INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (2489,2,'2015-09-08 21:21:02','2015-09-08 21:21:02','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" title=\"Poin-of-Purchase\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. Learn More\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices. Learn More\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:21:02','2015-09-08 21:21:02','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2490,2,'2015-09-08 21:21:57','2015-09-08 21:21:57','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. Learn More\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices. Learn More\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:21:57','2015-09-08 21:21:57','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2492,2,'2015-09-08 21:25:09','2015-09-08 21:25:09','<h1>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h1>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The Pesticide-Free Parks program helps</span> park 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=\"318\" height=\"140\" /></a> implement sustainable turf management practices, thereby reducing the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers to lessen their impact on the health of people, pets, and the environment. The Pesticide-Free Parks program works as an educational tool to inform the community about natural lawn care and highlight the park management\'s commitment to healthful and environmentally responsible gathering spaces for the community.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SoccerKids1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-2660 \" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SoccerKids1-300x141.jpg\" alt=\"SoccerKids1\" width=\"327\" height=\"154\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThrough a public/private partnership with <a href=\"https://www.iamgreenwise.com/about-us-3/pesticide-free-parks/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Greenwise</a> and the City of Evanston, MPAC launched the <a href=\"https://www.cityofevanston.org/about-evanston/sustainability/sustainable-infrastructure/pesticide-free-parks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first pesticide-free park program</a> with the 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 (PFP) program in other communities across the Midwest.\r\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">What is a pesticide-free park?</h3>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">We define a pesticide-free park as one that is maintained under the principals of natural lawn care. Natural lawn care uses a combination of sustainable practices and natural products to promote an optimal relationship between plants and soil, making lawns naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 60px;\">The basics of natural lawn care include:<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Girl-Crawling-Outside-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-2179\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Girl-Crawling-Outside-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"African girl play crawling through tube in park\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a></p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds.</li>\r\n 	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n 	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release, which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n 	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourage pests.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">What are the components of a MWGG Pesticide-Free Park?</h3>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/vacker_sign_image1.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-2676 \" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/vacker_sign_image1-203x300.jpg\" alt=\"vacker_sign_image\" width=\"178\" height=\"263\" /></a>1. A park maintained without the use of synthetic pesticides for at least one year through collaboration with a local landscaping company, or by training park management personnel and purchasing products for natural lawn care maintenance.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">2. A press release covered by local media outlets to draw community attention to the initiative. Spreading the word about your pesticide-free park can raise awareness in your community and inspire homeowners to go pesticide-free on their own lawns, multiplying the positive effects on health and the environment.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">3. Long-term signage to let the community know that the park is being managed without the use of harmful chemicals.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/\">Return</a> to the Midwest Grows Green homepage to learn more about how reducing the use of pesticides by adopting natural lawn care can benefit the health of your community and the environment.</p>\r\n[one_half]\r\n<h2>Resources</h2>\r\n<h4>Guide to a Pesticide-Free Park</h4>\r\nThis guide provides information on how to participate in the Midwest Grows Green Pesticide-Free Parks program.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2684\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"286\"]<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Guide-to-a-Pesticide-Free-Park.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"wp-image-2684\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Guide-to-a-Pesticide-Free-Park-cover-image-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"Guide to a Pesticide-Free Park cover image\" width=\"286\" height=\"371\" /></a> Click to view the Guide.[/caption]\r\n\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<strong>For more information about this and other Midwest Grows Green programs, contact Ryan Anderson at <a href=\"mailto:randerson@pesticideaction.org\"> randerson@pesticideaction.org</a> and “Midwest Grows Green” as the subject.  Or, call us at (773) 878-7378.</strong>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks','','publish','closed','open','','pesticide-free-parks','','','2018-09-28 17:05:24','2018-09-28 17:05:24','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/?page_id=2492',0,'page','',1),(2493,2,'2015-09-08 21:25:09','2015-09-08 21:25:09','','Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks','','inherit','closed','open','','2492-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:25:09','2015-09-08 21:25:09','',2492,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2492-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2494,2,'2015-09-08 21:27:13','2015-09-08 21:27:13','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices. Learn More\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:27:13','2015-09-08 21:27:13','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2495,2,'2015-09-08 21:29:12','2015-09-08 21:29:12','<h1>Midwest Grows Green: Community Engagement<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/take-the-pledge/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-3145 size-full\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/MGG_KeepOnGrass_sign2-e1461610956324.