Samantha Bliss
Environment and Politics
Advocacy Project
Article Annotation #3
1.
Full citation
“Environmentally Friendly Lawn Care for Truly Green Turf.” Scgh.com. 2013. Web. 22 Oct 2013.
<http://www.scgh.com/go-green/landscaping-and-outdoors/eco-friendly-lawn-care/>
2.
Articulation of the key and sub-arguments made in the article.
An article that I found particularly enlightening on the subject of sustainable lawn care was published by
the Sierra Club Green Home (scgh.com) website and is entitled “Environmentally Friendly Lawn Care, For
Truly Green Turf.” This article offers many simple changes that a residential owner can make gradually
over time to increase the environmental sustainability of their garden or lawn. The article started off by
stressing the importance of responsible lawn care, and then the author provided several tips for lawn
owners to use. The article recommended seeking out natural and organic pesticides for use on lawns
and to give composting a try as an alternative to buying fertilizer altogether.
3.
Two quotes illustrative of arguments in the article.
-“Fortunately, with a little work upfront, there are many things you can do keep your lawn robust
without using the toxic materials. A healthy lawn is like a healthy person. When it’s strong, it can resist
disease, withstand a bit of drying out, and go without chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.”
-“If the soil is healthy, the lawn may not need any fertilizer.”
4.
List of three pieces of evidence used to support the main and sub-arguments.
- Inorganics pose a risk to the environment as these chemicals leach into the groundwater, pollute the
air, and get onto the skin and into the mouths of children, pets, and others who come in contact with
the treated grass.
- Lawns are horrible for the environment because of 100 million pounds of household pesticides and
herbicides U.S. consumers buy every year for their lawns.
- Organics have been tested and confirmed to release their nutrients more slowly and are less prone to
leaching into groundwater than quick-acting synthetic fertilizers.
5.
Articulation of how the article can inform your project.
Samantha Bliss
Environment and Politics
Advocacy Project
Article Annotation #3
After researching a specific program that had to deal with our project’s initiative, and then reading and
writing about an article that outlined an environmental professional’s personal view on organic
fertilizers and the health benefits associated with their use, I then decided to delve in to researching
exactly what changes in addition to switching from inorganic fertilizers must be made to ensure a
healthy and environmentally responsible lawn care regimen. With these suggestions that every
residential owner can take a shot at using, we can expect our project to be an attainable success first on
the RPI campus and then at a broader level. The article offered a compelling thought that will be very
beneficial as we stress the importance of our project to the RPI community. Further, the article’s quote
outlining a direct comparison of a lawn to a human being makes our concern about lawn health and
environmental heath overall, very relatable to the average individual.
6.
List of information from the article that can be used to justify and support your project.
-lawns cover almost 40,000 square miles in the U.S.—an area the size of the state of Kentucky.
-tons of chemical fertilizers are added to the soil
-fertilizer runs off into our waterways where the chemicals that make grass green can cause vast algae
blooms that kill fish and other aquatic creatures.
-composting materials include grass clippings and kitchen waste.