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<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>
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Midwest Grows Green is designed to educate the community on natural lawn care in order to reduce the amount of synthetic herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizers used on our lawns and landscapes. The Midwest Grows Green “brand” is the umbrella under which all of our outdoor community-basedlawn and landscape care programs fall.  It is made up of three distinct yet connected programs: 1) Point of Purchase Program, 2) Pesticide-Free Parks, and 3) Community Engagement. The three programs can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care—and our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp. <a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Logo.png"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-2279" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Logo-300x300.png" alt="MWGG_Logo" width="135" height="135" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents in a community make connections between what is going on in a pesticide-free park, with what is going on at a lawn care supply retailer, and with what is happening on the neighbor’s lawn. This provides the exposure to the concept of natural lawn care and continuity of message needed to promote positive behavioral change in the way lawns are cared for.  Read on for more information about each MWGG program and how to get started in your community. Continue reading for: <a href="#subheader1">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a id="subheader1"></a> <a href="#subheader2">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a> <a href="#subheader3">What is the MWGG Point of Purchase Program?</a> <a href="#subheader4">What is the MWGG Community Engagement Program?</a> <a href="#subheader5">What is the MWGG Pesticide Free Parks Program?</a>
<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>
<em>Many commonly-used pesticides are harmful to people and the environment. Here are some facts about the harmful effects of commonly-sold products:</em>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked pesticides such as glyhposate (Round-Up) to cancer, as well as asthma, birth defects, and neurological, behavioral, reproductive, hormonal, and immune system disorders. There are roughly 40 chemicals serving as active ingredients in pesticides currently on the market that are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as “known, probable, or possible human carcinogens.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">2) <strong>Water: </strong>A U.S. Geological Survey report found pesticides in 96% of all fish, 100% of all surface waters, and 33% of major aquifers studied. We know that lawns and gardens contribute to this widespread pollution as urban watersheds have higher rates of pesticide contamination than any other type of watershed, including agricultural. Keeping pesticides out of our waterways is important as they degrade water quality.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">3) <strong>Aquatic life: </strong>Conventional synthetic and fast-release fertilizers quickly wash into waterways, degrading water quality and creating “dead zones” by promoting excessive growth of aquatic vegetation, which steals the oxygen in the water from other organisms.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">4) <strong>Wildlife:  </strong>Pesticides are toxic chemicals designed to kill. The killing power of most of these toxins is not specific and will often kill or injure non-target species. Birds, amphibians, and beneficial pollinators such as honey bees are affected. Dozens of studies have linked the use of pesticides such as neonicitinioids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">5) <strong>Children: </strong>A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics raised concerns about the link between pesticide exposure and childhood cancer, impaired neurological development, asthma, and endocrine disruption. The Academy stated that “the most comprehensive reviews of the existing literature implicate an association of pesticides with leukemia and brain tumors.” Studies also suggest that ADHD and other neurological disorders may be related to a disruption in biological <a id="subheader2"></a>systems caused by some pesticides.</p>

<h2>What are eco-friendly alternatives?<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/1620-x-1080-testing-soil-quality-soil-pH-values1.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-2143 " src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/1620-x-1080-testing-soil-quality-soil-pH-values1-300x200.jpg" alt="1620 x 1080 testing-soil-quality-soil-pH-values1" width="261" height="174" /></a></h2>
MPAC identifies organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products to be eco-friendly—healthier for people, pets, and the environment. These products are free of harmful substances such as carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, endocrine disruptors, ingredients that degrade water quality and substances that are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees, which can be found in conventional lawn care products. These alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care.  <a id="subheader3"></a>A list of eco-friendly lawn products can be found in our <a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eco-Friendly-Product-Guide-for-Customers.pdf">Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</a>.
<h2>Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>
<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em> The Midwest Grows Green Retailer Program is a two-part program that promotes clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores and educates homeowners about safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) Retailer program is to encourage consumers to purchase products that help decrease the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers by presenting <a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-2365" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg" alt="MWGG Tag V5" width="161" height="101" /></a>options that are less toxic and more sustainable protecting people, pets, and the environment. Using the MWGG Retailer Guide, participating retailers use a MPAC-designed“Eco-Friendly” shelf tag to identify for shoppers their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. Our Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide and Tips for Natural Lawn Care are additional resources  available to educate the public about how to keep our yards green, our waters clean, and their families healthy using eco-friendly products.
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>