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"176\" height=\"264\" /></a></h1>\r\nMPAC created the Midwest Grows Green Community Engagement program to help homeowners and other land managers understand the impacts of their practices and learn how to make them more sustainable.  We developed several resources to help concerned residents educate and engage their communities on natural lawn care. We work with community activists and organizers to create a campaign that encourages the adoption of natural lawn care practices to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.  With community input, MPAC develops customized resources and events promoting natural lawn care that reflect specific community concerns.\r\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Why is it important to engage your community on natural lawn care?</h3>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">As communities expand, land-use turns into lawns. Unfortunately, the use of synthetic lawn care products leads to the pollution of our waterways through runoff and negative impacts on the health of people, pets, and wildlife. Many people do not realize that homeowners apply up to 10 times more chemical pesticides to lawn turf per acre than farmers use on crops. In fact, lawn care pesticides are the pesticides most often detected in urban watersheds. This is because polluted runoff from lawns flow into storm water drains which bypass water treatment facilities and empty out directly into rivers, lakes, and streams. In addition, climate change will likely magnify these negative impacts in the Midwest, with longer growing seasons prompting the use of more lawn care products and increasing storm frequency and intensity resulting in more flooding and water runoff.</p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/pesticide_lawn_cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft wp-image-2649 \" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/pesticide_lawn_cropped-300x262.jpg\" alt=\"pesticide_lawn_cropped\" width=\"276\" height=\"241\" /></a>In addition to water quality issues, conventional lawn care creates many environmental stressors and health impacts. For example:</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n	<li><i class=\"fa fa-leaf\"></i>Fifty percent of water used for lawns is wasted, and demand for water is expected to increase with growing population and greater drought occurrences.</li>\r\n	<li><i class=\"fa fa-leaf\"></i>Of the 30 pesticides most commonly used on lawns and landscapes, 16 are toxic to birds, 24 are toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms, 11 are toxic to bees, and 11 are endocrine disruptors.</li>\r\n	<li><i class=\"fa fa-leaf\"></i>Research has linked pesticides to cancer, asthma, birth defects and neurological, behavioral, reproductive, hormonal, and immune system disorders in humans. Infants and children are most vulnerable to the health risks associated with pesticide use.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h2>Resources</h2>\r\nHere are some examples of resources which MPAC has created for community engagement:\r\n\r\n[one_half]\r\n<h4><strong>Take the MGG Pledge!\r\n</strong></h4>\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/take-the-pledge/\" target=\"_blank\">Join our network </a>of <a href=\"http://bit.ly/MGGplmap\" target=\"_blank\">engaged citizen activists</a> prepared to eliminate synthetic chemical use on your own lawn/garden and at all locations where children, pets, and wildlife live and play! Your commitment today gives you access to natural lawn care support through our monthly e-newsletter and adds your name to the larger MGG effort as we recruit more pesticide-free parks, point-of-purchase retailers and pledges.  We\'ll send you a sign for any donation of $10+.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2666\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"239\"]<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/take-the-pledge/\" target=\"_blank\"><img class=\"wp-image-2666 size-medium\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Pledge_Generic_cropped_image-239x300.jpg\" alt=\"Pledge_Generic_cropped_image\" width=\"239\" height=\"300\" /></a> Click to take the Pledge![/caption]\r\n\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n[one_half]\r\n<h4><strong>Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></h4>\r\nThis natural lawn care pamphlet can be customized for community needs. It gives tips on how to reduce water pollution while maintaining beautiful outdoor spaces that are safe for people and pets to enjoy.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2309\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"376\"]<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/MWGG_Brochure_final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><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=\"376\" height=\"289\" /></a> Click to view the pamphlet.[/caption]\r\n\r\n[/one_half]\r\n\r\n<strong>For more information about this and other MGG programs, contact Ryan Anderson at <a href=\"mailto:randerson@pesticideaction.org\">randerson@pesticideaction.org</a> and “Midwest Grows Green” as the subject.  Or, call us at (773) 878-7378.