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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> More choices.....
        
(Message started by: DonnaHar on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 11:13am)

Title: More choices.....
Post by DonnaHar on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 11:13am

Beautiful lawns and golf courses.....or dead ponds, lakes, oceans and sea creatures?

Just heard on the local news here in southwest Fl. that another large stream has a gorgeous algea blum due to fertilization. That fertilization is due to run-off from our lawns. The algea sufficates the fish and other critters in the water. Our Manatee death count is at an all time high this quarter, etc.

Florida waterways are documented as being in trouble and it's just another thing that we people have started and still have the control to reverse.....but will we?

Edited to add.......that my lawn is a beautiful brown/green with patches of sand, and my yard has Florida native plantings.

Title: Re: More choices.....
Post by Lobster on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 12:32pm

I always had the impression that the fertilizers we put on lawns and courses is a drop in the bucket relative to agriculture.

Living in a farming town, I see the hitched anhydrous ammonia wagons coming and going from Farm Supply as fast as they can fill them during spring and fall.

http://www.awtank.com/AAphoto.jpg

Title: Re: More choices.....
Post by DonnaHar on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 12:40pm

I'm sure you're right, but if we stop fertilizing non-crop plants it would be of great value. We have a golf course every few miles here and everybody wants beautiful plants, but at what cost?

We have one living coral reef left on the Keys and some species of fish and birds are gone forever. Small commercial shrimpers are no longer allowed to fish, and on and on. We have shell fish bans regularly because they are unsafe for human consumption.

Every year more wild life becomes extinct due to our selfishness.

Title: Re: More choices.....
Post by Lobster on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 5:44pm

We are in the initial steps of replacing out golf course grass with Zoysia.
It is dog-ugly from October through April, but requires much less fertilizer and weed killer.

Title: Re: More choices.....
Post by Jonny on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 6:30pm

on 04/22/07 at 12:40:29, DonnaHar wrote:

We have shell fish bans regularly because they are unsafe for human consumption.

That happens 6-8 times a year here in the north, its only so you dont get sick.

Title: Re: More choices.....
Post by DonnaHar on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 6:45pm

What is the reason? Is it a natural occurance? I really don't know the reason for that, Jonny.

Down here, it's usually due to contamination by sewage in the water or some bacterial infestation, but still caused by man's disregard. We've even had an over abundance of mercury as a cause. We have huge phosphate mines contaminating the gulf and great political debates going on about this.