a one-acre pilot project has spread through 25 acres. And plans are being drawn to make all of Harvard's 80 acres of green space organically grown in the next two years.

It’s a model that other campuses and institutions are looking to follow. Our "next green thing" series continues today with Wayne Carbone, manager of Harvard's landscape services.

At Harvard’s site, there's also a kind of mini-course on organic landscaping, including recipes for compost tea.

The New York Times: The Grass Is Greener at Harvard

(Photo by Mossaiq via Flickr/Creative Commons)

The organic dairy market has grown by double digits each year since 2005 - until this year.

Now the shrinking economy has dampened consumer demand for pricey organic products and some organic farms are in trouble.

Vermont Public Radio's Susan Keese reports.

America's obsession with the flawless lawn didn't begin in suburbia, but in 1967, when the Masters Golf Tournament was first broadcast in color. Homeowners who'd been used to weedy, varied lawns suddenly wanted their own emerald carpets of grass, just like the ones on the green in Augusta, Georgia. It was even given a name, "Augusta Syndrome."

This lust for the perfect lawn has cost Americans billions in herbicide, water and gas, plus countless hours of mowing, and possibly even our health. A National Academy of Science report shows that the health of one in seven people is negatively affected by some form by lawn pesticides. Children and pets are especially at risk because of their size, development, and proximity to the ground. But going organic would be so expensive, right? Well, maybe not. Paul Tukey is the founder of SafeLawns.org and he says an organic lawn is not only better, but less expensive too.

(Photo by Jeremy Page via Flickr/Creative Commons)