</strong>\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/\">Return</a> to the Midwest Grows Green homepage to learn more about how reducing the use of pesticides by adopting natural lawn care can benefit the health of your community and the environment.','Midwest Grows Green: Community Engagement','','publish','closed','open','','community-engagement','','','2016-05-10 16:29:56','2016-05-10 16:29:56','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/?page_id=2495',0,'page','',0),(2496,2,'2015-09-08 21:29:12','2015-09-08 21:29:12','','Midwest Grows Green: Community Engagement','','inherit','closed','open','','2495-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:29:12','2015-09-08 21:29:12','',2495,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2495-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2497,2,'2015-09-08 21:30:57','2015-09-08 21:30:57','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:30:57','2015-09-08 21:30:57','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2498,2,'2015-09-08 21:32:18','2015-09-08 21:32:18','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n&amp;nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:32:18','2015-09-08 21:32:18','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2499,2,'2015-09-08 21:33:05','2015-09-08 21:33:05','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:33:05','2015-09-08 21:33:05','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2500,2,'2015-09-08 21:34:32','2015-09-08 21:34:32','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:34:32','2015-09-08 21:34:32','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2501,2,'2015-09-08 21:35:02','2015-09-08 21:35:02','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n<h2></h2>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:35:02','2015-09-08 21:35:02','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2502,2,'2015-09-08 21:36:57','2015-09-08 21:36:57','<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program</h2>\r\n<em>Informing and connecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products to reduce the use of harmful pesticides.</em>\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green Point-of-Purchase program partners with local hardware, home, and garden supply retailers to promote clear labeling of eco-friendly lawn care products in-stores in order to draw attention to safer alternatives to conventional pesticides at the point-of-purchase. The goal of the program is to encourage consumers to purchase safer and more sustainable products, decreasing the negative health and environmental impacts of dangerous pesticides and overuse of fertilizers.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"217\" height=\"135\" /></a>Many environmentally-conscious consumers prefer to use eco-friendly products but are not well-informed about their options. To help customers make informed decisions, participating retailers use MPAC-designed “Eco-Friendly” shelf tags and shelf talkers so that shoppers can easily identify their organic, natural, and least-toxic products. MPAC also distributes a <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tips-on-Keeping-Yards-Green-and-Waters-Clean.jpg\">pamphlet</a> of tips on using natural lawn care in-stores. Homeowners can also consult 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> online to inform their future purchasing decisions or learn more about the products they already use. Read on to learn more.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Eco-Friendly Lawn Care Product Guide</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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]\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Map of Participating Retailers</strong></p>\r\n<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>','Midwest Grows Green: Point-of-Purchase Program','','inherit','closed','open','','2482-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:36:57','2015-09-08 21:36:57','',2482,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2503,2,'2015-09-08 21:38:49','2015-09-08 21:38:49','<h2>Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks</h2>\r\n<span style=\"color: #222222;\">The goal of the Pesticide-Free Parks program is to </span>help park 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.\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>What is a pesticide-free park?</strong></p>\r\n<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>','Midwest Grows Green: Pesticide-Free Parks','','inherit','closed','open','','2492-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:38:49','2015-09-08 21:38:49','',2492,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2492-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2504,2,'2015-09-08 21:39:43','2015-09-08 21:39:43','<h2>Midwest Grows Green: 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=\"165\" height=\"248\" /></a></h2>\r\nMPAC 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.\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>1. Keep On the Grass Pledge</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Take the <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG_Pledge.pdf\">Pledge</a> 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>\r\n\r\n\r\n[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.[/caption]\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><strong>2. Tips on Keeping our Yards Green &amp; Waters Clean</strong></p>\r\n<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>','Midwest Grows Green: Community Engagement','','inherit','closed','open','','2495-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:39:43','2015-09-08 21:39:43','',2495,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2495-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2505,2,'2015-09-08 21:40:44','2015-09-08 21:40:44','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<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=\"138\" height=\"138\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>(INSERT A WATER PHOTO)\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:40:44','2015-09-08 21:40:44','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2506,2,'2015-09-08 21:43:18','2015-09-08 21:43:18','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resizedcropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-2183 \" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resizedcropped-300x134.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized,cropped]\" width=\"338\" height=\"151\" /></a></h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\nThe Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:43:18','2015-09-08 21:43:18','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2507,2,'2015-09-08 21:44:23','2015-09-08 21:44:23','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:44:23','2015-09-08 21:44:23','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2508,2,'2015-09-08 21:48:52','2015-09-08 21:48:52','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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.<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Seasonal-Fall-Foliage-Upper-Penninsula-Michigan-MI-Sea-Grant..jpg\"><img class=\"alignright wp-image-1968 size-medium\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Seasonal-Fall-Foliage-Upper-Penninsula-Michigan-MI-Sea-Grant.