Pesticide Free Zone

Do you have a pesticide free yard or garden? If so, the Washington Toxics Coalition has a great deal for you! You can get a free, attractive metal yard sign to mark your landscape as pesticide free.

Over the past two years, we have been working with local businesses and individuals to distribute our Pesticide Free Zone signs, encouraging people who do not use toxic chemicals on their landscape to be proud of their efforts and post a sign, letting others know that their lawn is safe for children, pets and beneficial insects. Landscapes that have posted the signs include Seattle University, Evergreen State College, the Good Shepherd Center and thousands of individual homes.

So far, we have distributed over 2,500 signs. Through a grant awarded to us by the Department of Ecology, we now have 1,000 free signs to give away. All Washington state residents are eligible to receive one of these free signs by taking a four-part pledge. The pledge asks that you:

•put up the sign in your yard;

•choose the least-toxic method to maintain your landscape (while trying your best to avoid using synthetic pesticides such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides);

•talk about pesticide free yard care to at least three other people; and

•respond to a brief follow-up questionnaire about six months after receiving your sign.

For those who live out of state, do not want to commit to the pledge or would like more than one sign, we have regularly priced signs available for $7.50 each including shipping and Washington state sales tax. The eight-inch diameter aluminum signs are permanent and have two mounting holes that allow them to be attached to a stake, fence, or wall or hung from a wire. Some retail stores in the Seattle area are also selling the signs. The sign comes with three fact sheets: What’s Wrong With Using Pesticides?, Talking to Your Neighbor About Pesticides and the Pesticide Free Zone Sign Owners Manual. In addition, purchasers of the sign will receive a one-time discount on our popular Home Safe Home fact sheets.

One of the questions we’re sometimes asked is “what does pesticide free mean.” Ideally, pesticide free means that no chemical pest controls at all are used. However, we consider the use of organically certified materials and EPA-exempt pesticides to be compatible with our philosophy because we want to encourage manufacturers to develop safer products. We distribute the signs on the honor system. We don’t ask or monitor what materials you use. If you feel that the sign accurately reflects your practices, you should display it. Should you have questions about the suitability of any products, please feel free to call the toxics coalition for more information at (206) 632-1545.

To order a free sign, you can contact us by mail, telephone or e-mail. Our address is Washington Toxics Coalition, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N, Suite 540, Seattle, WA 98103, telephone (206) 632-1545, e-mail: info@watoxics.org. Or you can visit our Web site (http://www.watoxics.org) and take the pledge online. We hope you’ll display your sign right away and be willing to share your philosophy and your techniques with your friends and neighbors. §