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BANG FOR THE BITE
On average, 5-7 lbs. of pesticides are used per acre of maintained suburban lawn. If 10,000 Biters discontinued use of fertilizer, the use of 60,000 lbs. of toxic chemicals could be averted each year.
COCKTAIL FACT
Homeowners use up to 10 times more chemical pesticides per acre on their lawns than farmers use on crops.
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home › tip library › Organic Lawn Care
Is your pet searching for greener pastures?
The Bite
Many dogs and cats nibble on grass to aid with digestion. If your pets like to graze, make sure their grass really is greener.The Benefits
- Don’t allow pets to eat fertilized grass. Dogs exposed to herbicide-treated lawns and gardens have an increased risk of canine lymphoma and bladder cancer.
- Keep the whole family safe by avoiding pesticides on lawns and other play spaces. Many commonly used lawn pesticides have been linked to serious human medical conditions, including cancer, organ damage and birth defects.
- Slow-release organic fertilizers are safer for pets, kids and wildlife, and create healthier soil and lawns. Leaving grass clippings to decompose on the lawn isn’t lazy - it has the same effect as one fertilizer application per year.
- Don’t have a lawn? Wheatgrass is inexpensive and easy to grow indoors. Your pet will have a supply of non-toxic treats about a week from planting seeds – which usually keeps them from eating houseplants!
Personally Speaking
Cricket is placing her order now, as she heard (with those big ears) that it helps with her halitosis and gives her the vitamins and minerals she misses while the grass is still under the snow.
Wanna Try?
- CityCats Giant Green Lawn Kit – includes flax/barley/wheatgrass seed, plastic planter and soil ($24.95).
- Try natural and organic lawn care products from Cockadoodle DOO , Extremely Green , or Planet Natural .
- Healthy Lawn, Healthy Environment – U.S. EPA’s guide to eco-friendly lawn care.
Mar 09,2006
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Froggy digs the grass, dudes
Who wants to talk about Pet Grass? Not me? I am with a friend right now who would rather talk about natural drugs vs. synthetic. Ie: catnip vs kitty crack. So we did a comparison. We smoked both….
Just kidding. Froggy the cat did the comparison. And he is 100% in love with all natural grass. He sniffs, he nibbles. Cricket thinks that must be up to something good so she just came over and walked on it and ate some.
Plus, it looks very feng shui.
Off to order enough to fill my big window sill – Jen
Biter Comments...
My cat pukes any time she eats kitty grass. I'm not sure if this is because it doesn't agree with her or because, if I buy one of those little pots of it, she eats the entire thing in about 30 seconds...
Mine always eat the dirt too. I don't think they get the concept of chewing the grass and so they just tear the whole blade (down to the root) out, and with it comes the dirt. Anyone have an idea on how to keep it in the dish so my cats just eat the grass? I'm thinking maybe a net of some sort when I plant it. I do like the big tray of it, thats cool. But as long as they keep eating like pigs instead of cats, its going to have to stay on the back porch.
My ex used to have cats, one of whom loved kitty grass and plants. Eat and barf, eat and barf. It improved when I gave him a brewers yeast/garlic tablet though.
I'm also a beleiver in a natural lawn. I tried using a reel mower last year. Unfortunately, there is a little too much yard, and I have a neighbor who is a beeyatch about "unmaintained" yards. I'm going to try to find an electric mower this year, something rechargeable, where, hopefully, I won't cut my foot off!
I can't offer the girls kitty grass. They mow it down like they've never munched such manna, and then they yack it all up. I'd rather offer up some leafy greens when I make them fresh food, for the green component they crave.
So, we stick to catnip plants which I have to hide when I go to work, lest they 'love' them to death.
If they were outdoor cats I'd worry about the grass they were eating and where they were eating it. Not all my neighbors maintain non-pesticided much less 'natural' when it comes to lawn upkeep.
For a natural fertilizer try Garden's Alive WOW Plus. A littel pricey but worth it's weight in gold. I have the greenest lawn on the block with the stuff and a little elbow grease pulling weeds with my Weed Hound (Home Depot)!
PHOTO ALBUMS
Posted by: KimPatrica Lee | March 09, 2006 at 09:07 AM