-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"Peshekee River, Highway 28 / 41, upper peninsula, Michigan\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" /></a></p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:48:52','2015-09-08 21:48:52','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2509,2,'2015-09-08 21:49:23','2015-09-08 21:49:23','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMidwest Pesticide Action Center can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:49:23','2015-09-08 21:49:23','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2510,2,'2015-09-08 21:50:01','2015-09-08 21:50:01','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, 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.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:50:01','2015-09-08 21:50:01','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2511,2,'2015-09-08 21:53:01','2015-09-08 21:53:01','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, and continuity of message needed to promote positive behavioral change in the way lawns are cared for. Browse the links above for more information about each MWGG program and how to get started in your community.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:53:01','2015-09-08 21:53:01','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2512,2,'2015-09-08 21:54:33','2015-09-08 21:54:33','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, and continuity of message needed to promote positive behavioral change in the way lawns are cared for. Browse the links above for more information about each MWGG program and how to get started in your community.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 21:54:33','2015-09-08 21:54:33','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2513,2,'2015-09-08 22:26:40','2015-09-08 22:26:40','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, and continuity of message needed to promote positive behavioral change in the way lawns are cared for. Browse the links above for more information about each MWGG program and how to get started in your community.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"378\" height=\"251\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets. Natural lawn care recommends practices such as mowing high to shade out weeds, choosing native species well-adapted to the soil and climate, and using only natural fertilizers. Learn more about using NLC in your own yard with our <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a> fact sheet.\r\n\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly 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>.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive 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>\r\n\r\n<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.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-08 22:26:40','2015-09-08 22:26:40','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2514,2,'2015-09-10 19:11:40','2015-09-10 19:11:40','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination:\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to humans, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use, negative health impacts, and environmental consequences of outdoor pesticides. All of MPAC\'s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. It is made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-2178\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Boy-w-Dog-and-Sprinkler-resized-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Boy w Dog and Sprinkler [resized]\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" /></a>The Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) brand helps residents make connections between the products they choose at lawn care supply retailer, how parks and public spaces are cared for, how they care for their own lawn, and what is happening on lawns across their community—and how all of these actions affect the big picture of the health of their community and the surrounding ecosystems. This provides the exposure, knowledge, and continuity of message needed to promote positive behavioral change in the way lawns are cared for. Browse the links above for more information about each MWGG program and how to get started in your community.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:11:40','2015-09-10 19:11:40','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2515,2,'2015-09-10 19:13:35','2015-09-10 19:13:35','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination:\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination:\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:13:35','2015-09-10 19:13:35','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2516,2,'2015-09-10 19:15:52','2015-09-10 19:15:52','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination:\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue 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>\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:15:52','2015-09-10 19:15:52','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2517,2,'2015-09-10 19:17:45','2015-09-10 19:17:45','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue reading for: <a href=\"#subheader1\">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a href=\"#subheader2\">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a>\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement<a id=\"subheader1\"></a></h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:17:45','2015-09-10 19:17:45','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2518,2,'2015-09-10 19:20:27','2015-09-10 19:20:27','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1> Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue reading for: <a href=\"#subheader1\">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a href=\"#subheader2\">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a>\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement<a id=\"subheader1\"></a></h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:20:27','2015-09-10 19:20:27','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2519,2,'2015-09-10 19:20:56','2015-09-10 19:20:56','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue reading for: <a href=\"#subheader1\">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a href=\"#subheader2\">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a>\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement<a id=\"subheader1\"></a></h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1) <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:20:56','2015-09-10 19:20:56','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2520,2,'2015-09-10 19:22:30','2015-09-10 19:22:30','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue reading for: <a href=\"#subheader1\">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a href=\"#subheader2\">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a>\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement<a id=\"subheader1\"></a></h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soiland helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information go to the Midwest Grows Green specific program pages:1) Community Engagment; 2) Pesticide-Free Parks; and 3) Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program.