in the yard...

Here are some questions to ask about your yard:

• are you using any toxic herbicides or pesticides?  

• are you using drought-tolerant plants? 

• are you using outdoor equipment (gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers, etc.) that produces pollution?  could you use electric-powered or manual tools instead?

See the Green Gardener information below, Tips for a Healthy Yard (Audubon site), and Less-Toxic Gardening (Ventura County site) for more information.

Green Gardener program

The Green Gardener Program trains and certifies professional landscapers and gardeners in resource-efficient gardening practices. To find out more, including a schedule of classes and a list of certified gardeners, see www.greengardener.org.