[caption id="attachment_2304" align="alignright" width="182"]<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eco-Friendly-Product-Guide-for-Customers.pdf"><img class="wp-image-2304" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eco-Friendly-Product-Guide-for-Customers-image-231x300.jpg" alt="Eco-Friendly-Product-Guide-for-Customers  image" width="182" height="236" /></a> Click to view the guide[/caption]
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">This guide is intended to help consumers identify products to manage lawns and landscapes to minimize risk to family, pets, and the environment. Consult this guide to find eco-friendly products to control common lawn and garden pests such as weeds, disease, and insects. Also listed are natural and organic fertilizers that promote healthy, naturally pest-resistant lawns.</p>


[caption id="attachment_2312" align="alignleft" width="186"]<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?hl=en&amp;authuser=0&amp;mid=z0NpuST4PjXo.kc1Y1GG5_2jI"><img class="wp-image-2312" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Map-of-Participating-Retailers-Pilot-300x204.jpg" alt="Map of Participating Retailers- Pilot" width="186" height="126" /></a> Click to view a map of participating retailers[/caption]
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">See which Chicago-area stores are participating in our Midwest Grows Green Retailer Pilot Program. These stores carry eco-friendly lawn and garden products identified in our Product Guide and label <a id="subheader4"></a>them with the MPAC-certified Eco-Friendly shelf tag.</p>

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<h2>Community Engagement<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/KeepOnGrass_sign_generic1.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-2389 " src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/KeepOnGrass_sign_generic1-200x300.jpg" alt="KeepOnGrass_sign_generic" width="171" height="257" /></a></h2>
MPAC has created several resources to help concerned residents engage and educate their communities on natural lawn care. We most recently worked with River Forest to create a campaign to encourage the adoption of natural lawn care practices to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and fertilizers that can have harmful health effects on both people and the environment. MPAC hopes to work with municipalities and local advocacy groups to bring a similar campaign to communities across the Midwest.
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Take the Pledge to commit to a healthier community by eliminating synthetic chemical use on your lawn, and receive a free "Keep ON the Grass" sign in honor of your commitment!</p>


[caption id="attachment_2309" align="alignleft" width="212"]<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2309" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean-300x231.jpg" alt="MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean" width="212" height="163" /></a> Click to view the pamphlet<strong>2. Tips on Keeping Our Yards Green and Waters Clean </strong>[/caption]

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<strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Check out this pamphlet for tips on how reduce water pollution while maintaining <a id="subheader5"></a>beautiful outdoor spaces that are safe for people and pets to enjoy.</p>

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<h2>Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>
<span style="color: #222222;">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help parks managers<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2100-x-1400-DandelionHeadband-e1380813500621.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-359" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/2100-x-1400-DandelionHeadband-e1380813500621-300x133.jpg" alt="Dandelion Headband" width="311" height="137" /></a> move toward the adoption of sustainable turf management practice, thereby reducing the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers and lessening lessen their impact on the health of people, pets, and the environment. Pesticide-Free Parks is designed as an educational tool to inform the community about natural lawn care and highlight the park district’s (or managing entity’s) commitment to healthful and environmentally responsible gathering spaces for the community.

<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/3008-x-2000-SoccerKids-e1380813891838.jpg"><img class="alignleft  wp-image-361" src="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/3008-x-2000-SoccerKids-e1380813891838.jpg" alt="SoccerKids" width="308" height="134" /></a>Through a public/private partnership, MPAC launched the first pesticide-free park program with the City of Evanston in 2015 with the designation of five parks as pesticide-free. MPAC created posters and other information materials distributed throughout Evanston’s parks to promote the program.  In addition, MPAC drafted a press release that was picked up by over 18 media outlets, providing the program with exposure and positive feedback.Our hope is to grow the Pesticide-Free Parks program in other communities across the Midwest.
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">We define a pesticide-free park as one that is maintained under the principals of natural lawn care. As part of the program, signage will be incorporated to let the community know that the park is being managed without the use of harmful chemicals that could compromise the health of their children and the natural environment. A press release that will be covered by local media outlets such as newspapers and online journals will also be utilized to draw community attention to the initiative.</p>

<h2>Additional Resources</h2>
<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Guide-for-Participating-Retailers.pdf">Midwest Grows Green: A Guide for Participating Retailers</a>: This guide contains instruction and guidelines for retailers who are participating in the MWGG Point of Purchase pilot program. If you are a retailer who is interested in the program, follow this link to learn more.

<a href="http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/WOY_Midwest_Grows_Green_Guide-final.pdf">Guide to Growing an Environmentally-Friendly Lawn and Garden</a>: Use this guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce <span style="color: #302c29;">your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.</span>