\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:22:30','2015-09-10 19:22:30','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2521,2,'2015-09-10 19:30:25','2015-09-10 19:30:25','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue reading for: <a href=\"#subheader1\">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a href=\"#subheader2\">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a>\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement<a id=\"subheader1\"></a></h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagemen</a>t, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:30:25','2015-09-10 19:30:25','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2522,2,'2015-09-10 19:35:11','2015-09-10 19:35:11','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\nContinue reading for: <a href=\"#subheader1\">Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</a> <a href=\"#subheader2\">What are eco-friendly alternatives?</a>\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement<a id=\"subheader1\"></a></h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent study (USGS 2015) found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 19:35:11','2015-09-10 19:35:11','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2523,2,'2015-09-10 20:46:08','2015-09-10 20:46:08','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nAll of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives fall under the Midwest Grows Green umbrella. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care - and are made up of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities singly or in any combination.\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 20:46:08','2015-09-10 20:46:08','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2524,2,'2015-09-10 20:56:55','2015-09-10 20:56:55','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives. They are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination.\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 20:56:55','2015-09-10 20:56:55','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2525,2,'2015-09-10 20:58:02','2015-09-10 20:58:02','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination.\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 20:58:02','2015-09-10 20:58:02','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2526,2,'2015-09-10 20:58:40','2015-09-10 20:58:40','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\nMidwest 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 20:58:40','2015-09-10 20:58:40','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2527,2,'2015-09-10 20:59:52','2015-09-10 20:59:52','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 20:59:52','2015-09-10 20:59:52','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2528,2,'2015-09-10 21:01:46','2015-09-10 21:01:46','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nConnecting homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to reduce the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:01:46','2015-09-10 21:01:46','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2529,2,'2015-09-10 21:03:50','2015-09-10 21:03:50','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to choose healthier and more environmentally-friendly products. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:03:50','2015-09-10 21:03:50','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2530,2,'2015-09-10 21:04:55','2015-09-10 21:04:55','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to choose healthier, more eco-friendly products. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:04:55','2015-09-10 21:04:55','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2531,2,'2015-09-10 21:06:15','2015-09-10 21:06:15','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly lawn and garden products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to reduce their use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:06:15','2015-09-10 21:06:15','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2532,2,'2015-09-10 21:06:56','2015-09-10 21:06:56','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to reduce their use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on safer lawn care practices to keep your yards green and our waters clean. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:06:56','2015-09-10 21:06:56','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2533,2,'2015-09-10 21:11:20','2015-09-10 21:11:20','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to reduce their use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on natural care practices to keep your yards beautiful without the use of harmful pesticides while protecting water quality. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:11:20','2015-09-10 21:11:20','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2534,2,'2015-09-10 21:12:11','2015-09-10 21:12:11','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to reduce their use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on natural care practices to keep your yards beautiful without the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:12:11','2015-09-10 21:12:11','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2535,2,'2015-09-10 21:12:26','2015-09-10 21:12:26','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to reduce their use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on natural lawn care practices to keep your yards beautiful without the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<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=\"325\" height=\"216\" /></a></h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:12:26','2015-09-10 21:12:26','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(2536,2,'2015-09-10 21:19:38','2015-09-10 21:19:38','<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\"><img class=\"alignleft  wp-image-2464\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Web-page-cover-photo5.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Web page cover photo\" width=\"934\" height=\"301\" /></a>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n<h1></h1>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h1>Midwest Grows Green</h1>\r\n<em>Three programs, one brand, one goal.</em>\r\n\r\nMidwest Grows Green represents all of MPAC’s community-based lawn and landscape care initiatives, which are identified by our distinctive orange Midwest Grows Green stamp and unified by a single message – protect people, pets and the environment by practicing natural lawn care. Midwest Grows Green (MWGG) is comprised of three distinct programs which can be adopted by communities individually or in any combination. 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. Lawn and gardening chemicals can be harmful to people, pets, wildlife, and waterways. By presenting safer alternative practices and products, the goal of Midwest Grows Green is to reduce the use and harmful effects of outdoor pesticides.\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2365\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/MWGG-Tag-V5-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"MWGG Tag V5\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Point-of-Purchase Program</h3>\r\nThis partnership with local retailers connects homeowners to eco-friendly products at the point-of-purchase to empower them to reduce their use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2444\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/evanston-park-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"evanston park\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Pesticide-Free Parks</h3>\r\nBring a pesticide-free park to your community to protect the environment and create safer places for people and pets to play. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n\r\n[one_third]\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-2449\" src=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Keep-on-the-Grass-Sign-in-Use-Cropped-300x187.jpg\" alt=\"Keep on the Grass Sign in Use Cropped\" width=\"250\" height=\"156\" /></a>\r\n<h3>Community Engagement</h3>\r\nMPAC can help you engage your community on natural lawn care practices to keep your yards beautiful without the use of harmful pesticides. <a class=\"more\" href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Learn More</a>\r\n\r\n[/one_third]\r\n<h2>Why are pesticides and artificial fertilizers harmful?</h2>\r\n<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>\r\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">1. <strong>Human Health: </strong> Research has linked insecticides, herbicides, and other pesticides 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>\r\n<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. A more recent USGS <a href=\"http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/2015-08-18-national_neonics.html\">study</a> found evidence of the insecticide neonicotinoid, commonly associated with the reduction in honey bee populations, in over 50% of streams tested.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n<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 neonicotinoids to declining bee populations, which pollinate many essential food crops.</p>\r\n<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>\r\n\r\n<h2>What are eco-friendly alternatives?</h2>\r\nNatural lawn care is a method of maintenance designed to build up the health of your lawn—making it naturally more resistant to weeds, insects, and diseases—without the use of synthetic chemicals or fertilizers. It is an alternative to conventional practices which depend on the application of synthetic chemicals, often in much larger quantities than needed. The excess is often washed away as runoff into water sources or tracked indoors by people or pets.<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=\"294\" height=\"196\" /></a>\r\n\r\nThe basics of natural lawn care include:\r\n<ol>\r\n	<li>Mowing high to shade out weeds and feed deep roots.</li>\r\n	<li>Choosing the right species with characteristics designed to adapt to the current climate and conditions of the planting area.</li>\r\n	<li>Using natural fertilizers for slower nutrient release which feeds the soil and helps prevent runoff.</li>\r\n	<li>Watering correctly at 1 inch per week to encourage strong deep roots and discourages pests.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nMPAC defines \"eco-friendly products\" to be organic, non-synthetic, or least-toxic alternatives to conventional lawn care products. These products are healthier for people, pets, and the environment. Unlike many conventional lawn care products, they are free of harmful substances such as known carcinogens, reproductive or developmental toxins, and endocrine disruptors which compromise human health. They are also free of ingredients found in conventional products that degrade water quality and are highly toxic to birds, fish, wildlife, and bees. Eco-friendly alternative products, along with sustainable lawn and landscape management practices, can be incorporated as integral parts of natural lawn care. 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 for Consumers</a>.\r\n\r\nFor more information on each Midwest Grows Green program, see: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/community-engagement/\">Community Engagement</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/pesticide-free-parks/\">Pesticide-Free Parks</a>, and <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/midwest-grows-green/point-of-purchase/\">Point-of-Purchase Retailer Program</a>\r\n<h2>Additional Resources</h2>\r\n<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 comprehensive guide to learn how to incorporate natural lawn care practices in your own lawn and garden. Find out how natural lawn care can reduce your contribution to climate change and water pollution, help your lawn and garden adapt to a changing environment, and produce beautiful outdoor spaces.\r\n\r\nMore: <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/MPAC-Natural-Lawn-Care-for-Homeowners.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care for Homeowners</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-NLC-Calendar.pdf\">Natural Lawn Care Calendar</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/MPAC-Pets-and-Pesticides-TU.pdf\">Pets and Pesticides</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Read-Your-Weeds.pdf\">Read Your Weeds</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MPAC-Products-for-Your-Natural-Lawn1.pdf\">Products for Your Natural Lawn</a>, <a href=\"http://midwestpesticideaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/WOY_MPAC-Midwest-Natural-Lawn-Care-Companies2.pdf\">Midwest Natural Lawn Care Companies</a>','Midwest Grows Green','','inherit','closed','open','','2275-revision-v1','','','2015-09-10 21:19:38','2015-09-10 21:19:38','',2275,'http://midwestpesticideaction.org/2275-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),